Martin Luther King, Jr. ElementaryAlbany, Georgia

Media Center

Facilities Plan

FRIT 7132

Fall 2011

Presented by:

Jeanna Edge

Mission

To provide an educational program that will inspire all

students to: excel academically; achieve the

necessary skills to become a productive individual in

a global society; and achieve independence in

problem-solving and critical thinking skills.

Motto & Facts

• School Motto: “Striving for Educational Excellence!”

• Title 1 Distinguished School

• School did not meet AYP for last two school years

School Mission, Motto & Facts

School Profile - Students

• Grades K-5

• 316 students

• 98% African-American; 2% Caucasian

• 95% economically disadvantaged

• 15% students with disabilities

School Profile – Teachers & Staff

• 2 administrators, 2 support personnel, 22

full-time, 4 part-time teachers (15 with

advanced degrees)

• Teachers average 16 years of experience

• 13:1 student-to-teacher ratio

Media Center Mission

The media center serves as the hub of the school,

providing a wide range of resources to promote reading

and the acquisition of information access skills in order to

promote and fulfill educational needs of its students and

faculty. The objectives or goals for the library media

center include the following:

• To encourage interest and proficiency in reading

• To provide an atmosphere conductive to learning

• To provide materials for the enrichment of educational,

recreational, and aesthetic values

• To plan instruction in units of studies through collaboration with

classroom teachers for effective use of the media center

• To provide guidance in the location and use of library media

materials

Media Center Profile

• 1 full time media specialist

• 1 full time media clerk

• Located at front of school directly across

from office and easily accessible to all

students and faculty

• Flexible Schedule

• Hours: 7:00 am to 3:30 pm

Media Center Snapshot

• Circulations

– 737 Checked Out

– 349 Overdue

– 271 Lost

• Unpaid Fines

– 57

– $1,079.29

• Materials

– 9,465 Titles

– 11,528 Copies

– 26 Titles w/o copies

• Patrons: 676 total

– 650 Active

– 1 Restricted

– 25 Inactive

Top Titles

1. How to be a good dog – Gail Page

2. Cranberries – Inez Synder

3. K is for kissing a cool kangaroo – Giles Andreae

4. Leonardo the terrible monster – Mo. Williams

5. Memorial Day – Jacqueline S. Cotton

6. African Elephant – Edana Eckart

7. Alligators and crocodiles – Trudi Strain Trueit

8. Anastasia’s chosen career – Lois Lowry

9. Bubble gum, bubble gum – Lisa Wheeler

10.Diary of a spider – Doreen Cronin

Current Library Statistics

Circulations as

of 10/25/11

Today This Month This Year

Check outs 10 650 1508

In-library use 0 177 324

Renewals 0 11 23

Totals 10 838 1855

Use of the Media Center

• The MC shall be open each day from 7:30 am to 2:10 pm

The media specialist allows use of the MC from 7:00 am to 3:30 pm

• The MC is accessible to all students and faculty at all

times

• Students coming to the MC individually or in groups of

three or fewer must have a media pass from their teacher

• Students coming to the MC must bring their AR logs and

any books to return; Students who come without a log will

be sent back

The media specialist does not send all students back who forget their

log; if they are not “repeat offenders” then they can just let the staff

know what their AR level is and continue searching for a book

Use of the Media Center

• Students can check out books using their ID badges or by

telling library staff their ID number

• Books are due in two weeks for all ages; students may

renew their books

• A student cannot have more than two books checked out

at one time unless special arrangements have been made

The media specialist allows specific students to check out more books

depending on their past use and patronage

• Student checkout/overdue notices will be sent home at

least once a month; If a student damages a book, a

damage letter will be sent home

Use of the Media Center

• If a student damages or loses a book, he/she will not be

allowed to check out another book until the book is

returned or the fine has been paid

The media specialist does not hold back access of checkouts for

children; she feels that mistakes happen and you are dealing with kids

so the school should not use any way to prevent a child from reading

• Students will not be allowed to take part in Field Day or

year end parties until library records have been cleared

The current Media Specialist does not withhold school rewards and

incentives for fines or damaged books

• Students should not borrow other students’ books

• Reference Materials may not be checked out from the MC

Some students are allowed to check out reference materials –

depends on the student

Faculty• Faculty can check out 10

items and place holds for up

to 10 items

• Ceiling due date 5/17

• All items must be turned in

before for all extended

school holidays/breaks

• Loan Periods depend on

type of item:

– Equipment has a loan period

of 90 days

– Reference Material has a

loan period of 2 days

– “Regular” items have a loan

period of 14 days

Student• Students can check out 2 items

and place holds for 1 item

• Ceiling due date 5/3

• All items must be turned in

before extended school

holidays/breaks

• Students can check out

“Regular” items only

• “Regular” items have a loan

period of 14 days

Patron Policies

Media Specialist states that depending

on the student, she will allow reference

materials to be checked out as well as

additional checkouts at a time

Payment for Lost/Overdue Item

Students who lose, destroy, or otherwise damage library media

materials may be assessed at the replacement cost of the items.

(Ga Law 1937, p896, #3; Law 1994, p1936, #2).

1. Library Media Center materials shall be paid for on the basis of

original/replacement cost of material. Materials may be discounted on the basis of

the age of condition of the material at the discretion of the principle or his/her

designee. When prices are not available a minimum of $15.00 shall be charged.

2. Students who return library media materials that exhibit wear in excess of

what could be attributed to normal use may be assessed damaged. This damage

charge shall not be more than the original cost of the materials. The charge for

books so damaged will be left to the discretion of the principal or a designee. A

$1.00 fine will be charged for EACH damaged or missing barcode label, spine label

and AR label.

3. When the exact title cannot be replaced, similar items may be substituted.

The media specialist states that at MLK fines and damage costs are assessed and

letters are sent home but due to the poverty level of the school, the majority of fines are

never paid. She does not limit items due to fines. She feels that all fines should be

written off at the end of the year to prevent other staff from prohibiting use of the MC.

Lost / Overdue Materials

• Students who transfer either within or outside of the

Dougherty County School System who owe for lost,

destroyed or damaged media materials may have their

report cards and transcripts withheld until restitution is

made (1994 Georgia law 20-2-1013).

• Students who are not financially able to pay for lost or

damaged materials shall be allowed to make restitution

in the form of voluntary services.

• A student shall be refunded the full amount paid for lost

books upon the return of the material in acceptable

condition.

• No fines are charged for weekend or school holidays.

Media Center Policies

Orientation

• Orientation is held for all

classes during the first

two weeks of school.

• The media specialist will

teach information access

ad research skills at any

time during the school

year, at teacher request.

Behavior

• Students are expected to

exhibit proper behavior in the

MC.

• Teachers must remain with

and control their class while in

the MC.

• Students K – 2 will be walked

back to the classroom if a

discipline issue arises.

• Students 3-5 will be sent back

to their classroom after a call is

made to the teacher to explain

why materials were not

allowed.

Technology / Video use

• All students, parents, and faculty are expected to follow

copyright law and guidelines in regard to the use of all

materials, print, and nonprofit.

• School computers are to be used to enhance student

instruction.

• Students are not to change programs or print articles

without teacher permission.

• If a student tampers with a computer program or

abuses a computer, he/she will lost the privilege of

using the computer.

• Copyright law states that any videos or DVDs used in

the classroom must be tied to the curriculum.

Reconsideration of Materials

The school media center shall respect the rights of

individuals from the community to question selection in

the media center or school. If a member of the

community questions a selection, the teachers,

principal, media specialist and school media committee

shall follow the instructions for handling challenged

materials as stated in the Instructional Media Policy of

the DCSS.

Board Policies for MC

• Media Programs

In compliance with State Board rules, the Superintendent

shall insure that media committees are established at

each school and at the system level.

• Development of Procedures

The Superintendent shall develop procedures for

selecting materials, handling requests for

reconsideration of materials, considering gifts of

instructional resources, using non-school owned

materials, and complying with copyright laws.

• Media Contact Representative

The Superintendent shall appoint a media contact

representative to serve as a liaison to the State DOE.

Board Policy

• Media Center Implementation

Each media center shall develop a schedule for

accessibility to the media center.

The Media Committee shall make recommendations

relative to planning, operation, evaluation and

improvement of the media program. This committee

shall annually evaluate media services and develop a

multi-year plan.

Collaborative planning by staff and media specialist

shall support on-going classroom instruction and

implementation of the state-adopted curriculum.

Media Center Location

Entrance View from School Entry

•Doors are on main corridor

•Doors are recessed from the

hallway

•Located across from school

office and can be seen from

front entrance of school

Current Floor Plan

•Circulation desk is located at

the front of the media center

•The media specialist’s office is

next to the circulation desk

Circulation Desk

•Desk allows for media specialist

and media clerk to have space to

work simultaneously

•Entire media center can be seen

from desk. Rows of books are

perpendicular to desk so view of

walkways is easy to see

•Seating can accommodate full

class sizes; current set up

allows for 38 seats at tables

•Tables are lightweight and

can be rearranged easily

Seating Area

•Tables must remain on this side of

media center as bookshelves take

up most of center and cannot be

moved

•Tables can accommodate faculty

meetings without rearrangement

•6 computer stations are

available for use in the MC

•No printer or scanner access

is available for students in MC

Computers

•4 Computers are set up in one

area

•2 additional computers are

available for use at the circulation

desk

Work and Storage Areas

5 office spaces are located in the MC

• Media Specialist Office

• Workroom

• Conference Room – open for staff use

• Storage Room – secures laptops, TV carts, cameras, etc.

• Media Production Room

•Work Room includes

laminator and diecut for

teachers.

•All scantron tests are

graded in work room by

Media Specialist and/or

Media Clerk

•Server is located in

workroom

•Media Production

Room stores all VHS

and DVD materials

•Electronic Distribution

System is available by

teacher request

Bookshelves / Stacks

View from Circulation Desk

•All AR books are arranged according

to AR level

•Non-AR books are arranged in

traditional form: Nonfiction,

FIC – Easy Books, FIC – Chapter

Books

•Reference materials and periodicals

line back wall

Student Surveys

How often do you come to the

Media Center?

At least once a day

Once a week

2+ times a month

Once a month

Hardly ever

14%43%

29%

9%

5%

Student Surveys

0

2

4

6

8

10

One of myfavorite places

It's Okay Only come when Ihave to

How do you feel about coming

to the Media Center?

Student Surveys

0

5

10

15

20

No

Yes

Student Surveys

0

5

10

15

20

Not Important

Somewhat Important

Important

Very Important

Rate the Importance of each function of the

Media Center

Student Surveys

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

VeryComfortable

Comfortable SomewhatComfortable

Not at allComfortable

How comfortable do you feel approaching the media staff for help?

Student Survey

What do you like most about the media

center? Responses:

• The books

• The computers

• The quietness

• The Media Specialist

• The welcoming feeling

Student Survey

What do you dislike most about the Media

Center? Responses:

• The books are hard to find

• The limit on the books you can get

• You have to be quiet

Student Survey

Funny Responses

• Pool table, Foosball

• Fair

• Fun Park

• Race Car

• Xbox, Wii

• Pizza Hut, Papa John’s,

Subway, McDonalds

• Food & Fun

Serious Responses

• Ipads instead of computers

• New computers

• More computers

• New Books

• Comfy furniture

• Flat screen TVs

What would you like to see in a NEW

and IMPROVED Media Center?

Faculty Survey

• How do your students most use the media center? –

83.3% stated the entire class visited

• How often do you plan instructional units that require

the use of the MC? – 66.7% stated Frequently

• The media specialist responds to my suggestions for

purchases. – 83.3% stated Always

• The climate of the library is appropriate for learning. –

83.3% stated Extremely Appropriate

• I find the library staff helpful and friendly – 83.3% stated

Always

Faculty Surveys

• What would you change or improve about

the MC?– More Computers

– 2 media clerks needed; current one is pulled to be a

sub to many days

– More AR tests

– Larger Budget

– Media Production Area – photography, music,

movies, etc.

– Self Checkout

– Relaxing Reading Area

Faculty Survey

• The media specialist understands my curricular needs –

83.3% stated Extremely True

• I plan cooperatively with the media specialist for

scheduling classes, equipment use, and the

development of instructional units – 66.7% stated

Frequently

• The MC has adequate equipment to support my

instructional program – 66.7% stated Extremely True

• The library is critical to the learning environment of our

school – 83.3% stated Extremely Critical

Needed MC Improvements

Issues: Morning Show area takes

up valuable space

Solutions:

Expand Media Production Room by tearing

down shared wall with Work/Server Room

to create new Morning Show Studio

Needed MC Improvements

Issues: No soft reading area

Solutions: Use space from previous

Morning Show set up

Purchase items to create an

inviting and comfortable area

Items to be purchased:

•Floor Pillows and area rug

•Sofas/Bench seating

•New storage area for games and

manipulatives

•Puppet Show stage

Needed MC Improvements

Issues: Bookshelves are heavy

and take up more than

half of the center

Books are arranged

differently for AR and Non

AR books

Solutions:

•Rearrange all books in traditional library

manner, still using AR color codes

•Use shelf markers to identify new areas

•Add lock in place casters to all shelves in

order to allow for movement and more

diverse use of the center

Needed MC Improvements

Issues:

Storage areas need to be weeded

and organized

Storage of old materials is seeping

out into the bookshelves on the

main floor

Solutions:

Paperwork completed for pick up of old

materials

Volunteer/staff support to maintain

organization

Needed MC Improvements

Issues:

•Limited number of computers

•No printer access

•Projector and screen position does not

allow all seated to easily view

•Windows and natural light make it hard to

use center to show films, presentations

•Interior windows right by seating allow for

distractions

Solutions:

•Shorten circulation desk to add new

computer area

•Create hallway to connect MC to computer

lab

•Add two printers for student use

•Reposition projector and screen

•Add remote control screens to windows

•Remove lower pane from windows

New placement for

screen

Improved Media Center