Hollifield Station Elementary Library Media Center
Handbook
Tammy Royo Sczepanski and Elisabeth Herman
Library Media Specialists
Library Media Paraeducator
LIBRARY MEDIA CENTER INFORMATION
Introduction
The
unified school Library Media program of the Howard County Public School System
is designed to support the educational goals of the school system and the serve
all students and staff. The school
Library Media program at Hollifield Station Elementary is an essential part of the
instructional process and is integrated into all areas of the curriculum. The program promotes intellectual
freedom and strives for each student to be successful according to his/her
learning style. The Library media
program also encourages each child to interact with all forms of media at
his/her ability level.
Classes in the Library Media Center
Each
class (grades K-5) visits the Library media Center once a week for 45
minutes. During Library Media
class students participate in a variety of instructional activities to:
á Locate,
retrieve, and handle media and equipment;
á Organize
and manage information;
á Comprehend
content in various types of media;
á Appreciate
media as sources of information and recreation; and
á Create
media.
Students
in Preschool visit the Library Media Center to borrow books on a scheduled
basis with the classroom teacher supervising book selection while the Library
Media Assistant, Library Media Specialist(s), or Parent Volunteer uses the
automated circulation system to check out the student's book. when classes are scheduled to visit the
Library media Center for their weekly lesson teachers are asked to escort their
class to the main entrance/exit of the library media center which is located
along the back hallway. Teachers
should remain with their class until a member of the Library Media Staff
invites the class in and directs the students to the location for the day's
lesson. This request is made for
the safety of our students and to uphold the integrity of the Library Media
Center as a learning place for classes and individuals. The side entrances are to be used for
emergency access to the media center only. Please do not use the Library Media Center's side entrances
to "slip" a class through as a "short cut" to the other side
of the building. The architects
were thoughtful enough to provide a back hallway for us to utilize so that the
Library Media Center could function as a classroom without too much disruption
from the hallway traffic.
Individual
students doing research or other activities related to Library Media are
limited to 30 minutes in the Library Media Center or the adjacent Technology
Resource Room unless mutual planning between the teacher and Library Media
Specialist has occurred previously.
If individuals in the teacher sent groups are disruptive, they will be
returned to the classroom immediately.
The Library Media staff is not responsible for the supervision of other
students while a Library Media class is in session. Please plan for supervision at this time and also during the
Library Media Staff's lunch and duty times.
Circulation of Materials - STAFF
Each
staff member (including interns) will be assigned a circulation (barcode)
number that will be kept on file
in the Library Media Center.
ALL MATERIALS MUST BE
SCANNED THROUGH
THE CIRCULATION
COMPUTER BEFORE
LEAVING THE LIBRARY
MEDIA CENTER.
The
circulation computer is in operation from 8:45 am - 4:15 pm. Staff members may also borrow materials
before or after school hours by simply completing the "Hand Charge"
form found on the circulation desk or using the note provide to label the
material you wish to borrow. The
Library Media staff will check them out and return them to your classroom in
the morning.
The
date due for each staff member is set quarterly. Please remember that our Library Media Center is our
students' primary source of information.
If you create a classroom library of materials and then ask the students
to locate information in the library media center we will recall your items so
the students have access to the materials that were purchased for them. A notice will be sent to remind each
staff member that materials are overdue and may be needed by colleagues. Please see the Library Media staff to
renew materials or if another staff member would like to borrow Library Media
materials signed out under your name, we can make the transfer so you will not
be responsible for the items at the end of the year.
When
returning materials, please place them into the return section of the
circulation desk not on top of the desk.
Circulation of Materials - STUDENTS
The
following are borrowing guidelines for students' pleasure reading:
Preschool
- First Grade - 1 book
Second
- Fifth Grade - 2 books
Students
may borrow books as often as they wish, as long as they return borrowed books
before checking-out others. Books
and magazines are circulated for 2 weeks; AV materials are for staff use only. If an extended length of time is
needed, please refer students to the Library Media staff. Reference books, including the newest
sets of encyclopedias, do not leave the Library Media Center. However, the sets of encyclopedia
located on the overnight shelves are available. In the Media Center's homepage has a link to Worldbook
Online, passwords are distributed annually
to students and staff and should not be shared with anyone outside of our
school system.
Students
may visit the Library Media Center at any time, with classroom teacher's
permission to checkout and /or return books. To facilitate the flow of students for this purpose each
classroom teacher will receive a Library Media Center pass the first day
students checkout book as a class (generally the first full week of school). During book selection students have the
freedom to select books of special interest to them; however following the
"Rule of 5" is encouraged.
The "Rule of 5" means that there are not more than 5 words on
a page that the student does not know.
If you feel that certain students should be reading on a high level for
their age please communicate this with the Library Media Specialist(s) prior to
class through a note or email.
Generally,
Pre-School through the first semester of First Grade students are directed to
locate books in the Everybody Book Section. This book section contains a wide range of reading levels
(some as high as 6th grade) with age appropriate content. If students express a desire for a
certain subject area, please communicate this with the Library Media staff
prior to your weekly Library media class time and a selection of books within
the Everybody section will be pulled for the inquiring student(s).
After
the first semester of classes, First Grade students receive direct instruction
about the Non-fiction section of the Library media Center. After this unit students then decide if
they would like to borrow an Everybody book or Nonfiction book. Also during this time many teachers
start to recommend some students borrow easy chapter books; please provide the
Library media Staff with a list of students who are ready for this next step.
Overdue
notices are sent out monthly.
PLEASE distribute these notices to your students in their Monday
folders. The overdue book (or the
replacement cost) needs to be return to the Library Media Center before the
student may borrow another book.
The Library Media staff encourages open communication about overdue
books between students and parents.
Please send students or notes from parents to the library media center
and we will work with each case individually. As our school continues to grow this aspect of our job must
be handled delicately so that students feel comfortable and welcome to borrow
materials from our Library Media Center.
Computer Utilization
The
goal of the Hollifield Station Elementary Technology Team is for all staff to
have access to the computer network.
Almost all certificated staff have a laptop assigned for their use in
school and at home. Please note
that this is an instructional computer and the students should also have access
to this equipment that was purchased with them in mind. It is the responsibility of each staff
member to have the laptop in school each instructional day. If a laptop is mistakenly left at home,
please do not ask for a loaner.
Our mobile labs are in high demand and removing one from the cart
impacts instruction. Generally,
every classroom is provided with a desktop computer, which is connected to the
network and the printer within that instructional area. (Please note- after the initial
allotment of toner is provided from the Library Media Center, teams must use
team funds to purchase additional supplies). Inkjet (color) and Laser printer are not to be used as copy
machines. Laptops can be connected
to large screen monitors or to an LCD projector. Please see the Library Media Staff about this connection
device prior needing to use it in front of students. Each classroom computer is connected to the network through
the server. PLEASE do not switch
computers without consulting the Library Media
Staff. Also if a breakdown occurs
teachers are responsible for simple troubleshooting (checking that electrical
power is available, restarting and noting any error messages). After those steps are attempted they
should next contact the Library Media Staff or one of Technology Teachers., if the representative cannot rectify
the problem you should complete a Media Services Request form, which is located
under the US flag in the Library Media Center - (aka - The HELP DESK). These forms are checked
"morning, noon, and night" by the Library Media staff. The staff will attempt to repair
computers within the week as the teaching schedule allows or report the repair
request into the Computer Tech assigned to our school.
Additionally,
the computer lab which houses 27-30 stationary networked computers with
Internet access, laser printer, overhead projector/screen, and LCD projector
may be scheduled for large group instructional use. Check the HSES Technology Calendar on Hollifield Station's
CLC conference for availability.
Then send an email to the Library Media Paraeducator to request the
date/time. Inside of the Library
Media Center is another lab, the Technology Resource Room, which houses 20
stationary networked computers with Internet Access, a laser printer and color
inkjet printer, a flatbed color scanner, an overhead projector, LCD projector
and screen. See the Library Media
Assistant about availability of this lab.
A
limited amount of commercial software is housed on the A-V shelves in the
Library Media Center and may be borrowed for use on laptop computers. Prior arrangements must be made with
the Library Media Staff/Technology Teachers if you require assistance in loading the software. Once the software is returned to the
Library Media Center the application must be removed from your workstation to
adhere to copyright laws, unless a site or network license is purchased for our
school.
Internet
access is available on every workstation throughout the building and should be
used instructionally. Please note
we do not have a secure server system, our Internet is accessed through the
central office's server and the System's Administrator (i.e.: "big brother" could be watching). Students must have direct staff
supervision to access the Internet through a web browser (Safari). Please do not give students your
password to access your folder as security could be breached all over the
building. In addition, each
student is assigned a login code to be used for their elementary career. This login will be distributed in
library media class/technology class within the first weeks of school. Students should ALWAYS login with their own code not a teacher's
code. Please remember our students
are natives to technology "we" are the immigrants - our students
adapt to change much better than we!
Each
staff member is set up with an email account through the county's Collaborative
Learning Community - First Class (CLC).
As a school we utilize email to limit paper memos, please check your
email at least once a day and refrain from printing out every message. Email accounts can be "fixed"
electronically, but please try to troubleshoot on your own (check caps locks,
memorize your password, close out of First Class and open again) before
contacting the Technology Teachers/Media Staff or completing a Media Service Request form.
Equipment
Equipment
that is used daily is assigned to each teaching team at the beginning of the
school year. If you are unfamiliar
with any piece of equipment, please request a demonstration from the Library
Media Staff. If equipment that is
assigned to our area is discovered to be missing, report it immediately to the
Library Media staff. A police
report must be filed on all missing equipment. Please do not remove equipment from one area to another
without notifying the Library Media Staff.
Return
equipment to the Library Media Production Room if it is damaged or
inoperative. Attach a note to the
equipment explaining the problem and sign your name. Do not let inoperative equipment remain in your area. Substitutions for inoperative equipment will be made when
possible.
PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE
EQUIPMENT FROM THE
AUDIO-VISUAL STORAGE
ROOMS UNLESS YOU HAVE MADE
PRIOR ARRANGEMENTS
WITH THE LIBRARY MEDIA STAFF
Please
arrange for pick-up and return of equipment at appropriate times (i.e.: please do not bring your damaged
equipment when your class comes for their Library media Class and expect to
pick it up repaired after your class).
The Library Media Staff cannot stop a class to distribute or repair
equipment. If a lamp in an
overhead projector burns out, please bring the projector to the Library Media
Center for repair, we can no longer distribute lamps to staff member for self
replacement. Please return any
equipment to the Library Media Center you are no longer using. As our school continues to grow we must
make maximum use of everything we own.
Evaluation of Materials/Copyright Laws
All
print and nonprint materials used with students must be from the "approved
list" or be evaluated following the established procedures. If you plan to use an unapproved, book, video, or DVD, all teachers
who utilize the material MUST preview and complete an evaluation form
(available on line at http://www2.hcpss.org/met/media/handbook/appendix/selcrit-rev042707.pdf or may be obtained from the Library Media Staff and are kept on file
once completed. The copyright laws
of the United States (Title 17 U.S. Code) govern the making of photocopies or
other reproductions of copyrighted material. The person reproducing the copyrighted material, in any
format, is liable for any infringement.
Contact the Library Media Staff and request a pamphlet about the
copyright laws and how it affects educators developed by Howard County Library
Media Specialists.
Howard
County Public School System Audio-Visual Library materials listed in curriculum
guides, but not available in our Library Media Collection can be ordered from
the Central AV Library. Materials
can be reserved up to two months in advance. Check with the Library Media Staff to order materials, use
the Media Catalog Request Form and fill in the number, title and requested date
(Wednesday or Friday). The Library
Media Staff will reserve the material under your name and the form will be
returned after confirmation dates are received. Be aware that all titles requested must be approved for
elementary students.
When
a video arrives, it will be placed in your mailbox or on our desk. After use, return the material to the
Library Media Center circulation desk.
Please do not plan to use the material on the date of arrival due to he
event that the "pony" may arrive late and distribution will be impossible. all materials MUST be returned to the
Library Media Center circulation desk by 3:00 p.m. on the date BEFORE the due
date.
Please never take a video out of or put material into the
blue "pony" bag. all
videos/materials must be routed through the Library Media Center. If for some reason you do not return
the material to the Library media Center, you will be responsible for returning
the video to Media Technical Services at the ARL Building on Route 108.
Laminating
Laminating
is available for teaching materials that are used year-to-year. Items to be laminated should be those
students will be using directly (game boards, manipulatives, etc.) or items
that will receive years of use.
Items that will be used once or only took a few minutes to create are
not worth the expense of laminating.
The Library Media Staff will
demonstrate operating procedures a the beginning of the year for those staff
members unfamiliar with this machine.
In addition, Paraeducators will be trained on how to load
film onto the laminator to provide a broad range of laminator techs who can
provide this service for the staff.
Periodicals, Professional Collection and Curriculum
Guides - Essential Learning Documents
A
variety of professional magazines and journals are subscribed to each
year. Current issues are
circulated to interested staff members.
Back issues are stored in the Library Media Center at the beginning of the
Audio-Visual Collection, the loan period for back issues is three weeks to
ensure accessibility to all staff members.
The
professional book collection is located in the Library Media Centerat the begining of the Audio-Visual Collection and contains many practical lesson idea books. These books may be borrowed for a
quarter at a time.
Generally,
curriculum guides and Essential Learning documents can be obtained on the
Document Repository. Ask the
Library Media Staff for a user id and password to access these files. Additionally, some guides will need to
be ordered through IFAS by the principal's secretary for delivery from the
county's warehouse.
Selection of Materials
Library
Media Center material is ordered on an on-going basis between September and
March each year. Staff
recommendations for Library Media Materials are appreciated. Please give all suggestions to the
Library Media Staff for consideration; this includes professional journals and
books. When suggesting materials
for the Library Media collection, please include the following information: title, author, publisher, copyright
date, and if possible the International Standard Book Number (ISBN).
Teacher Services
The
Library Media Specialist(s) are available for consultation, planning,
production, and organization of Library Media resources. If a unit is being planned for which
Library Media Materials are needed, please consult the Library Media
Specialist(s) in advance (at least 2 days). At the beginning of each month, each team as the opportunity
to inform the Library Media staff o units being planned and materials needed
through a "Working Together" survey. Surveys that are returned to the Library Media Center
receive top priority. Supplies
such as transparencies, recordable CD-Rom discs, audio and/or video tapes are
available from the Library Media Center.
Please try to make requests before or after school; the Library Media
Staff cannot stop a class to provide services.
Additionally,
a book binding system, a poster maker, flatbed scanner, SM Card Photo Reader,
and an Ellison Letter Cutter are available for use. Contact the Library Media Staff if you need a demonstration
on how to operate this equipment.
Keep the Library Media Staff informed of events happening in your
team/area. The Library Media staff
will try to be available for photographing/videotaping that special event or
will provide you with a camera if enough notice
is given.