HCMS Media Center Handbook
One of the roses in front of our media center...
Heard County Middle School Media Center
Heard County Middle School’s media center serves students in grades 6-8. Students participate in the Book It Program, Read to Succeed, Read Across America, Teen Read Week and other activities throughout the year. We participate in the Box Tops For Education Program and sponsor book fairs to earn money for books, reading incentives and other items needed in the media center.
This school opened in August, 2002.
Philosophy of our library media program
Each student will be given an opportunity to research, learn and create. Patrons will
locate, evaluate and use resources comfortably, correctly and legally with the goal of being
independent learners for life. Patrons will be encouraged to enjoy reading for the simple
joy that reading brings. Our collection is chosen with care to reflect the needs of all students and staff. Our collection will provide quality resources in all formats to meet a wide range of learner abilities,
developmental levels and modalities.
Mission Statement
Our library media center will house resources to help guide, motivate and inspire patrons to become productive citizens who use technology effectively. Our media program will encourage patrons to become lifelong readers.
Description of Facilities
The Heard County Middle School Media Center is located at the front of the school building, to the right of the main office. Fiction, Non-Fiction and Reference books are sorted by the Dewey Decimal System and housed in one large room. Software, equipment and the network server are located in two separate rooms at the back of the main room. The Media Center houses over 10,000 books and has 12 patron research/library look-up stations. Patrons have access to online and print magazines.
Resources
Reference Section : Contains dictionaries, encyclopedias, almanacs, atlases and other materials. This section is located along the first wall to the left of the entry door. The section continues along the back wall, ending at the entrance to Room 112 (Electrical Distribution). Non-Fiction : Contains books that state truth and facts. These are filed according to the Dewey Decimal System, beginning at the left-hand side of the second group of mid-room shelves. Patrons can locate books by matching the electronic card catalog to the call number of the books. The call number is printed on the spine of every book. In this section, the call number includes the Dewey number and the first three letters of the author’s last name. Fiction : Contains books with stories created and “made up” by authors that describe imaginary people and events. This section is located at the first group of mid-room shelves, beginning at the left with books by authors whose names begin with “A.” Graphic Novels : This is a new section this year and contains books with the Dewey call number 741.5 (graphic novels). This section is located near the windows at the rear of the main room. Professional : Contains books, videos and resources for the staff. This section is located in Room 112 and past the network file server.
Flexible Scheduling
This media center operates on a flexible schedule, which allows patrons to use the media center as needed individually – with teacher permission – throughout the day. Flexible scheduling makes it possible for teachers and the media specialist to plan cooperative lessons. A dynamic, student-centered library media program fosters information literacy and a lifelong love of learning – the basis for true information power. A flexible schedule means the media center is open to all patrons for the entire school day. This allows the teacher to send students as individuals, in small groups of five or less, or schedule for whole class activities as needed. When teachers send small groups to the media center, they must have a note explaining their task. Patrons must have signed Internet Agreements; this information is recorded in Power School by office staff and appears in patron information in Surpass. Teachers are encouraged to reserve times for research (small and large groups) in advance by using our virtual appointment calendar. The link may be found at bravesread.net; click on calendar. Click or scan the QR code for access.
Collaboration
Collaboration, leadership and technology are integral to every aspect of the library media program and these are the three basic ideas in Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning. Planning between the media
specialist and teachers is vital in meeting today’s educational goals. The media specialist serves as a partner to the classroom teacher with use of the media center being integrated into classroom lesson plans. The information literacy standards for student learning are a tool for supporting and structuring students’ development as lifelong, independent learners.
The Nine Information Literacy Standards for Student Learning
(From Information Power: Building Partnerships for
Learning)
Information Literacy
Standard 1 : The student who is information literate accesses information efficiently and effectively.
Standard 2 : The student who is information literate evaluates information critically and competently.
Standard 3 : The student who is information literate uses information accurately and creatively.
Independent Learning
Standard 4 : The student who is an independent learner is information literate and pursues information
related to personal interests.
Standard 5 : The student who is an independent learner is information literate and appreciates
literature and other creative expressions of information.
Standard 6 : The student who is an independent learner is information literate and strives for excellence
in information seeking and knowledge generation.
Social Responsibility
Standard 7 : The student who contributes positively to the learning community and to society is information literate and recognizes the importance of information to a democratic society.
Standard 8 : The student who contributes positively to the learning community and to society is information literate and practices ethical behavior in regard to information and information technology.
Standard 9 : The student who contributes positively to the learning community and to society is information literate and participates effectively in groups to pursue and generate information.
Audiovisual Materials
Instructional videos are housed in Room 112, near the Professional Section. Videos may be checked out after being approved by the principal/assistant principal. Teachers should use the electronic video request form, which emails the principal for approval.
Accessibility/Hours of Operation
The media center is open from 7:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. each week day during the school year. Teachers may send small groups of four-five students to use the media center for book or electronic research. These students must bring a note specifying the URL/Galileo… and a time limit from their teacher. Teachers may reserve up to five of the media center computer stations for electronic research by signing the online appointment calendar. (Teachers may also schedule times with the LMS, who will input information in the shared scheduling calendar.Group research and group checkouts should also be scheduled with the media specialist.
Staff Circulation Procedures
Teachers and staff members may check out materials for as long as needed throughout the school year. All materials are due the last day of school. Teachers may request books and materials from the West Georgia Regional Library through the media specialist. These materials are due as specified. Copyright booklets may be
checked out individually upon request. Copyright information is linked primarily on the BravesRead media
center webpage. Click on the Copyright header.
Student Circulation Procedures
Students may check out books during the media center’s hours of operation. A student may check out two books at a time for two weeks at a time. There are no fines for overdue books, but a book that is lost, damaged or not
returned will be coded “lost” or “damaged” and a bill will be issued for the cost of the book. Checkout privileges will be suspended until the item is cleared by the media specialist or media assistant. Students with a lost, damaged or overdue book will not receive a report card until the book is paid for or returned. Refer to the Official Code of
Georgia, annotated 20-2-1013 Lost/Missing Books.
Patrons must have a library/media identification card to check out a book. However, a book may be renewed or returned without the card. New patron identification cards with updated photos are issued at the beginning of
each school year. The cost to replace a lost card is $2, which covers printing and laminating expenses.
All patrons must go through a library/media orientation at the beginning of each year. The media specialist
must be notified if a student withdraws from school to determine if they still have books checked to their card.
School Media Committee
The school media committee is made up of the principal, media specialist, parent/community representative, teacher representative from each grade level and student representatives. This committee is appointed on a yearly basis and provides input to the system media committee. Duties of this committee include: assisting in setting short and long range goals, helping to identify budget priorities and assisting with book challenges.
Library/Media Funds
Funding for the media center is allocated through an FTE count and supplemented by local funds. Currently, the media center receives $13.03 per FTE for the budget. (2015)
Selection Policy
A Selection Policy, which includes guidelines on how materials are selected for the media center, is in place at HCMS. Procedures for challenged books are included in this policy.
Reconsideration : Procedure for Handling a Challenge
No duly selected materials whose appropriateness is challenged shall be removed from the school except
upon the recommendation of a review committee with the concurrence of the Superintendent or, upon the Superintendent’s recommendation, the concurrence of the Board of Education, or upon formal action of the Board
of Education when a recommendation of a review committee is appealed to it.
All complaints to staff members will be reported to the building principal involved, whether received by telephone, letter, or in personal conversation. The principal or his or her designated representative will contact the complainant to discuss the complaint and attempt to resolve it informally by explaining the philosophy and goals of the school district and/or the library media center. If the complaint is not resolved informally, the complainant will be supplied a packet of materials consisting of the District’s instructional goals and objectives, materials selection policy statement, and the procedure for handling objections. This packet will also include a standard printed form which shall be completed and returned before consideration will be given to the complainant. If the formal request for reconsideration has not been received by the principal within two weeks, the issue will be considered closed. In accordance with the statement of philosophy, no questioned materials shall be removed from the school pending a final decision. Pending the outcome of the request for reconsideration, however, access to the questioned materials can be denied to the child (or children) of the parents making the complaint if they so desire.
Upon receipt of a completed objection form, an evaluation committee (which will include members of the school’s media committee) will meet to discuss the complaint. Members of this committee will include the media specialist, principal, assistant principal, community/parent representative and teacher representatives. The curriculum director will also be invited to attend.
The principal will notify the complainant of the decision and send a formal report and recommendation to the superintendent. If the committee decides to keep the work that caused the complaint, the complainant will be given an explanation. If the complaint is valid, the principal will acknowledge it and make recommended changes. If the complainant is still not satisfied, he or she may ask the Superintendent to present an appeal to the Board of
Education which shall make a final determination on the issue. In making its determination, the Board of Education may seek assistance from outside organizations such as the American Library Association, the Association for
Supervision and Curriculum Development, etc.
In addition...
The media specialist will provide the most current copyright information to the staff and students. Research
lessons will include information on copyright, plagiarism and how to correctly cite resources. Teachers may check out books on copyright and refer to the information checked out to them to keep in their classrooms throughout the school year.
Heard County Middle School’s media center serves students in grades 6-8. Students participate in the Book It Program, Read to Succeed, Read Across America, Teen Read Week and other activities throughout the year. We participate in the Box Tops For Education Program and sponsor book fairs to earn money for books, reading incentives and other items needed in the media center.
This school opened in August, 2002.
Philosophy of our library media program
Each student will be given an opportunity to research, learn and create. Patrons will
locate, evaluate and use resources comfortably, correctly and legally with the goal of being
independent learners for life. Patrons will be encouraged to enjoy reading for the simple
joy that reading brings. Our collection is chosen with care to reflect the needs of all students and staff. Our collection will provide quality resources in all formats to meet a wide range of learner abilities,
developmental levels and modalities.
Mission Statement
Our library media center will house resources to help guide, motivate and inspire patrons to become productive citizens who use technology effectively. Our media program will encourage patrons to become lifelong readers.
Description of Facilities
The Heard County Middle School Media Center is located at the front of the school building, to the right of the main office. Fiction, Non-Fiction and Reference books are sorted by the Dewey Decimal System and housed in one large room. Software, equipment and the network server are located in two separate rooms at the back of the main room. The Media Center houses over 10,000 books and has 12 patron research/library look-up stations. Patrons have access to online and print magazines.
Resources
Reference Section : Contains dictionaries, encyclopedias, almanacs, atlases and other materials. This section is located along the first wall to the left of the entry door. The section continues along the back wall, ending at the entrance to Room 112 (Electrical Distribution). Non-Fiction : Contains books that state truth and facts. These are filed according to the Dewey Decimal System, beginning at the left-hand side of the second group of mid-room shelves. Patrons can locate books by matching the electronic card catalog to the call number of the books. The call number is printed on the spine of every book. In this section, the call number includes the Dewey number and the first three letters of the author’s last name. Fiction : Contains books with stories created and “made up” by authors that describe imaginary people and events. This section is located at the first group of mid-room shelves, beginning at the left with books by authors whose names begin with “A.” Graphic Novels : This is a new section this year and contains books with the Dewey call number 741.5 (graphic novels). This section is located near the windows at the rear of the main room. Professional : Contains books, videos and resources for the staff. This section is located in Room 112 and past the network file server.
Flexible Scheduling
This media center operates on a flexible schedule, which allows patrons to use the media center as needed individually – with teacher permission – throughout the day. Flexible scheduling makes it possible for teachers and the media specialist to plan cooperative lessons. A dynamic, student-centered library media program fosters information literacy and a lifelong love of learning – the basis for true information power. A flexible schedule means the media center is open to all patrons for the entire school day. This allows the teacher to send students as individuals, in small groups of five or less, or schedule for whole class activities as needed. When teachers send small groups to the media center, they must have a note explaining their task. Patrons must have signed Internet Agreements; this information is recorded in Power School by office staff and appears in patron information in Surpass. Teachers are encouraged to reserve times for research (small and large groups) in advance by using our virtual appointment calendar. The link may be found at bravesread.net; click on calendar. Click or scan the QR code for access.
Collaboration
Collaboration, leadership and technology are integral to every aspect of the library media program and these are the three basic ideas in Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning. Planning between the media
specialist and teachers is vital in meeting today’s educational goals. The media specialist serves as a partner to the classroom teacher with use of the media center being integrated into classroom lesson plans. The information literacy standards for student learning are a tool for supporting and structuring students’ development as lifelong, independent learners.
The Nine Information Literacy Standards for Student Learning
(From Information Power: Building Partnerships for
Learning)
Information Literacy
Standard 1 : The student who is information literate accesses information efficiently and effectively.
Standard 2 : The student who is information literate evaluates information critically and competently.
Standard 3 : The student who is information literate uses information accurately and creatively.
Independent Learning
Standard 4 : The student who is an independent learner is information literate and pursues information
related to personal interests.
Standard 5 : The student who is an independent learner is information literate and appreciates
literature and other creative expressions of information.
Standard 6 : The student who is an independent learner is information literate and strives for excellence
in information seeking and knowledge generation.
Social Responsibility
Standard 7 : The student who contributes positively to the learning community and to society is information literate and recognizes the importance of information to a democratic society.
Standard 8 : The student who contributes positively to the learning community and to society is information literate and practices ethical behavior in regard to information and information technology.
Standard 9 : The student who contributes positively to the learning community and to society is information literate and participates effectively in groups to pursue and generate information.
Audiovisual Materials
Instructional videos are housed in Room 112, near the Professional Section. Videos may be checked out after being approved by the principal/assistant principal. Teachers should use the electronic video request form, which emails the principal for approval.
Accessibility/Hours of Operation
The media center is open from 7:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. each week day during the school year. Teachers may send small groups of four-five students to use the media center for book or electronic research. These students must bring a note specifying the URL/Galileo… and a time limit from their teacher. Teachers may reserve up to five of the media center computer stations for electronic research by signing the online appointment calendar. (Teachers may also schedule times with the LMS, who will input information in the shared scheduling calendar.Group research and group checkouts should also be scheduled with the media specialist.
Staff Circulation Procedures
Teachers and staff members may check out materials for as long as needed throughout the school year. All materials are due the last day of school. Teachers may request books and materials from the West Georgia Regional Library through the media specialist. These materials are due as specified. Copyright booklets may be
checked out individually upon request. Copyright information is linked primarily on the BravesRead media
center webpage. Click on the Copyright header.
Student Circulation Procedures
Students may check out books during the media center’s hours of operation. A student may check out two books at a time for two weeks at a time. There are no fines for overdue books, but a book that is lost, damaged or not
returned will be coded “lost” or “damaged” and a bill will be issued for the cost of the book. Checkout privileges will be suspended until the item is cleared by the media specialist or media assistant. Students with a lost, damaged or overdue book will not receive a report card until the book is paid for or returned. Refer to the Official Code of
Georgia, annotated 20-2-1013 Lost/Missing Books.
Patrons must have a library/media identification card to check out a book. However, a book may be renewed or returned without the card. New patron identification cards with updated photos are issued at the beginning of
each school year. The cost to replace a lost card is $2, which covers printing and laminating expenses.
All patrons must go through a library/media orientation at the beginning of each year. The media specialist
must be notified if a student withdraws from school to determine if they still have books checked to their card.
School Media Committee
The school media committee is made up of the principal, media specialist, parent/community representative, teacher representative from each grade level and student representatives. This committee is appointed on a yearly basis and provides input to the system media committee. Duties of this committee include: assisting in setting short and long range goals, helping to identify budget priorities and assisting with book challenges.
Library/Media Funds
Funding for the media center is allocated through an FTE count and supplemented by local funds. Currently, the media center receives $13.03 per FTE for the budget. (2015)
Selection Policy
A Selection Policy, which includes guidelines on how materials are selected for the media center, is in place at HCMS. Procedures for challenged books are included in this policy.
Reconsideration : Procedure for Handling a Challenge
No duly selected materials whose appropriateness is challenged shall be removed from the school except
upon the recommendation of a review committee with the concurrence of the Superintendent or, upon the Superintendent’s recommendation, the concurrence of the Board of Education, or upon formal action of the Board
of Education when a recommendation of a review committee is appealed to it.
All complaints to staff members will be reported to the building principal involved, whether received by telephone, letter, or in personal conversation. The principal or his or her designated representative will contact the complainant to discuss the complaint and attempt to resolve it informally by explaining the philosophy and goals of the school district and/or the library media center. If the complaint is not resolved informally, the complainant will be supplied a packet of materials consisting of the District’s instructional goals and objectives, materials selection policy statement, and the procedure for handling objections. This packet will also include a standard printed form which shall be completed and returned before consideration will be given to the complainant. If the formal request for reconsideration has not been received by the principal within two weeks, the issue will be considered closed. In accordance with the statement of philosophy, no questioned materials shall be removed from the school pending a final decision. Pending the outcome of the request for reconsideration, however, access to the questioned materials can be denied to the child (or children) of the parents making the complaint if they so desire.
Upon receipt of a completed objection form, an evaluation committee (which will include members of the school’s media committee) will meet to discuss the complaint. Members of this committee will include the media specialist, principal, assistant principal, community/parent representative and teacher representatives. The curriculum director will also be invited to attend.
The principal will notify the complainant of the decision and send a formal report and recommendation to the superintendent. If the committee decides to keep the work that caused the complaint, the complainant will be given an explanation. If the complaint is valid, the principal will acknowledge it and make recommended changes. If the complainant is still not satisfied, he or she may ask the Superintendent to present an appeal to the Board of
Education which shall make a final determination on the issue. In making its determination, the Board of Education may seek assistance from outside organizations such as the American Library Association, the Association for
Supervision and Curriculum Development, etc.
In addition...
- The title in question cannot be reconsidered for three years.
- The material will not be removed from the media center until the matter is settled.
- The challenge cannot be started before the material is returned for check-in by the complainant.
The media specialist will provide the most current copyright information to the staff and students. Research
lessons will include information on copyright, plagiarism and how to correctly cite resources. Teachers may check out books on copyright and refer to the information checked out to them to keep in their classrooms throughout the school year.