Deedra Long Dr.

Stephanie Jones Administration of the School Library Program 04/15/2013

Bryan County Board of Education Instructional Media/Resource Policy: An Annotation

Instructional Media/Resource I. The Bryan County Board of Education adopts the following philosophy as the basis for its instructional media/resources policy: The belief that in a free society each individual is free to determine for his/herself what he/she wishes to read, view, hear and that each group is free to determine what it will recommend to its members. It is inevitable that in the give and take of the democratic process the political, the moral, or the aesthetic concepts of an individual or group will occasionally collide with those of another individual or group. The belief that the Bryan County School System should contribute to the development of the social, intellectual, and moral values of its students. The belief that our schools are concerned with generating an understanding of American freedoms and the preservation of these freedoms through the development of informed and responsible citizens. The belief that the students of Bryan County School System should have access to materials that will enrich and support the curriculum, taking into consideration the varied interests, abilities, and maturity levels of the pupils served. The belief that materials should be available that are representative of the many religious, ethnic, and cultural groups and their contributions to our American heritage. The belief that the provisions of a comprehensive collective requires that principle be placed above personal opinion in the selection of materials of the highest quality. The belief that students should have access to materials which treat various sides of controversial issues so that young citizens may develop, under guidance, the practices of critical reading, viewing, listening, and thinking. The belief that a teacher, as a teacher, has a special position in the training and guidance of the young and that he/she must assume a special responsibility in selecting the kinds of materials he/she chooses to promote.

dlong 4/13/13 8:51 PM

Comment: Although this portion of the policy addresses intellectual freedom, there is no policy in place that addresses student confidentiality of library records. The American Association of School Librarians position statement on the confidentiality of library records includes the right to privacy of library users, believe that records held in libraries which connect specific individuals with specific resources, programs, or servies are confidential and not to be used for purposes other than routine record keeping.

dlong 4/13/13 11:42 AM

Comment: Although the statement of philosophy is lengthy, it is in line with recommendations made by Downs (2013), "The primary purpose of the school library media center facility is to provide the resources needed to support the school's curriculum" (p. 29).

II. Educational Goals for Instructional Media Program Based upon an assessment of local needs and priorities, the Bryan County Board of Education adopts these educational goals for its media program.
A To assist in the development of the curriculum and instructional programs of the

school system.
B To support the achievement of curricular and instructional goals. C To assist instructional personnel as they develop instructional plans and present

classroom instruction.
D To provide students and teachers with access to the variety of informational

resources and materials necessary to achieve curricular objectives.

E To assist students in the development of the attitudes and skills which will enable

them to become lifelong learners.

dlong 4/13/13 8:55 PM

Comment: The education goals that are outlined by the board policy are in line with recommendations made by Downs, (2013), The foundation of the school library media center mission statement focuses on how the media center should advance the mission proposed by the district and school (page 3). However, these goals should be updated to also reflect information literacy standards.

V. Media Committees The system level media committee shall be composed of administrative, instructional, and media personnel and parent, student, and community representation. This committee, appointed by the Superintendent, on an annual basis, bases its actions on the system's established curriculum and educational goals and objectives. It functions in an advisory capacity according to the role as defined by Roles in Media Program Development: School and Community. Specifically, the committee is charged with considering and making recommendations for each of the following areas of concern: a) long range program goals, b) budget priorities, c) selection of materials, d) reconsideration of materials, e) operational procedures, f) copyright adherence processes, g) program evaluation, including expansion and deletion of services, h) organization and processing of materials, i) policies for disposition of gifts and use of non-school owned materials in the classroom, j) processes for instructional planning between teachers and media specialists, and k) mechanisms for use of information sources outside the school. Each school within the Bryan County School System will have a school media committee. The members of the committee shall include an administrator, a media specialist, and representatives for teachers, students, and the community. The principal of the school shall be responsible for appointing the appropriate committee members. The role of the building media committee shall be defined by Roles in Media Program Development: School and Community. Specifically, the School Media Committee is charged with the responsibility for considering and making recommendations to the System Media Committee for the following areas of concern: a) long range program goals, b) budget priorities, c) selection of materials, d) reconsideration of materials, e) operational procedures, f) copyright adherence processes, g) program evaluation, including expansion and deletion of services, h) organization and

dlong 4/13/13 11:14 AM

Comment: According to Downs (2013), Ideally, a committee should be formed to tackle the job. Members of the committee should include the school library media specialist(s), teachers, parents, students (if appropriate), and administrative representative (7). The current policy is within recommendations for media committees.

dlong 4/13/13 11:15 AM

Comment: The policy provides for both system level and school level media committees.

processing of materials, i) policies for disposition of gifts and use of non-school owned materials in the classroom, j) processes for instructional planning between teachers and media specialists, and k) mechanisms for use of information sources outside the school. X. Media Center Operational Procedures Because the school media program provides services that are essential to a quality education, information should be accessible at appropriate difficulty levels, in various formats, for differentiated grouping patterns (i.e., class, group, individual). Flexible scheduling should make resources available at the point and time of need. The school media center is a laboratory for learning. It should be available for student and teacher use of media purposes throughout each instructional day of the school year. Each school must develop functional procedures for ensuring appropriate operating procedures as mandated in this policy. XIII. Organization and Processing of Materials Media center organization should include all instructional materials except three textbooks, resources useful in only one content area or classroom, and resources purchased with categorical funds. The media specialist is responsible for keeping the media center collection up-to-date. The library/media collection shall be weeded annually to remove materials that are worn or out-of-date. Weeding is an on-going process. Weeding should include out-of-date, worn-out or badly damaged, and unused materials. A system disposition form (Form IM-3, see IFA(3) Exhibit) shall be completed when disposing of out-of-date or worn materials. The processing of materials shall be in accord with standard library practices. Circulation records shall be maintained on a daily, monthly and annual basis for the purpose of evaluating student use of the library. XVI. Use of Information Sources Outside the School The media program should provide for the use of the resources of other institutions and in the community to extend the instructional resources and learning opportunities available to teachers and students. Each media center shall maintain a file of instructional and community resources. Use of the regional library and local public library should be included in the file.

dlong 4/13/13 10:54 AM

Comment: This policy addresses flexible scheduling without being prohibitive. The American Library Association (1991) issued a position statement advocating flexible scheduling in school libraries over 16 years ago. It reads, The integrated library media program philosophy requires that an open schedule must be maintained. Classes cannot be scheduled in the library media center to provide teacher release or preparation time. Students and teachers must be able to come to the center throughout the day to use information sources, to read for pleasure, and to meet and work with other students and teachers. (Creighton, 2007). This policy is in line with the best practice recommendation of flexible scheduling.

dlong 4/13/13 8:56 PM

Comment: As Melissa Allen (2010) stated, While weeding can be controversial, a carefully prepared and fully documented policy on weeding (or deselection) can lessen or alleviate misunderstandings (p. 32). The weeding policy should be updated to incorporate specific criteria that will be used when weeding takes place. Also, the weeding policy should be updated to address current technology such as e-readers, e-books, etc.

dlong 4/13/13 9:06 PM

Comment: This is the only portion of our policy that discusses outside sources. Downs (2013) recommends consider issues related to use of the facility before and after school by the students and others in the community, what happens if there are conflicting requests, charging for use, who maintains the facility, damage to the facility and the library resources caused by use (p. 30). The district policy should be updated to include a volunteer policy, as well as policies addressing other possible community usage of the media center.

Relevant facility policies from the Bryan County High School Media Center Handbook are referenced below. Check-out Procedures A library card is required to check out books. Every new student is given a library card. If a student loses a library card, a replacement card must be purchased for $1.00. Students are responsible for the care and return of books that they check out. Books are checked out for a two week period. Books may be returned or renewed at any time prior to the due date. Books that are not returned or renewed by the end of two weeks become overdue. A fine accumulates for each school day that the book is late. Students may not check out another book until an overdue book is returned and the fine is paid. When books are lost or damaged beyond repair, the purchase price of the book is charged. If the lost book is found, the price paid for the book will be refunded less the daily fine amount. Students who have outstanding fines for library books will have report cards held until the fine is paid. Computers Library computers have internet access and Microsoft Office software. Students are encouraged to use computers to aid research. Computers may not be used for emailing or participating in chat rooms or social networks.

dlong 4/13/13 9:14 PM

Comment: There is no plan for what happens if a student cannot pay the fine. Providing library resources and service to students who are homeless is a mix of applying professional ethics, recognizing students First Amendment right to receive information in a school library, and meeting a legal requirement to provide an education equal to that of housed studentsSchool librarians must balance their fiduciary responsibility to maintain a collection with open access for all students (Adams, 2011, p. 52-53).

dlong 4/13/13 1:30 PM

Comment: This section should be updated to reference the countys subscription to edmodo.com and new email procedures for students.