Westmont Elementary Media Center Facilities Plan 1

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Table of Contents School Information, p. 4 Mission Statement, p. 5 Policies, p. 6 Photo Tour, p. 11 Existing Floor Plan, p. 31 The Positive About WMC, p. 32 The Negatives About WMC, p. 33 Teacher Survey Results, p. 34 Student Opinions, p. 35 Changes to be made to Facility, p. 36 New and Improved Floor Plan, p. 38 Description of Additions to Media Center, p. 39 3

Westmont Elementary In the Columbia County School District Located in Martinez, GA, a suburb of Augusta, GA 566 students Grades: Pre-K—5th (1) Pre-K (5) K (5) 1st Grade (5) 2nd Grade (5) 3rd Grade (4) 4th Grade (4) 5th Grade (2) Special Education, (4) EIP, (1) Speech, (1) ESOL Media Center, Art, PE, Music, Counselor 44 certified faculty 55% of students receive free/reduced lunch 4

Media Mission Statement The purpose of the library media center is to support the philosophy, goals, and instructional programs of the Columbia County Schools. It is a service agency and a resource center and should be an integral part of the instructional program. The library media specialist is responsible for the design and delivery of an effective media program. This program should emphasize a planning philosophy that stresses the specific needs of the school curriculum and the students. The media program should be changing and evolving in response to societal, economic, and technological demands on education. 5

School Board Facilities Policies Each school shall develop processes to implement the system media policy and procedures. The following shall be included in the school media program: a. A plan for flexibly scheduled media center access for students and teachers in groups or as individuals simultaneously throughout each instructional day. Accessibility shall refer to the facility, the staff, and the resources and shall be based on instructional need. b. A school media committee that makes recommendations and decisions related to planning, operation, evaluation and improvement of the school media program. This committee shall annually evaluate media services and develop a multi-year media plan for budget and service priorities. c. Collaborative planning that includes joint determination by media specialists and teachers to ensure use of media center resources and services that support ongoing classroom instruction. d. Procedures that hold students and school personnel accountable for instructional resources provided through the media center. e. A procedure for complying with current copyright law and for appointing one individual to provide current copyright clearance and to recommend compliance procedures. f. Quality instructional media provided through a unified media program are available in sufficient quantity and diversity to support state required and locally adopted curricula, varying instructional strategies and learning styles to contribute to the attainment of educational goals/objectives. g. Organizational and management of all school-owned instructional resources through the media program, excluding textbooks, items purchased with categorical funds or those useful only in one content area. h. Use of community resources necessary to provide effective support to instruction. i. Provide students with opportunities to develop information access skills. The system media policy shall be reviewed with school personnel annually and will be available upon request. Newly built or renovated system media centers will meet the minimum requirements specified in A Guide for Planning and Construction of Public School Facilities in Georgia: Media Center Facilities with regards to functional areas, square footage, and electronic distribution system. http://www.ccboe.net/media/files/41AE926449284BB7B8E70E3E1D5CFC4D.pdf 6

School Board Facilities Policies A. Accessibility Local Board of Education policies and accreditation standards dictate that accessibility of the media center be provided for both individual students and groups simultaneously throughout the instructional day during each day of the school year. (Georgia Accrediting Standards, Educational Practices Reference Guide, 2010 AdvancED, formerly SACS). The school library media specialist organizes and facilitates a physical environment designed specifically to meet the learning and information needs of students, teachers, and others with a variety of educational and informational resources that provide access to information both within the school and in the local, regional, and global communities. B. Organization 1. All library media resources shall be organized for effective and efficient use through cataloging, classifying, and arranging all elements of the collection. 2. Each Columbia County media specialist is expected to organize and make available for use all print and non-print media and equipment purchased with media funds. Guides to use in determining these access and delivery systems will be: Policies of the School District Professional training Professional books and periodicals Goals and facilities of the school and media center Experiences as an educator Insights into the needs of the particular school population 3. Each media specialist is expected to maintain an automated system for bibliographic management, circulation of materials and equipment, and information distribution. The current computerized library automation system adopted by the school system is utilized in all schools. Below are additional resources to aid in modifying a catalog system. http://www.ccboe.net/media/files/41AE926449284BB7B8E70E3E1D5CFC4D.pdf 7

School Board Facility Policies C. Scheduling & Collaborative Planning 1. The media specialist is responsible for the management of space, equipment, resources, and supplies for all library media programs and services. 2. Flexible access to the library media programs and services shall be maintained as stated in State Rule 160-4-4-.01 Media Programs - a plan for flexibly scheduled media center access for students and teachers in groups or as individuals simultaneously throughout each instructional day. Accessibility shall refer to the facility, the staff, and the resources and shall be based on instructional need. 3. Collaboration shall include joint planning by media specialist and teachers to ensure that the use of media center resources and services support on-going classroom instruction and implementation of the state-adopted curriculum. 4. Responsibility for delivery of instruction is determined during the planning process, recognizing that in some elementary cases the media specialist will have time scheduled with classroom groups without the teacher’s presence. At all levels, planning for the use of the media center shall be shared with the classroom teacher and the expectation is that, whenever possible, both the media specialist and the teacher should be present during instruction in the media center. When the media center has a scheduled class, another entire class should not come to the media center without prior permission of the media specialist. Copyright The Columbia County Board of Education supports and complies with the United States copyright law. Requests to duplicate copyrighted instructional materials must be obtained using the Columbia County Schools Copyright Clearance Form. http://www.ccboe.net/media/files/41AE926449284BB7B8E70E3E1D5CFC4D.pdf 8

School Board Facilities Policies *Red font indicates added policies and/or changes Maintenance Miscellaneous Assets will be responsible for maintaining an inventory of all media books and software on their media software program will maintain all other miscellaneous equipment on the media software as agreed upon by the Columbia County Association of Library Media Specialists responsible for the checking out of any school equipment using the policy IFA and Procedure IFA (D) Attachment 5 ―Loan Form‖ (exception: the band director will be responsible for the issuing of all band equipment) Equipment Warranty Service Check all new equipment carefully to make certain that it functions properly and has not been damaged in transport. If it has been damaged, contact the company immediately. Complete warranty card(s) on each piece of equipment and mail card(s) to company. On each piece of equipment, keep an accurate up-to-date record which includes: date ordered, date received, company where purchased, cost of each item, serial and model numbers, source of funds used, and a repair record. Update the county computer inventory, which is maintained by the school secretary. A policy should be in place to hold students responsible for their taking care of technology equipment. Repair of Materials Rebinding of printed materials is to be handled by each school. Only those books or printed materials worthy of the expense should be rebound. Below is listed a company you may wish to consult. National Library Bindery Company of Georgia, P.O. Box 428, Roswell, GA 30077, 1-800-422-7908, nlbga@mindspring.com Mending Media specialists should be acquainted with basic mending techniques. Books and booklets, which graphically illustrate how to mend, should be kept on hand, as well as materials for mending. http://www.ccboe.net/media/files/41AE926449284BB7B8E70E3E1D5CFC4D.pdf 9

Westmont Elementary Facility Policies Media Center Information *Red font indicates added policies and/or changes The Westmont Media Center is open from 8:40 am to 3:30 pm each school day (Times should be increased so that students have more time before and after school to checkout/return books. The new times: 8:00am to 4:00pm). All Students may check out 2 books for a period of one week (A policy should be added here about reference material. Students can check out 2 reference books in addition to the pleasure reading books excluding encyclopedias). Books may be renewed Students use their school ID numbers to check out materials Students visit the media center for their specials rotation once every eighteen days (This should be changed so that the students come to media center more often. Each class should have instructional time in the Media Center at least once a week). Students may also come to the media center on an as needed basis to check out materials and utilize resources Eight computers are available (A total of 16 computers and 2 carts of laptops will be available). A policy should be in place to inform teachers on procedures for scheduling instructional time with the Media Specialist as needed. An online calendar should be created for scheduling. A policy for technology use for students should be in place regarding the use of computers, internet, flip cams and iPods while in the Media Center. http://wesmediacenter.com/AboutUs.html 10

Photo Tour of Westmont Elementary Media Center 11

Overview of the Media Center 12

Media Specialist Melissa Lewis She is always ready to assists students in the Media Center! 13

Circulation Desk There are 2 locations on the circulation desk for checkout. 14

Reading Areas There are 3 reading areas: Tables Lounge area Teacher read-aloud 15

Instructional Area Projector Computers Printer Projection Screen Student Tables with dry-erase boards and markers 16

Bookshelves 17

Bookshelves 18

News Show The 5th grade students at Westmont Elementary record a morning show every day in the Media Center that broadcasts throughout the school and classrooms. 19

Teacher’s Resources The conference room in the Media Center houses teacher resources. 20

Videos Videos are stored in a room that can only be accessed through the Media Specialist’s office. 21

Décor in Media Center Murals 22

Décor in Media Center Stuffed animals to go along with books 23

Entrances & Exits 24

Books by Visiting Authors The Media Specialist displays books on this shelf in the middle of the Media Center by authors that have visited the school. 25

Student Work Display 26

Media Specialist’s Office 27

New Book Arrivals 28

Media Clerk Area 29

Computers 30

31 Westmont’s Existing Floor Plan in the Media Center

The Positives About Westmont Media Center Westmont Elementary Media Center has a very organized and open feel. There is plenty of space to walk around, and sufficient room for the handicapped. The Media Center space is much larger than most. The murals, displaying a sailboat on the ocean, a lighthouse, and an air plane with a sign, “Sail into Reading”, create brightness and creativity within the Media Center. Atop most of the bookshelves, stuffed animals are displayed with the accompanying picture books, which visually invites the students. There are 3 different reading areas for the students’ use with seating. The left side of the library houses the fiction books, and the right side houses the nonfiction books. An instructional area takes up a large section of the Media Center. It includes a large projector screen, projector, computers, student tables, and a printer. There is a room dedicated to teacher resources. The circulation desk is easy to access and has 2 checkout stations. There is an exit door that leads to an outside area. There are 2 entrances from the school hallways. Wireless Internet is available for the 2 carts of laptops and in the Media Center. There is virtual access to the OPAC on the Media Center’s website as well as other resources such as research, so that the students may access these at home. 32

The Negatives About Westmont Media Center Lounge Reading area is in the center of the Media Center No listening stations There are only 8 student computers. There is not enough seating in the lounge reading area. There is only 1 lamp for the entire area. An uncomfortable rug is used for seating in the read-aloud area. The read-aloud area is a little dark and could use more lamps. There are no big signs displaying the different genres. There isn’t an area for faculty, MS, administrators to collaborate. Too much space is being taken up by videos, many of which are out of date, and need to be weeded. Only 1 printer for student use. 33

Teacher Survey Results 75% would like more reading areas and small group areas 60% would like more comfortable seating 40% would like the books to be organized better 70% would like the teacher resource area to stand out. A lot of teachers forget that it is there. 40% would like listening stations 65% would like an area for leveled readers/chapter books for small group instruction 40% would like more trade books for social studies and science 20% would like more lower level books for the younger students Survey Monkey was used to collect this data. Survey can be found at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Q2RZYGV. 34

Student Opinions “I am not really sure where the reference section is.” “Sometimes I don’t know what kind of book I want.” “There isn’t enough seats in the reading area for everyone.” “I can always see and hear Ms. Lewis while she is teaching.” “I don’t like how the books are on the shelves. It’s hard to find a book.” “When I need to find a book, I go to Ms. Lewis or look it up on the computer.” “I don’t like the reading area in the middle of the media center.” 35

Facility Changes Based on Faculty and Student Concerns Purchase enough comfortable seating to accommodate an entire class Add a listening station Add an area for leveled reading and chapter books for teacher access Improve teacher resource area so that it is accessed more by teachers Re-organize the fiction section. Currently, they are organized by AR reading level.  Each level (1.0-1.9, 2.0-2.9, etc.) has a colored dot.  So each book is shelved according to it’s AR level and dot color. This is confusing to the students when they want to find a certain book. Move the Reference section to the nonfiction section and add a sign. Move lounge reading area from center of media center to a corner 36

More Changes to Facility Add more student computers and printers Make large signs displaying different genres near the corresponding books Change conference room into a common meeting/sharing area for teachers, MS, specialists, and administrators Make Tech’s office the Teacher Resource Room. Add cushions for seating in the read-aloud area. Add lamps to lounge and read-aloud areas. Weed videos and remove some of the shelving. This space will become Tech’s office. 37

38 New Floor Plan for Media Center

The New Comfortable Seating 39 These chairs will be added to the existing comfortable seating in the lounge reading area. (2) Guidecraft Kiddie Rockers Chair Set *Includes 2 rockers and small table. $99.99 x 2 = $199.98 www.sears.com (4) Child Bean Bag Chairs $99.95 x 4 = $399.80 www.plowhearth.com Euro Modern Downlow Sofa – Red $540 ViveDecor.com (4) Kid’s Mi Chair –Royal Blue $39 x 4 = $156 www.walmart.com

More Additions to Lounge Reading Area 40 (2) Table Reading Lamp – (1) yellow and (1) red $12.99 x 2 = $25.98 www.ikea.com/us (4) Side Table – Birch Veneer $99 x 4 = $396 www.ikea.com/us (1) Shag Rug $147 www. Homedepot.com (2) Table lamps– (1) red and (1)white $5.99 x 2 = $11.98 www.ikea.com/us The lounge reading area will also get more tables, lamps, and a comfortable rug for a warmer feel.

Read-Aloud Area Add cushions to the rug area to make sitting more comfortable for the students. Add more lighting with lamps. Floor Lamps will be placed along the walls. Table lamps will be placed on the bookshelves surrounding reading area. 41 (3) Grantco Floor Mat Cushions, Set of 8 $49.89 x 3 = $149.67 *free shippping www.csndaycarefurniture.com (1) Floor Lamps $14.99 www.ikea.com/us (3) Table lamps– (1) red, (1) black, and (1)white $5.99 x 3 = $17.97 www.ikea.com/us

Listening Stations (6) Over the ear Headphones $19 x 6 = $114 www.geeks.com 42 (6) iPod Touch $202 x 6 = $1212 *free shipping www.bhphotovideo.com Six iPod Touches will be purchased to supply audiobooks. For safety reasons, the earbud earphones that come with the iPods will be replaced with over the ear headphones. There will not be a designated area for listening to the iPods. The students may listen to them at any of the reading areas.

Teacher Resource 43 Bookcase $129 www.ikea.com/us A bookcase will be used to display in window of the teacher resource room new or interesting resources. This will be changed weekly. Labeled bins will be added that are filled with small group books such as leveled readers/chapter books. (10) Large Tuff Tote Bins $12.95 x 10 = $129.50 (10) Medium Tuff Tote Bins $9.95 x 10 = $99.50 www.lakeshorelearning.com

Common Meeting/Sharing Room Datum Filing Laptop Depot™ Storage Cart, Holds 5 Laptops $687 www.highsmith.com 44 The current conference room that is also the teacher resource room will be changed into the Common Room where faculty, Media Specialist, administration, specialists can meet to share ideas. The existing table and chairs will be used. A Smart Board will be purchased for this room as well as a cart with 5 laptops. More laptops will be purchased if needed. Smart Board Model 685 $2599 www.touchboards.com (5) Dell Inspiron 15R $618.99 x 5 = $3094.95 www.dell.com

Library Signs Large genre posters will hang above the correlating section in the library to make finding books easier for students. These signs will also be displayed to define the more specific genres. 45 Reading genres 12 poster set $15.99 www.reallygoodstuff.com Fiction Nonfiction

More Books More nonfiction—social studies and science trade books to go along with curriculum More lower level books 46 Example of a Kindergarten book Duck & Goose by Tad Hills Example of a science trade book Cars in Mars: Roving the Red Planet by Alexandra Siy