Letitia GreenMEDT6465Final Handbook

I. POLICIES

A. PURPOSE STATEMENTS

1.Atlanta Public Schools is the urban school district located in the heart of the city of Atlanta. The school system has schools that span the metropolis of the city from all cardinal directions. There are currently 47,789 students enrolled in all 96 Atlanta schools (55 elementary, 16 middle schools, and 25 high schools) for the 2010-2011 school year.

Table 1.1. Atlanta Public Schools Demographics

American Indian/Alaskan

1.9% Hispanic 3.7%

African American 80.4% Multiracial 1.4%

Asian American .8% White 11.5%

Harper-Archer Middle School opened in August 2003 with approximately over 1,200 students. The enrollment has now declined to nearly 570 students in grades 6-8, mainly due to the urban revitalization projects that have transitioned many families into various metro Atlanta suburban communities. The school was formerly the Bazoline Estelle Usher Middle School but was renamed in commemoration of both Charles Lincoln Harper and Samuel Archer High Schools, both of which were located in the Collier Heights community of Atlanta.

Table 1.2 shows the most recent demographic information.

Table 1.2. Harper-Archer Middle School (Table reflects total number of students)

Student Data 2010-2011

Asian/Pacific Islander 2

Student Data 2010-2011

Black 528

Hispanic 38

American Indian/Alaskan Native 0%

White 2

Multiracial 0

1. Harper-Archer Middle School Vision: The vision of Harper-Archer Middle School is to produce a community of life-long learners that are critical thinkers who will become influential members in a global society.

2. MissionThe mission of the Harper-Archer Middle School Library Media Center is to perform as an integral support component of the total educational program by operating as a resource center, learning laboratory, a teaching agency, a service agency, a guidance agency, as well as a center for reading, viewing, listening with learning as our first priority. In doing so, we will work assiduously with others to prepare our students to become literate, functional and productive students.

3. PhilosophyThe Library Media staff of Harper-Archer Middle School (HAMS) is dedicated to the purpose of providing all members of the school community with access to information, reading and research assistance, and instruction that supports the curricula and educational goals of our school. Integration of the Library Media Center Program with the curricula fosters a partnership with teachers and ensures that information skills are an integral part of learning so that students will be able to function successfully in a changing information society.

GoalsThe goals of the program are to support all areas of the curriculum, facilitate effective use of technology, demonstrate successful research strategies, encourage reading and lifelong learning, and empower 21st century learners.

B. Public Relations (DeKalb County Schools)

The mission of Public Relations is to give clear answers on a multitude of issues. The department focuses on the internal and external communications of the school community including media relations and publications.

Media Program news will be communicated to the public relations contact and information will be presented electronically

Public Relations contact – Philandrea Guillory Public Relations Director

Advertisement Policy

Personnel of the school system shall not advertise instructional materials, school supplies, or other items which may be available for purchase in stores and other commercial establishments.

Personnel shall not sell reference books, magazines, dictionaries, other instructional books, manuals, or school supplies to parents or pupils.

Schools may be permitted to use and distribute materials imprinted with a business or industry name or logo, provided the materials are to be used for instructional or incentive purposes in conjunction with Partners-in-Education Program.

B. Public Relations (Atlanta Public Schools): The Office of Communcations

The Office of Communications is responsible for ensuring that the Atlanta Public Schools’ brand accurately reflects the core values and mission of our school system. We craft targeted messages that illustrate the district’s capabilities and total customer value to students, parents, community members and employees. We utilize a variety of strategic communication channels to tell the APS story, including broadcast media, publications, media relations, talking points and special events, web-sites, e-Newsletters, and electronic messaging systems. We’re responsible for producing compelling communications, such as APS Today, The Atlanta Educator, Talk Up APS, Family Matters, the annual report and the back-to-school guidebook. In addition, we operate the district’s main switchboard, as well as high-volume printing production services, giving us the unique opportunity to make a first and last positive impression on stakeholders.

The Office of Communications is committed to developing strategies that clearly demonstrate the district’s dedication to providing a vibrant, high-performing learning environment that knows no geographic, racial or economic boundaries. Our students are making a difference-we work every day to share their stories with the world.

Sharon Pitts-Chief of Staff

Stephen Alford-Director of Communications, Director of E-communications

C. Selection Criteria

Media Materials SelectionAtlanta Public Schools strongly believes that a wealth of books should be provided for the benefit, knowledge, and illumination of all our staff and students.

Each school in APS is responsible for purchasing the Media Materials needed to successfully support their curricular needs and to foster a love of reading. All orders for media materials are developed at the school level and submitted to Media Services for approval and processing. Print materials are ordered in hardcover format with complete shelf ready processing.

The specific criteria for pre-processed orders include the following:• Orders come complete with electronic cataloging (MARC) records for each purchased book as well as barcode numbers matching the school specific barcode labels pre-applied to the books• Orders have spine labels and Accelerated Reader labels• Orders come with book pockets and cards, and Mylar covers when applicable

Schools are able to purchase pre-processed shelf ready books from a variety of book vendors to guarantee equitable access to a wide variety of titles on the market. Some of these vendors include Baker and Taylor, Follett Library Resources, Davidson Titles, Perma Bound, Bound to Stay Bound, Children's Plus, Gumdrop Books, Scholastic, Delaney Educational, Baker and Taylor, Garrett Book Company, Burrow Library Services, Junior Library Guild, and Usborne Books.

Selection Philosophy

School library media specialists are responsible for reviewing, evaluating, and selecting materials to build the media center collection. Media specialists are guided by system-level policies which embody national, state, and district-level visions and philosophies. Media specialists shall coordinate with stakeholders to provide resources that support curricular connections as well as support the needs, abilities, interests, and cultural diversity which is

characteristic of Harper-Archer media center patrons. A systematic development plan for selecting materials is necessary to ensure that this is accomplished (Baltimore County Public Schools [BCPS], n.d.-e).

Objectives

The Harper-Archer Middle School library selection policies reflect the goals and objectives of APS. Policies set forth herein support a media program described by Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning as being “founded on a commitment to the right of intellectual freedom” (American Association of School Librarians [AASL] & Association for Educational Communications and Technology [AECT], 1998, p. 91). Furthermore, selection policies should preserve the integrity of the Library Bill of Rights, which asserts that books and library resources should be provided for “the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people” and should represent all points of view (American Library Association [ALA], 1996).

C. Selection Criteria

Selection and acquisition of new materials should be based upon the needs of Bennett’s library media program and available funding. Georgia State Board of Education (GA BOE) Rule IFBD 160-4-4-.01 mandates that the media committee develop guidelines for selecting materials (Georgia State Board of Education [GA }.). Efforts must be made to offer students a comprehensive and balanced collection of materials. Criteria for selection of instructional resources should consider these factors:

1. Materials selected should reflect nationally recognized and approved professional standards (APS, n.d.-d).

2. Materials shall support the educational goals of APS (APS, n.d.-d).3. Materials chosen shall have aesthetic, social, or literary value (APS, n.d.-d).4. Materials should address the various abilities and informational needs of all users

(Carroll County Board Governance System, 2007).5. Materials shall support the curriculum and meet high standards of quality in content

and presentation (APS, n.d.-d). 6. Materials must be selected from a reputable publisher/producer (Carroll County Board

Governance System, 2007).7. Materials shall contain accurate content (Carroll County Board Governance System,

2007).8. Materials are purchased with a clear purpose in mind (Carroll County Board Governance

System, 2007).9. Materials will be appropriate for age levels and subject matter (APS, n.d.-d).10. Material should foster respect for all groups and emphasize their contributions to

society (APS, n.d.-d).

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11. Materials shall highlight various historical and contemporary forces contributing to America today from an unbiased, impartial viewpoint (APS, n.d.-d).

12. Materials deemed controversial must be selected with care to ensure there is balanced representation of different perspectives (APS, n.d.-d). Please see Appendices A and B for more information on controversial materials.

13. Media specialists should make efforts to explore requests from students and teachers for a particular title, provided the material meets the criteria stated in other items of this policy. Please see Appendices F and G for appropriate recommendations forms (Carroll County Board Governance System, 2007).

14. Materials’ costs may also be considered secondary to the above criteria (Carroll County Board Governance System, 2007).

Selection of Book Media

Books

In addition to the above-mentioned Selection Criteria, books and other instructional material are to be carefully selected based upon their overall contribution to the attainment of system goals as well as their appropriateness for the purpose and grade level for which they are selected (Carroll County Board Governance System, 2007). Moreover, due to the high cost of materials, it is important to examine books keeping the following additional criteria in mind when making selections:

Consider illustrations and layout. Consider type style and text density. Consider paper quality. Consider durability of bindings. Consider readability and interest levels. Consider indexing format (BCPS, n.d.-c).

Paperbacks

Paperbacks are an inexpensive way to supplement media collection when duplication of titles is necessary and to provide opportunities for in-depth studies, special projects, and leisure reading. Paperback books are not as durable as their hardback counterparts; therefore, when deciding between purchasing paperback books or hardbound copies consider the following:

Evaluate curricular demands placed on these books in the individual school. Determine if materials will be used for research, for independent reading, to duplicate

the classics, or enjoyed as popular fiction. Consider overall cost and use of paperback books as compared to the cost of hardback

books, including replacement costs (BCPS, n.d.-c).

References

Both print and electronic reference materials provide comprehensive information in both general and content-specific subject areas. Reference materials also serve as a means to access information from other sources including school, public, academic, and electronic collections. Before making a purchasing decision, evaluate the following criteria:

Determine cost effectiveness in terms of projected use. Examine authority and accuracy. Consider arrangement and indexing. Evaluate user-friendliness (BCPS, n.d.-c).

Selection of Non-book Print Media

Periodicals

Periodicals in a library collection can provide support for curricula and provide leisure reading opportunities for students. Professional review journals and library instructional materials may also be considered for purchase. Print periodicals offer an alternative to online databases that contain abstracts versus full-text. Periodicals should be chosen with care based upon use patterns and available storage facilities (Bishop, 2007, p. 95-96).

Newspapers

Newspapers in a library collection provide students and teachers with access to current events while also providing leisure reading opportunities for students. Newspapers can be helpful research tools. Before subscribing to a newspaper, the media specialist first should consider proper handling and storage of the periodical. Many newspapers such as USA Today and New York Times are available online; however, subscriptions may be costly (Bishop, 2007, p. 90-91).

Pamphlets

Pamphlets are low-cost print materials that are sometimes found in school library media centers. The content of these materials are generally up-to-date and able to provide a variety of viewpoints on a subject. However, they can also serve as advertisements for the businesses that provide them. Pamphlets which support the curriculum may be added to the collection if they contain unbiased information that would prove helpful to students and faculty. Pamphlets should be stored in a vertical file in their most current form (Bishop, 2007, p. 94-95).

Professional Review Journals

Professional review journals such as Booklist, Book Links, and School Library Journal® are helpful in assisting media specialists with the selection process. Concerns regarding storage and usage apply, and online alternatives may also be considered. Each media center should subscribe to at least one professional media journal containing regular reviews. Other standard reviewing tools, such as school library catalogs, may also be employed in the selection process and should be kept on hand in the school library media center. For a list of selection tools, please see Appendix E. However, media specialists should not feel restricted by professional selection tools nor be bound by the reviews in making purchasing decisions (Carroll County Board Governance System, 2007).

Selection of Non-print and Electronic Media

The criteria for selecting non-print and electronic resources are similar to policies for selecting print materials. Please refer to Selection Criteria for more information.

Non-print materials should meet the following criteria for selection:

Promote instructional goals and support the curriculum. Provide a variety of media formats to meet the needs of the curriculum. Present content in an appropriate format and be of acceptable technical quality. Avoid dense text and graphics (BCPS, n.d.-f).

Electronic selections should meet the following criteria:

Provide learner control through flexible pacing, variable difficulty, and optimal branching and linking.

Provide information that is accurate and reliable. Demonstrate organization, search capabilities, and navigational tools that enable

information retrieval. Provide readable text, attractive graphics, and an appealing layout. Contain easy-to-understand, comprehensive documentation. Be user friendly. Grant 24-hour access with remote connection from home (BCPS, n.d.-f).

Selection of Equipment

The selection of non-textual media shall be done by the media specialist based on the recommendations of the BES media committee in accordance with Atlanta Public School Board policies (APS, n.d.-d). Whenever possible, an attempt should be made to standardize equipment models within the school in order to facilitate repair and use of the equipment. Steps to consider when selecting media equipment:

1. An appropriate budget should be determined.2. Current holdings should be analyzed as to types, brand names, models and age.3. Current equipment needs should be assessed.4. Performance of each piece of equipment should be evaluated (Carroll County Board

Governance System, 2007).

After the above-mentioned guidelines have been considered, purchasing decisions should be based on past experiences; literature and reviews; and demonstration of durability, ease of operation, weight, size, ease of maintenance and repair, available accessories, and life expectancy (Carroll County Board Governance System, 2007).

D. Donated/ Gift Materials Policy

In accordance with the policies set forth by APS, “gift items may be accepted or rejected by the same criteria used for purchase consideration.” The appropriate media committee shall evaluate the acceptability of gift materials (APS Board Governance System, 1990).

Donations of materials made to the BEST Academy media center are accepted at the discretion of the media specialist and become the property of BEST Academy (B. Williams, personal communication, June 28, 2011). The media center reserves the right to evaluate donations and gifts to the school library using the same criteria used for new purchases. Gifts to the media center will be carefully examined and evaluated based on the guidelines outlined below. Materials not meeting these standards will be marked for disposal by the school media committee (APS Board Governance System, 1990). Gifts may be rejected or disposed under the following conditions:

Donated material is no longer relevant to any curricular needs. Donated material is outdated based on copyright dates and content. Donated material is damaged or worn. Donated material is a duplicate in an area when there is considerable duplication. Donated material is commercial and deemed as advertising (Bishop, 2007, p. 44-45).

The BEST Academy media center cannot accept gifts to its library that come with restrictions or conditions relating to their disposal. Materials that are removed from the library may:

Be sent to another school that has expressed a need for the materials. Be donated to a local public library or civic organization. Be distributed at the discretion of the media specialist who will use judgment in the

value of giving them away (Bishop, 2007, p. 44-45). Be destroyed and properly disposed of in accordance with media committee or APS

policies (APS Board Governance System, 1990).

E. Reconsideration of Materials Policy

Despite careful selection processes, materials and instructional resources will, from time to time, be called into question. In accordance with GA BOE Rule 160-4-4-.01, the APS Board of Education takes responsibility for the selection process and upholds the Library Bill of Rights implemented by the American Library Association (ALA), ALA’s Freedom to Read Statement, and the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America (APS, n.d.-b).

The Library Bill of Rights guarantees, among other justifications, that “materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.” Moreover, it states, “Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment.” A complete listing of the Library Bill of Rights can be found at the American Library Association Web site:

http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/oif/statementspols/statementsif/librarybillrights.cfm . (ALA, 1996).

ALA and the Association of American Publishers (AAP) issued the Freedom to Read Statement, which offers seven propositions in the hopes that “those with faith in free people will stand firm on these constitutional guarantees of essential rights and will exercise the responsibilities that accompany these rights.” To read the Freedom to Read Statement in its entirety, look online at the American Library Association’s site: http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/oif/statementspols/ftrstatement/freedomreadstatement.cfm (ALA & Association of American Publishers [AAP], 2004).

The First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America states that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances” (ALA, n.d.).

Therefore, when materials at the BES media center are questioned resulting in a request for reconsideration of instructional and media center materials, these freedoms and principles must be safeguarded. Any objection to an educational resource may be made through an appropriate “challenge process.” Parents contesting print, audio, or video resources available to students must limit their objections to the impact the material will have on their children.

All resources must be selected by qualified staff members who have followed proper selection procedures and upheld selection criteria standards set forth by Harper-Archer Middle School (APS, n.d-b).

During the reconsideration process, access to the resource in question shall not be restricted. Recommendations regarding the reconsideration of challenged materials will be based on “the appropriateness of the material for its intended educational use” (APS, n.d-b).

F. Media Services Policies (Atlanta Public Schools/Fulton County Schools)

1. Circulation Policy-Print and Non-Print

The center is flexible

Lost paperbacks are $8.00

Lost hardbacks are $20.00

Reference and Periodicals are not available for checkout (teachers are allowed to check out reference materials for one full day at the discretion of the media specialist)

Format indicators are as follows:

Ref-Reference

Fic-Fiction

Vid-Video

2. Overdue Policy

In an effort to maintain confidentiality, overdue notices are delivered to homeroom teachers’ mailboxes and then distributed to students.

Students are allowed a ten-day turnaround to checkout up to two books. After that turnaround period has expired, they are allowed to renew up to two books for a period of ten days. If the book is not renewed or returned after the original ten day turnaround period, a fine of five cents per day is charged.

If a student transfers to another school within the Atlanta Public School System, their fines and fees will follow them to the next school and /or will be on file in the media center’s electronic data base. If a student reaches twelfth grade with outstanding fees or fines, transcripts and report cards will be held until all media center obligations have been satisfied.

3. Video Policy

Videos and movies obtained by the school media center may be checked out by teachers for a five day period. The viewing of rented videos must be approved by the school principal. The viewing of G and PG rated videos may be shown on the elementary level. G and PG rated videos may be shown on the middle school level. PG-13 rated videos may be shown on the middle school level to students who have the appropriate parental consent form on file. G, PG and PG-13 movies may be shown on the high school level. Some R rated movies may be shown on the high school level with the appropriate parental form on file.

The media specialist should receive prior notice for all requests to have guest speakers video- taped. This should include the nature of the speech, location and time of the visit.

Policy information will be communicated to teachers through e-mail and newsletters. There is also a master copy of all handbooks on file in the media center for review.

4. Inventory Policy

The Annual Inventory Report is usually due in May of each year and includes data from the previous May 1 until April 30 of the current year. It includes detailed list of expenditures, items added, and discards grouped by material type, and the inventory value of the collection as of May 1 of the current year. The inventory value portion is used for insurance purposes. It is a good idea to print out a blank copy of the annual report early in the year and begin record keeping based on the information that will be needed to complete the annual report.

G. Care of Materials

1. Damaged Books/Materials Policy

It is expected that items circulated through the Bennett media center should be returned in the same condition in which they were checked out. However, this may not always occur. Students, parents, teachers, and staff will be held responsible for items that are returned to the media center in damaged condition. When materials are damaged, the media center staff will examine them closely and determine whether or not they can easily be repaired. If so, repairs will be made to pages and bindings at no cost to the individual. If items are lost or damaged beyond repair, then the responsible party will be asked to pay a fee that equals the cost of the book in order to replace it. If the price of a book cannot be determined, a fee of $18.00 will be assessed. In the event that books are lost or destroyed because of extenuating circumstances, fees will not be assessed.

In accordance with O.C.G.A. § 20-2-1013, all textbooks, library books, and media materials purchased by local units of administration with state Quality Basic Education Program funds or any other means of acquisition shall remain the property of the local unit purchasing or acquiring them. Each local unit of administration shall establish such policies as it deems necessary for the care and protection of its textbooks, library books, and media materials as a condition to receiving all or part of the state contributed Quality Basic Education Program funds allotted to the local unit. Such policies may include any of the following sanctions against a pupil who fails or refuses to pay for a lost or damaged textbook, library book, or media material at the replacement cost:

(1) Refusal to issue any additional textbooks, library books, or media materials until restitution is made; or

(2) Withholding of all grade cards, diplomas, or certificates of progress until restitution is made (LexisNexis®, 2008a).

2. Lost Books/Materials Policy

Books that are lost must be paid for by the borrowing party. Any material that is lost while on loan to BEST must also be paid for by the student, teacher, or parent who borrowed it (B. Williams, personal communication, July 7, 2011). In instances where students lose or damage books, if they are not paid for or returned by the end of the school year in which the book(s) was/were lost, the fine for the book will be placed under the student’s name and must be satisfied prior to the student graduating from the school system or withdrawal. Please refer to the “Damaged Materials” section regarding policies for replacement of lost or damaged materials in accordance with O.C.G.A. § 20-2-1013.

Inventory is the act of checking the collection against the recorded holdings. The media center is closed to check out for the last two weeks of the school year in anticipation of final inventory. At that time an inventory will be conducted through the circulation system utilizing the scanner.

During inventory, students and teachers may return to the media center to check in overdue books, but no materials may be checked out.

A “missing item” report will be generated for each class and distributed to all homeroom teachers in order that all items may be inventoried and accounted for.

At the end of the year, all technology-related equipment must be returned and an inventory of those items conducted.

3. Weeding Policy

Inventorying the collection is important to assure that holdings are accounted for. After conducting a thorough inventory of media center books and materials, the media specialist determines what materials should be weeded. When making decisions about removing items from or adding items to the collection, the media specialist must first:

Consider obsolescence especially in the areas of mathematics, science, computer science and social sciences.

Examine the physical condition of the collection. Consider the number of copies in the collection. Consider balance and coverage of the subject by other materials. Examine use patterns (NOTE: insufficient use must never be the sole governing factor).

Infrequently used materials are retained if they contribute to the overall excellence of the collection.

Evaluate value to the total collection. Materials within the collection strive for balanced viewpoints (APS Board Governance System, 1990).

Determine importance of the work in a specified subject area.

4. Mending and Repairing Print Materials Policy

Media center materials shall be properly maintained to ensure usability for as long as possible. Items in the collection shall be periodically examined and when necessary mended and/or cleaned. The decision to repair or discard books and materials is left to the discretion of the media specialist. If possible, media center staff shall make all attempts to salvage items, especially those which are expensive, irreplaceable, or in high demand. However, paperback books, consumables, and donated materials may be discarded if deemed irreparable (B. Williams, personal communication, July 8, 2011). Before making the decision to mend a book, media center staff should also consider the following:

Whether or not the item is still available. If it is cheaper to replace the damaged book than it would be to repair it. Whether or not there is an immediate demand for the book in question. If there are duplicate copies available in the collection. If the book is sturdy enough to withstand future use once repaired. If the repairs are simple enough to fix in-house by a member of the media center staff.

Media center staff will attempt to clean marked pages, fix tears, secure loose pages, mend books with minor binding issues, and reattach missing pages if possible. When these efforts fail and it is determined that the book cannot be repaired, a replacement fee will be assessed if the borrowing party is known. Irreparable materials will then be discarded (B. Williams, personal communication, July 11, 2011).

H. Definition and Scope of Technical Processing

Atlanta Public Schools strongly believes that a wealth of books should be provided for the benefit, knowledge, and illumination of all our staff and students. Each school in APS is responsible for purchasing the Media Materials needed to successfully support their curricular needs and to foster a love of reading. All orders for media materials are developed at the school level and submitted to Media Services for approval and processing. Print materials are ordered in hardcover format with complete shelf ready processing. (Atlanta Public Schools Media Services)

The media program provides resources, instruction and activities collaboratively planned with classroom teachers to support the curriculum. Media specialists are committed to encouraging students to look beyond the structured school situation and to become discriminating users of media in the quest for knowledge, a satisfying quality of life, responsible citizenship, and emotional maturity (Harper-Archer Middle School). It is desired that students become lifelong users of libraries. To achieve this end, students will be assisted in developing proficiency in accessing and using information appropriately. (Atlanta Public Schools Media Services Share point)

Codes are designated using a district-wide system that is determined by the Media Services Department for Atlanta Public Schools. Formatting for codes to standardize call

numbers for various materials is based upon the first three digits of the resource in most instances. Reference (REF), Paperbacks (PB), Fiction (FIC), Easy/ Picture books (E), Professional (PRO), Videos (VC), DVDs (DVD) (Keisha Robinson, personal communication, October 22, 2010).

Authority control tools that will be used by Atlanta Public Schools media centers include specific criteria that determine the following: orders come complete with electronic cataloging (MARC) records for each purchased book as well as barcode numbers matching the school specific barcode labels pre-applied to the books. Orders also have spine labels and Accelerated Reader labels. All orders come with book pockets and cards, and Mylar covers when applicable. (Atlanta Public Schools Media Services Share point)

II. Procedures

B. Technical Services

1. For non-print items and equipment, one librarian in the county is assigned the task of creating a district record for each type of item. Media specialists then add copies of the item in Destiny when they receive a new non-print item or piece of equipment. They do not add new records. Non-print items are stored in two different rooms. Equipment such as rolling carts with TVs, overhead and LCD projectors, document cameras and tape players are all stored in the equipment room. The room is arranged by type of equipment. All projectors together, all tape players together, etc. Kits, videos, CDs and DVDs are shelved in the video room. These are not labeled with a call number, but do have a bar code.

The items in the video room are all labeled with a call number. Kits are hanging from a turning stand in Dewey decimal order. DVDs, videos and CDs are on shelves divided by type and in Dewey decimal order. Call number labels and bar codes are placed on the back of video, DVD and CD cases in an area that does not obscure important information about the item (for example, running time). Serial numbers are written directly on CDs and DVDs so the disk can be matched up with the case in the event that they are separated For the kits, labels are placed on the top right corner of the bag or box. (K. Williamson, personal communication).

Equipment that is valued at or higher than the amount on the PCD Departmental Procedures form will need Fulton County decals. Otherwise, each media center should affix a bar code with the school's name on the bar code. (Fulton County Media Handbook, Cataloging and Processing, 2009)

2. Fulton County Schools has a contract with Follett. In the contract, cataloging is included free with all print materials. This includes bar code, spine label, MARC record and label protector.

(K. Williamson, personal communication) To manually catalog an item, first search Destiny. If the item is found and the record suits your need, then add a copy to that record. DO NOT add

new titles if the title record already exists in Destiny. When adding new titles to your media center collections always use Alliance Plus records first. Alliance Plus is the database of complete MARC records provided by Follett Destiny. The next option is to use the Z-sources available through Destiny. (Fulton County Media Handbook) Next, affix the bar code on the inside of the front cover of the book. Determine the call number, type the number into the computer document, print the spine label and affix it to book on the lower part of the spine (K. Williamson, personal communication). You may consider attaching a specialty label designating a specific section (ex. Careers, Mystery, Historical Fiction) under the spine label. (Fulton County Media Handbook, Cataloging and Processing, 2009)

3. The media specialist may copy catalog from reputable sites. Two suggestions are:-Bergen County Cooperative Library http://www.bccls.org/-Sunlink

http://sunlink.fsc.follett.com/cataloging/servlet/presentbasicsearchform.do?restoreFromCrumb=1&tm=Catalog&l2m=SUNLINK+Search&formSignature=Initialize&formName=cataloging_servlet_BasicSearchForm&breadCrumbIndex=65715

4. Cataloging procedures for periodicals- there is one district record for each periodical title. The district record is created by one media specialist who is assigned the job by the program’s director. Other librarians are supposed to go into Destiny and look for the periodical title and add a copy to it when they start receiving the periodical. If there is no district record, the media specialists contacts the person in charge and requests that a district record be created. This school no longer receives newspapers, but does subscribe to them on-line (K. Williamson, personal communication).

5. Para professionals should not catalog unless they are under the direct supervision of the media specialist.

I. COPYRIGHT POLICY

The Georgia Board of Education requires that each school system comply with the Federal Copyright Law (94-553). Media specialists play an important role in helping teachers and administrators follow copyright guidelines when duplicating print, audiovisual media, or computer software within their building.

Media specialists have a responsibility for setting the tone for legal use of instructional materials in the school. The beginning of the school year is an important time to remind other educators of copyright concerns:

• Review with building personnel federal copyright laws, special requirements of system policy, and school-level procedures.

• Make school personnel aware of restrictions on use of school equipment so that it is not used in making unauthorized copies -- by teachers and by students.

• Post warnings on school-owned equipment that could be used in making unauthorized copies.

• With your media committees, consider provision of a school policy on equipment and make changes as necessary.

• Continuously examine professional literature for changes in the interpretation of copyright law.

• Make the copyright clearance request form available.• Use the PowerPoint presentation available on the shared drive during staff

development meetings and make it available to teachers.

Fair Use GuidelinesTechnology has provided new opportunities for teachers and students to develop materials for face to face instruction. Distance learning capabilities that include GSAMS, satellite, video, and closed circuit technologies provide the opportunity to use a variety of media to enhance the instructional process.

Guidelines were developed to assist teachers and students in observing copyright law. These guidelines are very specific concerning how media is used. The guidelines were read into the Congressional record and represent Congress's intent for the copyright law.

Please note the following:• Amount of media that can be used in face to face instruction• Type of media that can be used in face to face instruction• Time that the production can be kept and used in face to face instruction• Use of produced materials for inservice and staff development of peers

Refer to the U.S. Copyright Office’s Circular 21 (http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ21.pdf) for fair use conditions. Contact the district Media Services department with any questions.

J. LEADERSHIP AND PROFESSIONAL GROWTH POLICY

It is at the discretion of the principal at the local school level to approve attending conferences and professional development outside of the offerings made by Gwinnett County Public Schools.

The Gwinnett County Board of Education sets forth in policy its commitment to provide all personnel with education and training opportunities that will enable them to perform their duties consistently to high standards. This policy is in alignment with the Board's Core Beliefs and Commitments and acknowledges the Board's responsibility to build capacity among all employees in this system of world-class schools. The policy supports the establishment of a performance culture in the organization by ensuring that all employees have the requisite

knowledge, skills, and expertise to achieve the desired results, as measured against local, national, and world-class standards. Consistent with this performance culture, all personnel shall participate annually in a minimum of 20 hours of approved staff development that aligns with the district's vision, mission, goals, and initiatives. Evidence of completion, implementation, and results of the required staff development will be incorporated into each employee's annual evaluation.

The CEO/Superintendent shall allocate appropriate resources to assure this policy is implemented. To execute this policy, the Staff Development Department and the Quality-Plus Leader Academy, guided by Executive Cabinet and the appropriate central office and local school staff, will develop and implement a comprehensive staff development plan that addresses the educational and training needs of all staff. This comprehensive staff development plan will include programs and activities in the areas of leadership development, teacher development, and support staff development.

Leadership Development

The development of system leaders is a primary focus and responsibility of the CEO/Superintendent. The implementation of the leadership development component of the staff development plan will be directed by the Executive Director of Leadership Development through the Quality-Plus Leader Academy's programs and activities.

Teacher Development

The Associate Superintendent for Human Resources, with input from ExecutiveCabinet, will direct the implementation of the teacher development component of the comprehensive staff development plan to ensure the educational and training needs of the district's teaching staff are met through timely and research-based learning opportunities.

Support Staff Development

The Associate Superintendent for Human Resources, with input from Executive Cabinet, will direct the implementation of the support staff development component of the comprehensive staff development plan to ensure the educational and training needs of the district's support staff are met through timely and research-based learning opportunities.

National Staff Development Council Standards

The standards of the National Staff Development Council shall be utilized in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of development/learning programs as follows:

1. Context Standards• Learning Communities: Staff development that improves the learning of all students organizes adults into learning communities whose goals are aligned with those of the

school district.

• Leadership: Staff development that improves the learning of all students requires skillful school and district leaders who guide continuous instructional improvement.

• Resources: Staff development that improves the learning of all students requires resources to support adult learning and collaboration.

2. Process Standards• Data-Driven: Staff development that improves the learning of all students uses disaggregated student data to determine adult learning priorities, monitor progress, and help sustain continuous improvement.

• Evaluation: Staff development that improves the learning of all students uses multiple sources of information to guide improvement and demonstrate its impact.

• Research-Based: Staff development that improves the learning of all students prepares educators to apply research to decision making.

• Design: Staff development that improves the learning of all students uses learning strategies appropriate to the intended goal.

• Learning: Staff development that improves the learning of all students applies knowledge about human learning and change.

• Collaboration: Staff development that improves the learning of all students provides educators with the knowledge and skills to collaborate.

3. Content• Equity: Staff development that improves the learning of all students prepares educators to understand and appreciate all students; create safe, orderly and supportive learning environments, and hold high expectations for their academic achievement.

• Quality Teaching: Staff development that improves the learning of all students deepens educators' content knowledge, provides them with research-based instructional strategies to assist students in meeting rigorous academic standards, and prepares them to use various types of classroom assessments appropriately.

• Family Involvement: Staff development that improves the learning of all students provides educators with knowledge and skills to involve families and other stakeholders appropriately.

Review Date

In October of each year, the CEO/Superintendent will report to the Board of Education on the progress made in meeting the goals and objectives of the comprehensive staff development plan and the focus of staff development for the current year.

K. INTERLIBRARY LOAN POLICY

The following guidelines are for interlibrary loans within the school system. It is the responsibility of the media centers at the school level to determine the need, and establish policies, for interlibrary loans with their local public library branch. Agreements with the public library branch will not supersede the policies for the schools.

General Guidelines

Interlibrary loan is a mutual relationship and libraries should be willing to supply materials as freely as they request materials.

The supplying library determines whether the material can be provided.

Borrowing libraries should NOT request:• Books in current or recurring demand such as holiday or award books.• Materials for classroom, reserve or other group use.• Materials already owned by the borrowing media center.• Reference materials.

All libraries should establish and maintain an interlibrary loan policy for its borrowers and make it available.

Requesting Library Responsibilities

Each media center should attempt to provide the resources to meet the ordinary needs of its users. Material requested from another library should generally be limited to those items that do not conform to the requesting library’s collection development plan or for which there is no recurring demand.

The requesting library is responsible for all authorized charges imposed by the supplying library.

The requesting library should allow Library Manager to automatically fulfill requests OR distribute its requests among several libraries.

The requesting library is responsible for borrowed materials from the time they leave the supplying library until they have been returned and received by the supplying library. If damage or loss occurs, the requesting library is responsible for compensation or replacement, in accordance with the preference of the supplying library.

The requesting library is responsible for honoring due dates.

The requesting library should request a renewal before the item is due. If the supplying library does not respond, the requesting library may assume that the renewal has been granted for the same length of time as the original loan.

The requesting library should return materials by the due date and respond immediately if the item has been recalled by the supplying library.

Supplying Library Responsibilities

The supplying library should process requests within 48 hours.

The supplying library should include a loan receipt with each item.

The supplying library should state the due date on the loan receipt and on the item, if possible.

The supplying library should respond promptly to the request for renewals. If the supplying library does not respond within 4 days, the borrowing library may assume that the renewal has been granted for the same period as the original loan.

The supplying library may recall materials at any time.

III. APPENDICES

APPENDIX A

1. Information on Various Professional Organizations American Library Association (http://www.ala.org)

50 East Huron Chicago, IL 60611Phone: 800-545-2433Email: ala@ala.org

American Association of School Librarians (http://www.ala.org/aasl)American Library Association 50 East Huron Street Chicago, IL 60611-2795Phone: 1 (800) 545-2433, ext. 4382E-mail: aasl@ala.org

International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (http://www.ifla.org/)P.O. Box 953122509 CH The HagueNetherlandsPhone: +31 70 3140884E-mail: ifla@ifla.org

Georgia Library Media Association (http://glma-inc.org/)GLMA Executive Office2711 Irvin Way, Suite 111Decatur, GA 30030Phone: 404.299.7700Email: glma@jlh-consulting.com

Georgia Association for Instructional Technology (http://gait-inc.org)Email: gordonbaker@clayton.edu

Georgia Council of Media Organizations (http://www.georgiacomo.org/)Phone: 678-621-0355Email: regis@georgiacomo.org

References

American Library Association (ALA). (n.d.). First Amendment of the Bill of Rights to the United

States Constitution. Retrieved from

http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/oif/firstamendment/firstamendment.cfm

American Library Association. (n.d.). Library bill of rights. Retrieved from

http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/oif/statementspols/statementsif/librarybillrights.cfm

American Library Association & Association of American Publishers (AAP). (n.d). The freedom to read

statement. Retrieved from

http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/oif/statementspols/ftrstatement/

freedomreadstatement.cfm

Atlanta Public Schools Board Governance System. (1990, April 16). Board policy: Media programs.

Retrieved from https://eboard.eboardsolutions.com/ePolicy/policy.aspx?

PC=IFBC&Sch=4004&S=4004&RevNo=1.11&C=I&Z=P

Atlanta Public Schools Media Services. Retrieved from

http://www.atlantapublicschools.us/193120130143248823/blank/browse.asp?A=383&BMDRN

=2000&BCOB=0&C=56053

Atlanta Public Schools Media Services Share point. Retrieved from

http://apssharepoint/sites/MS_ProjectServer_PublicDocuments/ilt/ITS/media/default.aspx

Atlanta Public Schools (APS). (n.d.). Ordering procedures [Word document]. Retrieved from the Atlanta

Public School System SharePoint server.

Atlanta Public Schools. (n.d.). Selection [Word Document]. Retrieved from

http://www.atlantapublicschools.us/193120130143248823/blank/browse.asp?

A=383&BMDRN=2000&BCOB=0&C=56053.

Atlanta Public Schools Student Guide Book. Retrieved September 8, 2010, from

https://www.apsk12.org/portal/doc/APSGuidebookforstudents2010.pdf

Atlanta Public Schools, “The Office of Communications”. Retrieved September 22, 2010

from www.atlantapublicschools.us/18611010817124023/site/default.asp.

Baltimore County Public Schools. (n.d.). Considerations for selection of print materials. Retrieved

from http://www.bcps.org/offices/lis/office/admin/selection.html

Baltimore County Public Schools. (n.d.). Selection criteria for school library media center collections.

Retrieved from http://www.bcps.org/offices/lis/office/admin/selection.html

Baltimore County Public Schools. (n.d.). Selection criteria for school library media center collections:

Essential curriculum and collection development. Retrieved from

http://www.bcps.org/offices/lis/office/admin/selection.html

Baltimore County Public Schools. (n.d.). Selection of nonprint instructional materials. Retrieved from

http://www.bcps.org/offices/lis/office/admin/selection.html

Baltimore County Public Schools. (n.d.). Student and parent recommendations for library media center

materials. Retrieved from http://www.bcps.org/offices/lis/office/admin/selection.html

Bishop, K. (2007). The collection program in schools (4th ed.). Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited.

Carroll County Schools Board Governance System. (2007, April 19). Administrative regulation: Media

programs: Selection. Retrieved from https://eboard.eboardsolutions.com/ePolicy/policy.aspx?

PC=IFBC-R&Sch=4027&S=4027&RevNo=1.75&C=I&Z=R

Cataloging and Processing. (2009). Retrieved from the Media Specialists’ Handbook Wiki:

(http://fcmediahandbook.wikispaces.com/Cataloging+and+Processing)

Gillogly, M. (10 July 2011). Policies and Procedures Handbook [PDF document].

Policies and Procedures, Gwinnett County Public Schools. Policies § GAD, (Adopted

July 13, 2006; Revised May 8, 2008).

Harper-Archer Middle School website.Retrieved September 8, 2010, from

http://srt4.atlantapublicschools.us/1777120109124548260/site/default.asp

Infinite Campus. Retrieved September 9, 2010,

from https://ic.apsk12.org/campus/main/xsl