Library Media Program Description

The mission of the Howard County School Library Media program is to provide
opportunities for students and staff to become effective users of ideas and information.

This mission supports the mission of the Howard County Public School System which is to:
Ensure that each student meets or exceeds rigorous performance and achievement standards.
Ensure the highest level of performance for all staff.
Develop and implement curriculum and assessments, which are relevant and challenging.
Provide a safe, nuturing, and academically stimulating learning environment.
Create an environment in which students, staff, families, and community members participate and contribute.
Ensure that diversity and commonality are valued.
Ensure that policies, structures, services, and resources support the vision, beliefs, mission, and goals.
 

The Library Media program at Hollifield Station Elementary is dedicated to helping our students enjoy literature and become information literate in our ever-changing world.

All students in Kindergarten through Grade Five visit the library media center once a week for a 45 minute class during Language Arts.  With the additon of Technology Class into the Related Arts schedule, many parents have asked if Library Media class will continue to integrate technology applications into Library Media instruction - the answer is a resounding YES! During Library Media class, students will be engaged in learning activities that include basic media concepts such as:

  • listening to literature that complements what they are learning in their various classes;
  • researching topics introduced in their science and social studies classes;
  • using books, magazines and computers;
  • learning how to find information in the media center and on the internet;
  • creating presentations using computer programs and other media; and
  • will also have an opportunity to evaluate various types of media. 

In addition to these information and literature skills each student is encouraged to check out books from the media center during their weekly media class. Students may also visit the media center at anytime during the school day with their classroom teacher's permission to borrow books.  Books are checked out for two weeks and can be renewed twice.  Preschool, Kindergarten, and First grader students can check out one book each week, second through fifth graders can check out two pleasure reading books. Students are advised to keep their books in a safe place at home, to avoid losing them. If a book is lost or damaged, the student will be asked to pay the replacement cost.  We hope parents will encourage their children’s love of reading by enjoying library media books with their children, discussing the types of books their children are choosing and reminding children to return their books on time.  A special partnership has been developed with the Howard County Library and we encourage families to visit on a regular basis.

We would like to remind parents that the Howard County Public School System provides access to four excellent interactive websites that supply information children can use for information. They are SIRS Discoverer on the Web, World Book Online, CultureGrams. and NoodleTools. Information has gone home providing the passwords for these websites. These websites can be accessed quickly through our Media Center link on the Hollifield Station Website.  If you have lost this information, please contact the library media center.

Parents are always welcome in our library media center and should feel free to contact us
if they have any questions about our library media program or would like to volunteer.
 

Parents often ask about the lessons learned in library media class. To help
with a general understanding of concepts covered we hope the following information will give a brief overview. If you would like more detailed information please contact your child's library media teacher.

Library Media Skills Grade by Grade
 
Kindergarten
*What is a library media center and who works there?
* Library media center procedures: manners, browsing, selecting, and signing out books.
* Proper book care.
* Listening to and sharing stories.
* Predicting outcomes, drawing conclusions, making inferences, and listening for details.
* Sequencing: recalling and retelling stories.
* Interpreting illustrations.
* Participating in storytelling, songs, and fingerplays.
* Introduction to a variety of authors and illustrators.
 
First Grade
* Maintenance of previous skills.
* Parts of a book: author, illustrator, title, cover, spine, and spine label.
* Book selection skills: evaluating cover, illustrations, subject, contents, difficulty.
* Arrangement of Everybody Books: finding books by a given author.
* Introduction to nonfiction.
* Fiction vs. nonfiction: comparing and contrasting.
* Introduction to the dictionary.
* Identifying and describing plot, setting, main characters.
* Reading enrichment and encouragement: storytelling and reading guidance.
 
Second Grade
* Maintenance of previous skills.
* Reinforce parts of a book: title page, publisher, copyright date, call number/letters,
.... place of publication.
* Determining readability: The Rule of Five.
* How a book is made; from writer to reader.
* Library media center arrangement: introduction to location and arrangement of everybody books, fiction, nonfiction, and reference.
* Exploring nonfiction: finding books given the subject.
* Introduction to catalog.
* Introduction to encyclopedias: arrangement; finding topics.
* Introduction to electronic tools to access information.
* Introduction to magazines.
* Reading enrichment and encouragement: storytelling and reading guidance.
 

Third Grade
* Maintenance of previous skills.
* Reinforce parts of a book: table of contents, index, and glossary.
* Fiction, nonfiction, biography, reference: finding books given author's name and/or call number/letters; differentiating between types of books using title, cover, spine label, and contents.
* Reintroduction to catalog: locating books given an author, title, or subject.
* Using encyclopedias: arrangement; finding topics, answering simple reference questions after selecting the key word.
* Introduction to the concept of copyright.
* Usage of electronic tools to access information.
* Reading enrichment and encouragement. booktalks, storytelling, and reading guidance.

 
 
Fourth Grade
* Maintenance of previous skills.
* Library media center arrangement: locating and defining on a map all areas of library media center such as everybody books, fiction, nonfiction, reference, catalog, circulation desk, magazines.
* Review arrangement and definition of fiction, nonfiction, and reference.
* Finding books given author's name and/or call numbers/ letters; differentiating between types of books.
* Introduction to Dewey Decimal System's ten classes; categorizing nonfiction subject areas, given a Dewey number.
* Catalog review: locating books given an author, title, or subject; using the catalog to answer reference questions.
* Using encyclopedias: locating topics, selecting the key word or words; comparing and evaluating sets and information; compiling simple reports using more than one set of encyclopedias.
* Introduction to the concept of plagiarism.
* Accessing information with electronic tools.
* Reading enrichment and encouragement: booktalks, storytelling, and reading guidance.
 

Fifth Grade
* Maintenance of previous skills.
* Catalog review: identify and utilize basic information on catalog record.
* Locating materials by call numbers/letters.
* Choosing proper reference materials: arrangement and use of basic sources including almanacs, atlases, and indexes to answer reference questions.
* Taking notes.
* Utilization of electronic tools to access information.
* Identifying fiction genres: fantasy, science fiction, historical fiction, humorous stories, mystery and suspense.
* Reading enrichment and encouragement: booktalks, storytelling, and reading guidance.
 
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