Mcnair Discovery Learning Academy

McNair Discovery Learning Academy LIBRARY MEDIA CENTER HANDBOOK

Staff: Mrs. Naimah Henry, Media Specialist

I. Mission

The mission of McNair Discovery Learning Academy is to ensure that the students and staff are effective and ethical users of ideas and information. Students are empowered to be critical thinkers, enthusiastic readers, skillful researchers, and ethical users of information. McNair Discovery Learning Academy School Library Media Program’s purpose is to expand and enhance classroom experiences and promote life-long enjoyment of reading and learning. This is accomplished by meeting the following objectives:

 To provide daily opportunities for patrons to browse, explore, and use all resources in the media center  Collaborate with other educators, students, families, and communities to design strategies to meet the needs of individual students  To provide instruction to foster competence and stimulate interest in reading, viewing and using informational ideas  To provide physical and intellectual access to materials in all formats  To provide support to patrons in carrying out resource and research based learning assignments and activities  The media specialist and teacher will plan activities and projects that integrate the classroom curriculum with Information Skills. These activities will incorporate real- life learning scenarios that will encourage the use of a variety of formats to address different learning styles  Incorporate ISTE standards to ensure 21st Century standards are addressed McNair Discovery Media Center

Hours of Service

The Library Media Center is open from 7:30 am to 2:00pm daily.

SCHEDULE

The Georgia Board of Education Policy IFA and State Standard I11 mandate that flexible scheduling occur in all media centers. Flexible scheduling allows simultaneous access to the Media Center by individuals, small groups, and entire classes at the point of instructional need. The teacher and/or grade level group must meet with the Media Specialist to plan use of the Media Center that supports and enhances some current area of study. This planning session could be for one lesson or a series of lessons.

SCHEDULING The McNair School Media Center operates under a flexible and open schedule which provides accessibility and use of the media center throughout the day. K through second grade may schedule a weekly story time along with book check-out for 30 minutes. Teachers may request stories related to classroom topics or themes. Third, fourth, and fifth grade teachers may sign up for a book check out as a class or send three students at an available time slot. The media center is always available for individual students or small groups to use for research, independent reading and other activities. Third-fifth grade teachers may send up to five students at a time for check out during an available slot. Media center time is a collaborative effort between teacher and media specialist, Therefore teachers remain with their classes during the scheduled time. They assist with lessons, class research, checkout, and other relevant activities. The Georgia Library Media Policy states that teachers are to stay with their classes throughout the story and checkout. Library classes must have a purpose. These classes can be whole or small group (small group is defined as a group of five students or less) to supplement classroom instruction in the area of information literacy, research projects, use of print and non- print materials or lessons designed in collaboration between classroom teachers and the teacher-librarian. Only K-2nd

grade classes may come for story time. Please remember that story time must relate to Common Core or the current unit or lesson. TEACHERS, COMPLETE THE REQUIRED PLANNING SHEET AVAILABLE ON THE MEDIA CENTER ICON. IF YOU ARE NOT FAMALIAR WITH USING THE FORM, PLEASE SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH MRS. HENRY.

FOOD: Students may not have food, drink or gum in the Library Media Center at any time. This includes bottled water or candy.

PASSES: Passes are required after 7:30 am and during the school day. Students without a pass from their teacher will not be allowed in the Media Center. CIRCULATION

Teachers There is no limit on the number of books/videos a teacher may check out. However, we would like for you to return your materials as soon as you are finished with them. STUDENTS ARE NOT TO RETURN ANY EQUIPMENT OR MATERIALS CHECK-OUT IN TEACHER’S NAME. TEACHERS MUST RETURN THEIR OWN MATERIALS.

Students Students in grades K-5 may check out one book at a time.

All books/videos will be collected at the end of each semester.

AUDIO-VISUAL (AV) EQUIPMENT Overhead projectors, carts, listening centers and radio/cassette/CD players are available to teachers at the beginning of the school year, and are to be returned by the designated date to the Teacher-Librarian, usually during Post-Planning. Multimedia carts including ELMOs and laptop carts can only be checked-out for daily use due to high demand.

Please Note: Teachers must complete equipment request form for equipment 48 hours in advance to the teacher-librarian. Forms are located on Media Center icon on First Class.

The following equipment is available to teachers for checkout on a daily, first- come basis: TV/VCR/DVD player Digital still camera

Digital video camera LCD projector ELMO projector ** Special Education Teachers may check out a laptop purchased by the Special Education Department on a 24 hour basis. COMPUTER EQUIPMENT Teachers may check out a computer cart on a daily, first come basis. Teachers may check out laptop computers on a two week basis. Teachers must fill out an equipment form and provide a copy of their home-owner’s insurance policy.

CHECK OUT FOR LAPTOP COMPUTERS IS ONLY FOR A TWO WEEK PERIOD PER DEKALB COUNTY POLICY. PLEASE NOTE: Laptop computers are to be used solely for school-related work. Refer to DeKalb Employee Internet Usage Policy.

LIBRARY MEDIA COMPUTERS McNair Discovery Media Center has 17PCs and 3 mobile laptop carts for student, and teacher use. Parents are welcome to use the computers in the library located in our Parent Resource Center. Please remember: Priority is given to students needing to use media center computers.

Care of Equipment Teachers should not swap or loan equipment checked out to them without changing the records in the Media Center. At the end of the school year, each teacher is accountable for all equipment and materials charged out in his or her name during the year. All overhead projectors must be allowed to cool before they are moved. This practice will help to extend the life of the projector bulbs.

If a piece of equipment needs repair, please attach a note to it that explains the problem in specific terms before returning it to the Media Center.

According to State regulations, students are not allowed to move television carts under any circumstances. This regulation also includes any other cart that is taller than the student. If a teacher is unable to leave the classroom to pick up or return a television cart, a message should be sent to the Media Center, and someone will move the cart as soon as possible.

INTERNET In accordance with the DeKalb County Internet Acceptable Use Agreement (IAUA), all students wishing to use the Internet must read the terms and conditions of the IAUA along with parents. This agreement is located in the Students Rights and Responsibilities Handbook. All students are required to return a signed copy of the agreement to their school where it will be kept on file.

Please Note: The internet is solely for school-related research. E-mail, games, and downloading of music are not permitted. ACCOUNTABILITY FOR MATERIALS DeKalb County Board of Education Policy IFA-R (1) School Property Accountability for Instructional Materials

Students shall be responsible for careful stewardship of school property. Students who lose or destroy school property shall be required to reimburse the DeKalb County Board of Education for the current replacement value of the item(s). Students who return school property which exhibits wear in excess of that which could be attributed to normal use shall be assessed for damages.

Written notice shall be sent to parents/guardians when a student needs to make restitution for lost, destroyed, or damaged school property.

Students who owe for lost, destroyed, or damaged property shall be denied the privilege of checking out additional materials until restitution has been made to the school. Students may continue to use the learning resources or equipment within the confines of the school or media center.

Students who fail to make restitution to the Board for lost, destroyed or damaged school property shall have their report cards and/or certificates of promotion/diplomas withheld. Students who are not able to pay immediately for lost or damaged school property shall be allowed to make incremental payments, or to make restitution to the school in some other manner.

Media/Technology Committee The Media/Technology Committee consists of administrators, faculty, parents, and students. Its function is to help with the formulation of technology usage policy, with the selection of materials and equipment, with the evaluation of the Media Center, and to help set policies and goals. This same Committee, with the exception of the student members, also reconsiders materials that have been challenged by parents or faculty.