A Flexible Schedule is Important to Library Media Programs

Students need access to resources throughout the day

The library media center houses resources for students and staff. These resources should be available for patrons to research or check out at any time throughout the day. The media center houses books on shelves and digital books to download and read online. Our media center includes two green screens, computers, iPads, a Smart Board with data projector and conference area. 
​A flexible schedule is the best – and most important – aspect of our media program. Because of this flexibility, students are able to come early, throughout the day, during lunch and late afternoon to select resources to read and check out.  They bring Chromebooks to repair. They check out a loaner Chromebook if they forget to bring their unit. They manage shelves as Shelf Managers. They create digital projects or record segments for the news show. They study. Often, students produce segments to promote new books, sports, club events, weather, Boxtops promo or how-to download an eBook. Students may also use Chromebooks or any computer to create grids in @flipgrid.  
Media collections should be managed by highly qualified professionals with a library media degree. Why? Because we know the rules and laws about publishing, patron privacy, citing resources, and organizing books so students may FIND them easily -- without cumbersome labels that might confuse some of them. We know there are different types of licensing for digital books so we purchase those that will not disappear after a limited number of checkouts. We purchase digital books (as many as we can find, anyway) that have "Instant Access" for multiple downloads that can be kept on devices and used for as long as patrons want to use them.  We know how to skillfully communicate with all patrons. We know how to promote reading and how to promote the media program. We know how to collaborate with teachers and administrators. We know what to do to help struggling readers or those with higher Lexile scores, find books on their reading levels. We  know to weed outdated titles and watch for guaranteed bindings that fall apart and request for free new ones from publishers. We find useful websites, apps and other resources for staff and students and share tips on how to use them. We maintain inventories for books (media center) and equipment (entire school). We troubleshoot Chromebook and computer issues and write technical notes, box those packages, and send them for repairs. We seek out grants to fund more books, devices or programs for all patrons. We keep books in order and show patrons how to use the Call Number to find titles using the digital card catalog. They will need this skill to find items in high school, tech school and college libraries. We greet patrons with kindness and offer them a safe place to find the joy of reading without being graded or judged.
Just my thoughts @bravesread. Til next time... #readforjoy!
--GS