KA Section III: The School Library Media Center: Facilities and

Services
Circulation Policy
The Wayne County High School media center has a circulation policy that varies
according to the stakeholder. All media center books and resources are inventoried in Follett
Destiny. Follett Destiny allows for the checking in and checking out of books and resources.
Students are able to check out two books at a time. They can keep the book for 10 school days.
Students are able to check out the book again if they are not finished with the book. If students
would like to check out a book that is currently checked out then they may reserve the book so it
will be available to them when it is returned. Students are given a one day grace period for book
returns. After the grace period, they are responsible for paying a $.05 per day fine. The
maximum student fine for late book returns is $2.00. Fines can be waived for economically
disadvantaged students. Students are responsible for paying the replacement cost of a book if the
book is lost or damaged. The fines and replacement costs are tabulated by Follett Destiny.

Students also have access to e-books through Scholastic Publishing. This subscription
offers unlimited access to many different book titles. The e-books can be viewed simultaneously.
Most e-books are accessed using desktop computers, netbooks or Chromebooks.

Teachers are able to check out a variety of resources, such as DVDs, VHS tapes, books,
mobile computer labs, document cameras, projectors, digital cameras, etc. Teachers may keep
these resources for as long as they need them. If a teacher needs a resource that is already out on

loan, then the media specialist with contact the teacher with the resources to let them know the
resource is need elsewhere and to get an estimated time of return and explain. Teachers are also
able to check out classroom book collections which align with the Common Core curriculum.

Parents are able to visit the media center to use available resources to use available
resources such as computers, books, other printed material, and non-printed materials. While
parents are allowed to use the materials during media center hours, they are not allowed to take
the materials home.

The use of e-books is a step in the right direction towards a 21st century library. In
Empowering Learners (2009), The American Association of School Librarians recommends
providing students with equitable access to books and readings (p. 12). Since the Scholastic ebooks provide unlimited, simultaneous access, all students have equal access to the e-books and
do not have to worry about them not being in the library because someone else has checked out
the book. The implementation of a BYOD program would also help transform the media center
towards a 21st century library. The school lacks sufficient mobile technology for student use in
the media center. The BYOD program would give students the opportunity to read e-books in
the reading area of the library. They would be able to enjoy the cushioned seats in the reading
area rather than having to sit in the hard wooden chairs at each computer station. The media
center could also consider purchasing mobile devices for students to check out. This would
allow students to access e-books from home. This would also give students access to mobile
devices for home use if they do not have access to a device at home. This could help students
with some of their school assignments.

References
American Association of School Librarians. (2009). Empowering Learners: Guidelines for
School Library Programs. Chicago, IL.

Scheduling
The Wayne County High School media center follows the recommendations of the
American Association of School Librarians in Empowering Learners (2009) and promotes
flexible scheduling of the school library facility to allow for efficient and timely integration of
resources into the curriculum (p. 33). The media center is accessible to students, faculty, staff,
parents, and other community members each day of the school year. The media center can
accommodate individual students or small groups of students. The media center is also open 5
days before school starts and 5 days after school ends. The hours of operation are from 7:20
A.M. until 4:00 P.M. The media center is open during lunch so students have access to it during
their lunch period. The media specialist is responsible for granting access to parents to the
student information system so parents can check student grades. Parents may make an
appointment with the media specialist if they need access to the media center after regular hours.
The media center website provides 24 hour access to online tools such as Galileo and the online
card catalog powered by Follett Destiny. Teachers may schedule times to take their classes to the
media center. Teachers must accompany their classes to the media center. In order to schedule a
time, teachers must visit the media specialist and look at a physical calendar to see openings.
The media specialist writes all scheduled times on the calendar. The media center is also
responsible for the scheduling of three computer labs. These labs are scheduled the same way.

There is a physical calendar for each lab and teachers must visit the media center to look at the
calendar and schedule times to use the labs.

After review of the scheduling policy, it may be beneficial for the media center to have
extended hours one day per week. The media center could open earlier and close later. This
would give parents extra time to visit the media center since the current hours are similar to
regular business hours. The extended time would also be open for alternative school students to
use resources that they do not have access to at the alternative school. Another recommendation
is to create an electronic way of scheduling times for teachers to take their classes to the media
center and to use the three computer labs. This would make it easier for the media specialist.
This would also make it easier and less time consuming for teachers since they would no longer
have to visit the media center and the media specialist. The use of electronic scheduling will
help with make the media center a 21st century library.

References
American Association of School Librarians. (2009). Empowering Learners: Guidelines for
School Library Programs. Chicago, IL.

Services
The Wayne County High School media center provides a variety of services to students,
faculty, staff, and parents. Students are able to visit the media center individually or in small
groups. Students may check out books, conduct research, or take advantage of the quiet area for
pleasure reading. Students may use print materials for research or they may use the computers

that are available in the media center. Network printers are available for student use if the
documents are educational. The media center sponsors the poetry and anime club for student
participation. The media center provides web services for students to use. Some of these web
services include:

Learning.com - Cyber Safety training

Follett Destiny - card catalog

GALILEO

Georgia Online Formative Assessment Resources (GOFAR) - formerly Georgia OAS

Georgia Encyclopedia

Teachers may schedule times to take their classes to any of the 4 computer labs provided by
the media center. One of the labs is located in the media center. The other labs are located in
classrooms in close proximity to the media center. One of the labs is a reading lab which
provides e-readers for students to use. Teachers may take their classes to the media center at
scheduled times to allow the students to check out books, conduct research, or take part in
instruction lead by the media specialist. The media specialist leads instruction to help students
develop 21st century skills. According to the American Association of School Librarians in
Empowering Learners (2009), this includes instructing students and assisting educators in
using, evaluating, and producing information and ideas through active use of a broad range of
appropriate tools, resources, and information technologies (p. 8). This gives the media
specialist an opportunity to teach students about various Web 2.0 tools that can be used to
express new knowledge. Teachers may also take advantage of other services offered by the
media center. The media center offers laminating services for teacher use. Teachers are able to

check out equipment that might be needed for their classroom. The media specialist offers
training to teachers on this equipment if it is needed.

Parents may visit the media center and have access to printed materials as well as use the
computers. At this time, parents are not allowed to check out materials from the media center.
The media center might be able to serve parents better if they were able to check out some of the
resources in the media center. The media center could offer supplemental instruction material
that parents could check out to help their children if they needed enrichment or remediation.

The media center is accessible to students with disabilities. Students confined to a

wheelchair can easily maneuver around the media center. There is also a handicap accessible
restroom located in the media center. The media center provides assistive technology for
students who are hearing impaired, vision impaired, or cognitively impaired. These resources
are typically checked out by the students teacher and can be checked out for as long as the
resources are needed. The media specialist provides one-on-one library orientation to special
education students. The media center strives to make the media center accessible to all as well as
provide resources and equipment to ensure all students have equal access to education.

References
American Association of School Librarians. (2009). Empowering Learners: Guidelines for
School Library Programs. Chicago, IL.

KA Team Members
Lisa Harrison - Contributor and Editor
Melanie Kirby - Editor
LaRae Thornton Contributor and Editor
Jennifer White - Author and Contributor