Policies and Procedures Handbook
Avery Trace Middle School
Media Center Philosophy
The Avery Trace Middle School Media Center and Media Center Staff
are dedicated to enhancing the school curriculum by promoting
and reinforcing students’ interest in reading, listening,
research queries, and organization and presentation of materials.
Helping our students flourish in the learning community is central
to our philosophy as a student-centered media program. Providing
students with the skills to become active and creative locators,
evaluators, and users of information to solve problems or to satisfy
their own curiosity will encourage students to become lifelong
learners.
The information age has dramatically altered the resources available
to students. Therefore, the Media Center is dedicated to fostering
the full range of information concepts and strategies necessary
to interact effectively with information to construct meaningful
knowledge. Armed with these skills for using information effectively
we hope that our students will strive to use information concepts
and strategies to become more competent in critical thinking,
decision-making, and problem solving.
Rationale
Information literacy is the ability to find and use information.
Creating an environment where students are comfortable with learning
is at the core of the school library media program. The library
media program has evolved far beyond the room filled with dusty
books, the card catalog, and the never-ending “SHH!”
“Be quiet.” The library media program of today is
the hub of learning activity. Technology has enriched media centers
with an array of information resources available to answer almost
any query. The number of resources available to answer student
queries can be frustrating to students who may not be proficient
in choosing the best resource. Students must be directed to all
the information resources that are available to promote critical
thinking skills in determining the best possible information resource
for problem solving. We need to ensure our students become skillful
users and producers of information in a variety of formats so
that they may succeed in making the most competent and accurate
information choices.
Student Policies and Procedures
• The media center is open from 7:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. each
school day.
• Media center orientation for all students to provide students
with instruction on how to use the media center. An orientation
schedule will be given to teachers.
• During school hours, students may come to the media center
with their teacher or using a pass any day of the school week.
(Prior notice will be given if the media center will be closed
due to scheduled meetings, testing or other extenuating circumstances).
• Students must sign in on the sign-in sheets provided.
Student sign-in sheets are located on the circulation desk above
the book return slot.
• Students must return any overdue books upon entering the
media center.
• Students may check out 1 book at a time for up to 2 weeks.
• Students may not print from the computers in the media
center without approval from the media specialist or media assistant.
• Students who have overdue books will not be allowed to
check out any other media center materials until their books or
a payment for the book has been received and posted.
• Overdue fines are $.10 per day and accrue daily until
the book has been returned to the media center. All overdue fines
must be paid before any other media center materials can be checked
out by the student unless extenuating circumstances occur which
must be discussed with the media specialist.
• Students may not check out reference books or magazines.
• If a book is lost the student must pay the purchase price
of the book.
Computer Procedures
• Students must have parental permission to use the Internet.
Putnam County requires an Internet Access form be signed by a
parent and turned in to the technology department prior to student
Internet usage.
• Students may only use media center computers for academic
related work and activities.
• Students may not print from the computers in the media
center without approval from media center staff. Students who
print without approval are subject to a $1.00 per page charge.
(Please, get approval to print).
Teacher and Staff Services
1. The Avery Trace Middle School Media Center’s collection
of materials, both print and non-print has been selected to fulfill
the needs of the Avery Trace learning community. Guidance in reading,
identifying and interpreting information resources are available
upon request.
2. ATMS media center provides a professional library for the faculty
and staff of Avery Trace Middle School. This library offers class
set kits, guidebooks, and other professional resource materials.
Most class set kits include books, teacher guides, and a list
of supplemental audio/visual aides to apply to different learning
strategies. (Class sets are chosen based upon the Putnam County
grade level reading list).
3. An annual inventory of all media and equipment including an
inventory report will be performed.
4. The media center will provide flexibility and fairness to all
teachers by cooperative instructional planning.
5. The media center will provide assistance in school wide planning
of curricular and instructional planning.
6. The media center will provide formal and informal instruction
for students and faculty in the use of information the production
of materials, and informational technology in the media center
computer lab.
7. The media center provides a selection of media center materials
to adhere to the school’s curriculum interest and needs.
8. The media center will provide teachers with the necessary media
resources to enhance their curriculum.
9. The media center will maintain an environment where the learning
community feels welcome and successful in retrieving the materials
and information they seek.
Teacher Check-Out
Teachers may check out media center materials for as long as they
need them. However, consideration for other teacher’s needs
must be given to ensure equal access to materials. If an item
is requested and is checked out by another teacher, the teacher
may be contacted to verify use. The teacher can either check the
item in so the other teacher may check the item out. Or, the teacher
who has the item may offer to loan it to the requesting teacher.
The responsibility of the item is that of the teacher that checked
the item out.
A mid-year and end of year inventory will be done. Faculty and
staff support are necessary to ensure we maintain our collection.
Please encourage students to bring back library books. Lost and
damaged books can destroy a library collection. .
Procedures For Scheduling Classes and Sending Students To The Media Center
The ATMS Media Center is dedicated to providing students, teachers,
staff and parents with open and flexible access to information.
The media program adheres to the Putnam County Media Guidelines
as well as the Association of American School Libraries recommendations
and guidelines.
Fairness in scheduling for all teachers at Avery Trace Middle School
is necessary to ensure every student and class has equal opportunities
for accessing information in the media center. Therefore, it is
imperative that policies regarding the length of scheduled class
use be considered and understood for the good of all students, teachers,
and staff.
1. The Media Center is open from 7:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. each school
day. Students may come to the media center with their teacher or
using a pass any day of the school week.
2. Teachers may only send 2 students at a time to the media center
for individual checkout.
3. The media center will open to students once media center orientation
is complete.
4. An orientation schedule will be given to the appropriate teachers.
Students may not begin checkout until they have gone through media
center orientation.
5. Teachers may schedule classes for media center activities with
the media assistant or the media specialist.
6. It is highly recommended that faculty and staff discuss curriculum
goals and objectives with the media specialist prior to scheduling
or prior to scheduled use of the media center. This cooperative
effort will provide the media specialist with the necessary information
to gather resources that will enhance research efficiency.
7. Scheduling is on a “first come, first serve” basis.
As soon as you know you are going to incorporate the media center
into your curriculum, please schedule your classes.
8. If a scheduled time you wanted is not available, please leave
your name and the dates for scheduling at the circulation desk with
a media clerk. Cancellations are possible and you will be notified
of the open time.
Procedures For Bringing Classes to the Media Center
1. Students may not bring book bags or back packs to the media center.
2. Students should return any books that are due upon arrival to
the media center.
3. Students must be using the computers in the media center or computer
lab for academic work only.
4. Students must have an Internet Use Policy form signed by a parent
or guardian on file for Internet Usage.
5. Teachers are expected to provide active supervision.
Discipline Rules for Independent Use:
1. Work Quietly without disturbing other media center patrons.
2. All students must choose a media center activity to participate
in.
3. Assistance is provided upon request.
4. Leave food and drinks outside the media center.
5. Students may not print from computers in the media center without
permission.
Disciplinary Actions
1. First reminder, given verbally by media specialist or media clerk.
2. If student continues behavior after reminder, the student will
be asked to return to class. Teacher will be notified.
3. Some behaviors are severe and require the student to return to
class immediately without a reminder.
Positive reinforces will be given for good behavior. Examples are:
bookmarks and/or verbal praise.Copyright Law
Avery Trace Middle School and media center adheres to the Putnam
County Schools directives on copyright laws. (Please refer to the
Putnam County Teacher Handbook for further details).
• Remember the Copyright Laws are Laws and are enforced and
if broken are subject to prosecution. With the onset of the information
age, Copyright Laws are being observed and enforced more closely
than ever. It is of utmost importance that you read and understand
guidelines for use of copyrighted materials.
• REMEMBER- Materials used should be “relevant” and “appropriate” to your lesson plans.
Selection of Media Materials
Selection Objective
The primary objective of the school library media center is to enrich
and support the educational program of the school. It is the responsibility
of the school media center to provide a wide range of materials
on different levels of difficulty, with diversity of appeal, and
representing different points of view. The inclusion of any item
in a collection does not necessarily mean that the media center
or school advocates or endorses the contents of that item.
Selection Criteria
The needs of the ATMS media center are based on knowledge of the
curriculum and of the existing collection and are given first consideration
in the selection of materials used to enhance the classroom curriculum.
The Avery Trace Middle School Media Center adheres to the Putnam
County Board of Education’s Policy regarding selection of
materials as well as reconsideration of instructional materials
and textbooks.
Library Bill Of Rights
The ATMS media center adheres to the American Library Association’s
Library Bill of Rights. The American Library Association affirms
that all libraries are forums for information and ideas, and that
the following basic policies should guide their services.
I. Books and other library resources should be provided for the
interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community
the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of
the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their
creation.
II. Libraries should provide materials and information presenting
all points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should
not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.
III. Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of
their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment.
IV. Libraries should cooperate with all persons and groups concerned
with resisting abridgment of free expression and free access to
ideas.
V. A person’s right to use a library should not be denied
or abridged because of origin, age, background, or views.
VI. Libraries, which make exhibit spaces and meeting rooms available
to the public they serve, should make such facilities available
on an equitable basis, regardless of the beliefs or affiliations
of individuals or groups requesting their use.
Adopted June 18, 1948
Amended February 2, 1961, and January 23, 1980,
Inclusion of “age” reaffirmed January 23, 1996,
By the ALA Council.
Avery Trace Middle School Media Center
2007-2008 Action Plan
Rationale
Avery Trace Middle School was opened in August 1996. School mission
statements, goals and objectives must be considered and developed
strategically with priority of thought given to the entire learning
community as it applies to our student population. These very important
aspects of the planning process are developed with experience in
the school setting and are thoughtfully constructed by the School
Improvement Committee through School Improvement Planning. Therefore,
the following action plan was devised based on The Avery Trace Middle
School Media Center’s short-term goals and objectives. These
short-term goals and objectives are general in nature and will be
considered during school improvement planning. However, upon completion
of The Avery Trace Middle School Improvement Plan, this action plan
will be revised.
Although, all school media programs are as different, as are all
schools different, national guidelines for school library media
programs presented in “Information Power: Building Partnerships
For Learning,” prepared by the Americana Association of School
Librarian, will always be used as a resource for developing the
ideals necessary to administer a successful library media program.
Mission and Goals of the School Library Media Program
“The mission of the library media program is to ensure that
students and staff are effective users of ideas and information.
This mission is accomplished:
• By providing intellectual and physical access to materials
in all formats
• By providing instruction to foster competence and stimulate
interest in reading, viewing, using information and ideas
• By working with other educators to design learning strategies
to meet the needs of individual students”(Information Power:
Guidelines for School Library Media Programs (1988), p.1)”
Objective
To provide intellectual access to information through learning activities
integrated into the curriculum and allow the pursuit of information
literacy by encouraging cognitive strategies for selecting, retrieving,
and evaluating library resources.
Plan of Action
1. The Library Media Specialist will organize library skills classes
that will focus on individual library skills based upon class need
for review and usage.
2. The Library Media Specialist will notify classroom teachers of
upcoming library skills classes
3. Teachers will schedule classes voluntarily
4. The Library Media Specialist will collaborate with classroom
teachers to determine curriculum objectives
5. Students will be evaluated based on activities hand-outs that
will be completed during library skills class and turned in for
a grade
Objective
To provide physical access to information through a carefully selected,
organized local collection of diverse learning resources that represent
a wide range of subjects, levels of difficulty, and formats
Plan of Action
1. The Library media specialist will collaborate with administrators,
teachers, and others to design the library media facilities that
will identify all physical elements, including instructional material
to be acquired
2. The Library Media Specialist will coordinate the acquisition
and circulation of all school media resources
3. The Library Media Specialist will organize resources for the
most effective and efficient use. To include cataloging, classifying,
and arranging the library collection
4. The Library Media Specialist will maintain the systems necessary
for bibliographic control, information distribution and circulation
5. The Library Media Specialist will provide flexible and open scheduling
for access to the programs and services of the library media program
that meet the needs of students, teachers, and the learning community
Objective
To provide learning experiences that encourages students and others
to become discriminating users of information in the full range
of library media resources
Plan of Action
1. The Library Media Specialist will organize library skills classes
that will focus on individual library skills based upon class need
for review and usage.
2. The Library Media Specialist will notify classroom teachers of
upcoming library skills classes
3. Teachers will schedule classes voluntarily
4. The Library Media Specialist will collaborate with classroom
teachers to determine curriculum objectives
5. Students will be evaluated based on activities handouts that
will be completed during library skills class and turned in for
a grade
Objective
To provide collaboration and assistance to teachers, administrators
and others in instructional design in an effort to foster information
literacy across the curriculum
Plan of Action
1. The Library Media Specialist will maintain current knowledge
of the school curriculum, student population and needs of instructional
resources
2. The Library Media Specialist will develop and direct collection
development with regular inquiries with teachers for assessment
of teaching and learning needs to provide appropriate resources
to meet these needs
3. The Library Media Specialist will use a variety of reviewing
sources to locate and select materials
4. The Library Media Specialist will work with teachers, administrators,
and the learning community to develop policies and procedures that
best suit The Avery Trace Middle School learning community
5. The Library Media Specialist will promote resources by establishing
teacher previews of resources and by soliciting teacher and student
evaluation of the library collection