INFORMATION
CENTER POLICIES
PHILOSOPHY
The mission of the John A. Ferguson Senior High School library/media program
is to provide a comfortable, enjoyable, and inviting atmosphere in which students,
staff, and the community will have access to, and become effective users of,
a variety of ideas and information. The library/media center will provide a
wide range of resources that will allow users to explore, evaluate, and become
critical thinkers of information so they may become independent learners and
active participants in a global society.
ACCESS
The library/media center will be open during school hours and have a flexible
schedule so that teachers and students can use the center at the time of need
and inquiry through out the day. The teacher can schedule total classes, however,
in order for this to be effective, prior planning with the media specialist
should take place, either individually or at grade level meetings. In order
to ensure maximum student learning and success rate, it is imperative that
the teacher and the library media specialist work with the class in order to
guide, review, and reinforce instruction. Small groups and individual students
can be sent to the media center with a pass for research purposes, to work
on an assignment, and for recreational reading.
Students and parents will have access to a variety of resources for recreational
reading, research, and computer usage. In addition, teachers will have access
to a teacher resource center, professional materials, and items that will reinforce
and enhance the curriculum.
CIRCULATION PROCEDURES
Students, faculty, and parents are encouraged to use the media center and check
out materials of interest and/or need. Books for students and parents are loaned
for a period of two weeks. Periodicals are checked out on an overnight basis.
Faculty can check out print and nonprint materials for a month and audiovisual
equipment as needed or on a yearly basis. Loans can be extended in order to
support curriculum purposes or as needed.
Students may check out up to five books for recreational and/or instructional
needs. Parents may check out up to five books per child. Faculty may check
out as many items as necessary in order to meet and support their curricular
needs. Any needed materials that are not in the media center can be accessed
through interlibrary loans. Proper care and responsibility for the timely return
of these items is important.
All materials should be returned on date due or as soon as possible after use. Overdue
notices will be given to homeroom teachers who will then forward it to the
students. Assistance and cooperation from the teachers will aid in the prompt
return of books. Students may be limited to the check out of additional books
until overdue materials are returned.
Damaged or lost books need to be paid for in a timely manner so that replacements
can be purchased.
AUDIOVISUAL EQUIPMENT
A variety of audiovisual equipment such as videos, filmstrips, laser
discs, and CD’s will be available at the media center. Parents
and students may request nonprint materials for viewing in the media
center. Teachers may
check these out on a long-term period. Training for the use of these materials
can be arranged with the media specialist. Any equipment in need of repair
should be promptly returned to the media center with a note specifying the
problem. Any supplies needed (ex. transparencies, video tapes, audio tapes,
computer disks) will be housed in the media center. Missing equipment must
be reported to the media specialist immediately so that proper plant security
forms can be completed.
INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES
Information Literacy Skills-
Information skills will be taught in the media center in order to
assist students in becoming independent lifelong learners and critical
thinkers of a wide variety
of information. The media specialist will assist teachers in helping students
learn to access, evaluate, and use information. All classes will receive orientation
at the beginning of the school year and the media specialist will provide for
other reading/library activities. In order to extend and enhance classroom
curriculum and activities it is important that teachers plan with the media
specialist. Planning for these activities can be done individually or as a
grade level. The library media specialist will attend grade level meetings
for the purpose of collaborative program planning.
Reserve Collections-
Teachers and grade levels may place print and nonprint materials on reserve
to supplement their classroom instruction and/or for long-term student projects.
Advance notice of at least two days is necessary so that these resources can
be ready and reserved.
Inservice Workshops-
Training on the use and proper care of equipment, the production of instructional
materials, and the use of computers, including the Internet, can be scheduled
through the media specialist. The instructional staff can request workshops
in areas of need or interest.
Production-
The library media center offers the following production services that will
enhance and/or reinforce instruction: videotaping, audio recording, transparencies,
computer-based presentations, usage of the Ellison Machine, and bookbinding.
If assistance is needed with any of the previously mentioned services,
arrangements should be made through the media center.
Study Aids-
A typewriter and a photocopy machine for individual copies are available in
the Teacher Resource Room. School procedures for multiple copies should
be followed. Computers and printers with a variety of software programs
are available in the media center and in the computer lab.
Professional
Library-
The media center houses an extensive and current collection
of a variety of materials for your personal or professional
needs. Additionally, the Teacher’s
Corner has many purchased and donated books for recreational reading. Staff
members are encouraged to make suggestions for the purchase of materials for
these areas.
COMPUTING POLICY
In order to meet the school’s programmatic needs, a variety
of computer software is available. The media center will house multi-media
computers for
students, parents, and teachers to use within the library. All persons requesting
the use of software need to adhere to copyright laws. Students are allowed
to use the Internet in conjunction with class assignments. Users of the Internet
are held responsible for adhering to the provisions stated in the Acceptable
Use Policy. A copy of said policy can be requested through the media center
or can be accessed at http://www.dadeschools.net/aup.htm
STUDENT AIDES AND VOLUNTEERS
Students will have an equal opportunity in becoming aides. They will be selected
based on interest, desire, dependability, and responsibility, and not on scholastic
standards. Aides who work before and after school need parental/guardian permission.
Teachers sending student library aides on a regularly scheduled basis will
need to notify the media specialist of the dates and times so that productive
activities can be arranged.
Parent volunteers are an important entity to the media center and are encouraged
to partake in the program. Volunteers and media center staff will plan a mutually
convenient schedule so that meaningful activities or important duties can be
arranged. The volunteers will be trained in various work-related areas of interest.
COPYRIGHT
The media center offers many videos and software programs that can
supplement and/or reinforce curriculum. ITV and Teacher’s Choice also offer many
educational videos and programs. The media center offers many resources and
equipment to support, enhance, and supplement the curriculum. Items such as
videos, computers, photocopying machines, VCR’s, and software are available
for use. However, it is important and expected that the Fair Use and Copyright
laws are followed. Video rentals from outside sources are discouraged and require
administration approval.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
To ensure that the library media program meets instructional needs, it is necessary
to have an existing advisory committee. Said committee will meet once every
grading period and will consist of the media specialist, teachers, parents,
administration, and students. The purpose of the committee will be to review
library media procedures, to assist and partake in the drafting of the media
center budget, and to analyze the information needs of the media center users.
DISTRICT SERVICES
Film/Video Library-
Dade County Public Schools offers a variety of appropriate educational
films and videos to help supplement, reinforce, and enrich classroom
instruction.
A catalog with a listing of titles is located in the media center along with
the form needed to request these materials. In order to ensure the availability
of your requested material in the time of need, it is suggested that requests
be done at the beginning of each grading period and/or school year. The appropriate
order form should be completed and placed in the media specialist’s mailbox.
After entering your requests electronically, the media specialist will return
the form to you indicating expected arrival dates. You may also personally
request the videos at http://www.dade.k12.fl.us/video/.
Teachers will be responsible for placing films and videos in the school mailbag
by the return date requested on the confirmation notice.
Instructional Television-
Instructional Television programs are also offered through our district. A
catalog containing a listing of titles is housed in the media center. If assistance
is needed in requesting and scheduling these programs, arrangements should
be made through the media center.
Teacher’s
Choice-
Additional instructional programs can be requested through
Teacher’s
Choice. The media center has a listing of the programs available, which can
also be accessed through channels 38 and 41. The media specialist can assist
and train you in requesting these educational program.
PROGRAM EVALUATION
In order to maintain and/or improve the library media center’s
program in its goal to provide a variety of instructional and recreational
materials,
a needs assessment will be conducted yearly. The library advisory committee
will meet every grading period to review and make suggestions. Completion of
the forms by the users of the media center will be needed in the evaluation
process so that the library media center can continue to meet high standards
and provide quality instruction and materials. |
