SMP5: Brookdale Elementary School Library Media Center: Budget

Ballard-Crawford-Jordan

FRIT 7331 Dr. Purcell

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Brookdale Media Center: Budget

A. Budget Sources

The Brookdale media center’s annual budget is allocated at the Bibb County School District
Level. In previous years, the budget allotted for the media center was significantly higher.
However, the budget has been tremendously cut for reasons that remains unknown. The
media center currently receives $1,900. for books and periodicals, $75 for supplies, and $250
for online subscriptions. This budget was developed based on a needs assessment determined
at the district school level. Michelle Lenderman, the Media Services Director, gathers this
information for each school throughout the district. The formula used is based on FTE counts
and distributed to each school as their budget. Brookdale Elementary has 343 students and
receives $8.50 per student.

Book Fairs are an annual fundraising effort hosted by the Brookdale media center. It is
usually held at the beginning of the second semester in January. The funds received through
the annual book fairs are submitted to the overall school budget.

Based on the current needs of the Brookdale media center program, an adequate use of
funding is not being used. The furniture currently being used is inadequate and doesn’t
provide fun, flexible seating that promotes reading.

B. Budget Plan

a. In percentages, for the next fiscal year, how will you divide the available
money to accomplish your goals?

Brookdale Elementary media center has a budget of around $2,225. Based on the
current media center program budget, it is deemed woefully inadequate and three
goals would be established to lead the media center into a more 21st century library.
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b. If your budget is woefully inadequate, you may choose to write a goal related
to fundraising, grant writing, or proactive lobbying for better funding. It should
be generally clear what money will be spent on.

Due to an inadequate budget to function as a 21st century media center we will apply
for the Peyton Anderson Grant of a projected $10,000. The Peyton Anderson
Foundation of Macon is the product of a former Macon resident determined to repay
his community for the success he achieved during his lifetime. The grant funds
including the current allotment will bring our modified budget to $12,225. This
revised budget allotment will assist with the following goals for the Brookdale
Elementary School media center:

1. Goal 1: With this new budget, $5,585 (45.7%) of the funds acquired would be
used to purchase new software to convert all hard copy materials into an
electronic copy. The main purpose of digitizing a school library is to enhance
and improve the preservation of library materials. This software will ensure all
materials are easily accessible if hard copies are already in use. Another
benefit of digitizing your library is teachers and staff have access to the
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materials anywhere. Having access virtually anywhere is significantly

resourceful. For example, if a student forgets their book at school and would
like to read it at home. Also, if a teacher needs a particular literary resource to
plan a lesson and the hard copy is unavailable in the media center, digital
access to the text would alleviate inconvenience.

2. Goal 2: According to the revised Brookdale Elementary School media

center’s philosophy, creating a warm, inviting environment that is conducive
to learning is essential. With the modified budget allotment, $4,790 (39.2%),
will be used to provide flexible seating, that includes , but is not limited to,
bean bags, sofas, rocking chairs, fun-twisty stools, and a brand new loft.
Flexible seating not only influences reading, it also enhances one’s overall
experience in a school media center. To further embellish the school library’s
climate, colorful curtains would be added to the large windows used for
natural light. Finally, a local artist would come in and create murals to
resemble classic children favorite books, such as Dr. Seuss, Junie B. Jones,
etc.

3. Goal 3: The third and final budget goal for the BE media center is $1,850
(15.1%), will be used for community connections. Community leaders and
authors will come and provide outreach through varying activities, such as,
read alouds, autograph books, and volunteering. Other community workers
will perform puppet shows and poetry slams.The local museum will come and
provide an in-house field trip by bringing in animals, art work, and portable
exhibits. The media center will also use this portion of the budget to provide
professional development on virtual, smart classroom activities.

References
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The Peyton Anderson Foundation. (2018). Retrieved from http://www.peytonanderson.org/

Walker, D. (2018, October 17). Personal interview.

White, J. (2005). Bestest: The life of peyton tooke anderson, jr. Macon, GA.