Shiloh Elementary SchoolShiloh Elementary School2400 Ross Road 2400 Ross Road

Snellville, GA 30039Snellville, GA 30039

Shiloh Elementary SchoolShiloh Elementary School2400 Ross Road 2400 Ross Road

Snellville, GA 30039Snellville, GA 30039 Media Center Facility PlanMedia Center Facility Plan

By: Garrece WalkerBy: Garrece Walker

The school’s motto: “Strong minds, strong hearts, and strong

communities.”

Shiloh Elementary and Gwinnett County program and policy information: in black writing

My suggested improvements: in purple writing

SES Media Center Profile

• Approximately 434 students served, PreK – 5th grade

• Serves 82 faculty members• One full-time media clerk• One full-time media specialist

Mission and Purpose of GCPS School Library

Programs• Mission and Purpose of GCPS Library Media Center Programs

MISSIONThe mission of Media Services and Technology Training is to provide quality media, technology, and information services in order to enhance learning and ensure access to ideas and information for all.

PURPOSEThe three purposes of the Gwinnett County media program are to:

• Provide media resources, facilities, services, and staff to support all areas of the instructional program

• Provide a variety of services for students which develop skills and encourage the pursuit of life-long learning

• Develop procedures which allow optimum accessibility and effective utilization of all resources and the flexibility necessary to individualize instruction for students

How the School Media Program contributes to your child’s academic

achievement:

• The school media program supports teaching and learning and

encourages lifelong reading. • The media specialist works with teachers to help students learn

to find, analyze, evaluate, interpret, and communicate information and ideas. These skills prepare students to live and work in our information-based society.

• In a GCPS Media Center, students will find… a state-certified, full-time media specialist; resources in a variety of formats that appeal to different learning styles; books and magazines for pleasure reading and research; an online catalog for locating materials; and computers that provide access to online resources that are instructional and age appropriate.

Media Center Location• The media center is located on the main hall, on the far

right end, as you enter the building.• Easily accessible to students, parents, and faculty as

they enter the building.• Easily accessible for before and after school hours; has

an outside entrance.• Extend hours for morning and after school access to the library.• Utilize the exit doors for extended hours access to parents and students.• Media center moved to the center of building instead of the end, to make it

easily accessible to all classrooms.

Shiloh Elementary Media Center

View from Circulation desk

Circulation Desk & MC office

MC office directly behind circulation desk

Leveled Bookroom

Books to rotate

View to the left• Computer Area• Seating area for

group lessons• Projector Screen• Child-size tables and

chairs• Beautiful mural

throughout the entire library

• Sufficient lighting

Computer area

• 27 Computers and earphones for students

• 3 computers for teachers

• View of projector screen to work along with teachers during instruction

• T.V. for broadcast and announcement viewing

Teacher Resources & Media Production

Graphic Novels

Nonfiction

Picture Books

Featured Books

Story Time Area

Right view of room• Exit doors leads

to front school entrance.

• 2nd group area with Smart board

• DVD/TV in corner

MS Office

Fiction

Periodicals/Biography

Reference

Existing Facility Layout

Computer area

Group area #1

Teacher Resources

Entrance

MC Office Leveled Bookroom

Lounge Area

References

Fiction Area

MS Office

Group Area #2

Smart Board

Picture Books

Story Area

Non-Fiction

Revised Facility Layout

Computer Area

Group Area #1

Teacher ResourcesLeveled Bookroom

MS Office

Story Area

Picture Books

Group Area #2

MC Office

Lounge Area

Research Shelf

Fiction Area

Periodicals

Non-Fiction

Facility Layout Changes:• More media enticing posters at entrance of door that

will appeal to students• MS office should be centrally located with the

circulation desk, instead of the MC. The MS and MC should switch offices to allow more access to the MS.

• Add adult sized table and chairs in the Teacher Resource room to allow make a work station for teachers.

Redesigning Layout• Relocate the Story Area, Picture Books, Fiction, Biography, Dry Erase board

and References to make the 2nd office easily accessible and prevent blockage of view for the MC (currently the Ms. DeBord’s office).

Story Area:• Place story area in far right corner to make a cozy, quiet corner• Purchase more pillows and soft items, allow students to hold soft animals

during story time.• Purchase foam roils, wedges, or beanbags to help students with physical

disabilities rest on the floor.• Place the Picture Books shelves in front of MC office window. They or short

and will allow visual sight from the office to center and office will be more accessible to students and teachers.

Periodicals/Lounge area:• New low shelves for the periodicals and place around the lounge area.• New comfortable sectional couch for lounge area. Matching chairs in the new

fictional area.

Layout Redesign continued..• Fiction, Biography, and References shelves are moved to the middle of room,

where the Picture Books and story area were formally located.• This arrangement make the references more accessible and visible for

research. This is a better location because the references should be placed near the group tables, so students can sit at tables with the reference books.

Fiction Area• Fiction shelves are moved to the round about area with new tables and chairs

in front.• Reference shelves are moved to side wall new group area #2Group Area #2• Smart Board is moved towards the back wall, to clear the view for the new

MC office. • Dry erase board is placed on the back wall in this area as well.

Make Media Center Accessible for Disabled

• Provide slanted worktops, which are easier for visually impaired students to read from.

• Ensure that students with mobility limitations have access to books. Supply reachers and grabbers for the higher shelves.

• Optimize acoustics so students can hear directions and provide headphones.• Shield your instruction space from the activity and noise of the circulation

desk so distracted students can better concentrate,• Create user-friendly signage, Use "multiple coding"-combining words and

pictures, consistent symbols, and simple fonts. Devise signboards for nonverbal students' common needs and requests.

• Incorporate visual and audio signals into your teaching lessons.

Media Center Guidelines

• The media center is open for use during the entire school day 7:45am – 3:00pm

• The media center adheres to a open schedule and is accessible before and after school

• Extend the media center hours to provide more access to the center.• The media center adheres to the Gwinnett County

Policies for Library and Media Programs in their interpretation.

• Students are encouraged to use the media center for reference work and for selecting books to read.

• There are special rules for reference books, magazines, and reserved books.

• The media specialist is always available to assist those who need help.

• Students are responsible for replacement of lost or damaged library books, media materials or textbooks. Failure to fulfill this responsibility will result in report cards not being released to students and parents.

Student Policies• Students may visit the Media Center with their class.• Teachers should allow children to go to the library with a pass, as needed, with

a buddy.• Kindergarten and 1st grade students may check out 1

book. Students in grades 2, 3, and 4 may check out 2 books.

• Fifth graders may check out 3 books, one of these may be a magazine.

• Magazines are available to other grade levels for reading while in the media center.

• Books may be kept for 2 weeks and may be renewed once. Magazines may be kept for 2 weeks, but may not be renewed.

• Reference books are reserved for use in the media center only so they will always be accessible to patrons

Faculty Policy• Combination flex/fixed policy• Classes come on regular scheduled visit to check out material• Some teachers schedule classes on a needs basis• Media center is sometimes unavailable due to scheduled events• Students are not allowed to go to the media center with a pass• Media Center is only available when class is not scheduled.• Teachers sometimes provide instruction that is related to the

curriculum, and the MS collaborates occasionally with willing teachers.

• Principal is very supportive and visits when there are events and scheduled activities. However, there are sometimes administrative activities scheduled in the library.

Align the program with the Gwinnett County’s standards and provide a open, flexible schedule:

• Class visit are driven by class activities• Center available at point of need• Classes come for instruction as often as necessary; students come individually

throughout the day• Instruction involves collaborative planning

Technology Guidelines• Shiloh Elementary is very fortunate to have many technology

resources. This up-to-date equipment provides a variety of opportunities for the students.

• One of the most versatile information sources for teachers and students is the Internet.

• Students and parents are required to sign the Gwinnett County Acceptable Use Form before students are allowed to access the internet at school. In addition to this requirement, SES has developed the following guidelines for Internet use at Shiloh Elementary:

A. Students will be instructed on the proper use of the Internet and will be closely monitored at all times.

B. For most lessons, students will use bookmarked sites. The sites will have been previewed by the teacher prior to the lesson.

C. If it is necessary to locate additional information on a specific educational topic, students will use search engines such as Yahooligans or Kids Click. These engines are monitored for appropriate material and are specifically designed for use by children. There will be no random searching by students.

• Provide for wireless network and add another Smart Board to 1st instruction area.

Online Research Library

• The Gwinnett Online Research Library provides students with 24/7 access to accurate, up-to-date, age appropriate information that supports the school system’s curriculum.

• Access to these resources is provided for Gwinnett students, teachers and parents only, so a password is required outside of school.

• Students must ask their school media specialist for the passwords.

• These sites are not maintained by the school system. GCPS encourages parents to monitor student activity on the Internet.

• http://www.gwinnett.k12.ga.us/media-resources.nsf/pages/ElementaryAll~Elementary

Reading Incentive• The Gwinnett Readers Rally is a quiz

bowl style competition for students in grades 4 – 12.

• Students read books from a predetermined list and answer questions about those books.

• Each Gwinnett County school may send one team of up to 10 players to the Readers Rally.

Special Events• Each year there are several scheduled

author visits. Authors motivate the students to read and they are able to purchase the author’s books

• Scholastic Book Fairs are held twice a year and features a Family Night

• Host parents and other receptions in the library media center to market program.

What we like about our media center (students):

Students:• “I like that we have a lot of

books” • “…and there are a lot of

books that I like in the library.” Kindergartener

• “Ms. DeBord is nice and I like it when she dresses up like characters.” Kindergartener

• “I like it when we do fun activities.”

• “…like when Ms. DeBord had the Polar Express train in the library and we read the book.”

Teachers• “Murals are beautiful and

are throughout the entire library.”

• “We are lucky to have a large variety of books.”

• “The resources are plentiful.”

• “Ms. DeBord does a great job trying to collaborate with teachers.”

• “We have a good amount of computers for our students.”

Dislikes Students:• “We can’t touch (play) with the

stuffed animals.”• “We are not able to find books

some times because they are not put in the right place.”

• “We can’t talk to our friends about books while we’re in the library.”

• Provide time for students to share (quietly) their books with friends.

• Begin a shelving program such as “Adopt A Shelf” in which each classroom is assigned a designated shelf to check on and ensure that it is in order. Combines student leadership, being proactive, with research skills as students learn how the books are shelved.

Teachers:• “Books are not re-shelved

properly.”• “Our large selection of books

should be rotated more frequently.”• “Ms. DeBord does not utilize

technology enough when collaborating.”

• “The media center website could be used to keep parents connected with the events and access to valuable information tools.”

• Rotate books more frequently.• Utilize technology in lessons, such as, using the

internet for research.• Provide more information in detail on the media

center website to market program and provide access to information for students and parents.

Selection Policy General Criteria for Selection of Instructional Materials (taken from GCPS Policies and procedures P.IFAA): • A. The following criteria shall be used as they apply to any instructional

materials: • 1. Materials shall support and be consistent with the system's mission, vision,

and goals. • 2. Materials shall directly support instruction of the Academic Knowledge and

Skills (AKS) curriculum including opportunities for intervention and extension of the learning as appropriate.

• 3. Materials shall meet high standards of quality in factual content and presentation.

• 4. Materials shall be appropriate for the subject area and for the age, emotional development, and social development of the students for whom the materials are selected.

• 5. Materials shall have aesthetic, literary, or social value. • 6. Materials chosen shall be written/produced by competent and qualified

authors and producers. • 7. Materials shall be chosen that avoid bias and adhere to standards of

sensitivity towards student cultural, ethnic, racial and religious background and gender.

• 8. Physical format, medium, and appearance of materials shall be suitable for their intended use.

• 9. The materials selected shall be purchased and used in compliance with current copyright laws.

I agree with the Selection Policy.

Damaged Property and/or Lost Books:

I agree with Damaged Property Policy

• Textbooks and media center books will be checked out to students using Destiny Textbook Manager or Library Manager available at each school. At the end of the established loan period, textbooks and library books are expected to be returned in useable condition and checked in via Destiny Textbook Manager or Library Manager.

• Students or their parents/guardians will be responsible for reimbursement to the school for damage to school property, including lost or damaged books. The cost of a lost textbook will be the full, current price (also referenced as the replacement price) as noted in Destiny Textbook Manager. In addition, the full cost of replacement must be paid if a textbook is declared unusable due to excessive damage and/or if both barcodes are missing from the textbook.

• In the event of extenuating circumstances, the principal may waive or reduce the fee charged for missing or damaged textbooks. The cost for lost/damaged media center books will be determined by the Media Services office and communicated annually to Media Specialists. If the student is unable to pay the fee for the replacement cost of the material, appropriate voluntary service to the school, as approved by the principal, may be arranged.

Damaged/Lost Property continued…..• Students failing to pay for lost or damaged books may lose

one or more privileges at the discretion of the school principal, such as loss of participation in an extracurricular activity, loss of school privilege, or restricting the privilege to checking out additional books from the media center. Loss of privilege should not impact opportunity to learn.

• Grade reports, diplomas, or certificates of progress may be withheld until restitution is made. Student records may not be withheld.

• Teacher editions and resource materials will be checked out to teachers in Destiny Textbook Manager for instructional purposes aligned with current teaching assignment. At which time the teacher leaves the school, all teacher editions and resource materials will be expected to be returned to the school in usable condition and checked in via Destiny Textbook Manager.

• Funds collected by schools as fees for lost and damaged textbooks will be retained by the school in a restricted account to defray miscellaneous costs associated with managing textbooks. A percent of the balance may be moved from the school account to the Instructional Materials Office budget according to current processes established by the Business and Finance Department.