Barefoot: Strategic Management Plan Part 3

Strategic Management Plan 3

Jennifer Barefoot
The Survey:
I administered the survey Teacher Survey for Library Effectiveness through the website
http://freeonlinesurveys.com/s.asp?sid=54bgx7433sg2fbj369809. Teachers in 6th, 7th, and 8th
grade who teach Math, ELA, Science, and Social Studies were asked to complete the survey. The
goal of the survey was to identify areas of improvement and to also assess the overall
importance of the media center. Through the results of the survey, I discovered that many of the
teachers did not utilize the library media center, nor did they feel that the library media center
was an essential part of their classroom curriculum. Overall, teachers felt that the media center
specialist needed to incorporate more technology and information literacy skills. The survey
resulted in the development of four essential goals to be implemented across a five year span.
Those goals are: information literacy skills, literature appreciation, parent/student involvement,
and community involvement. Below, you will find a few of the most pertinent results of the
survey:
Out of those surveyed, 75% of
teachers stated that the library
media center was not an
important part of their curriculum.
The library media center should
serve many purposes from a
curriculum standpoint. The
library media center should be an
important place to conduct
research, find resources, and
utilize Web 2.0 tools that are vital
in the classroom.

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62.5% of teachers rarely to never
use the library media center.
With the implementation of Goals
1, 2, and 3 below, teachers and
students will re-discover the
usefulness of the library media
center. The media center is only
used for book check out and
occasionally research. Currently,
the library media center does not
have the resources to attract the
attention of students and
teachers dont see the value in
using classroom time to visit the
library media center.
37% of teachers stated that the
library media specialist provided
reasonable access to technology
in the library media center.
Currently our teachers do not
have adequate access to
computer/writing labs. The media
center should be able to
compensate for inadequate
access to technology by providing
opportunities to utilize e-readers
and computers. At this time, ereaders are not available and the
whole school is restricted in
technology use by having only 8
computers in the library media
center. With the implementation
of Goal 2 below, technology
access should increase.

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This particular question asked
whether the implementation of
Web 2.0 tools was important for
the classroom teacher. 100% of
the teachers surveyed agreed
that these tools were important. I
also discovered that many
teachers were not familiar with
the term Web 2.0 tools.

Out of the teachers surveyed,

37.5% stated that the current
integration of
technology/information literacy
skills was poor to fair. This is a
lack luster performance when
schools are supposed to be
promoting 21st Century Learners.

One of the last areas I wanted to

focus on dealt with the interaction
of parents and students in the
library media center setting. 75%
of those surveyed thought that
the use of these volunteers was
important, thus the creation of
Goal 3.

A few of the short response questions garnered comments about the importance of technology
and research skills and information literacy skills being taught in the library media center. One
comment also showed interested in teacher training in Web 2.0 tools. Other suggestions
included the integration of more technology and inviting authors, speakers, etc into the library
media center.

Barefoot: Strategic Management Plan Part 3

Goals:
Goals

Objectives

Goal 1: Information Literacy

Skills

Objective 1.1 - The library

media center specialist will
provide tutorials on Web 2.0
Tools, accessible both at
school and home and will
encourage their use on class
assignments/projects.

Evaluation

Evaluation 1.1 After the

creation and training of the
tutorials, the library media
specialist will conduct
surveys to both teachers
and students on their use of
Web 2.0 tools. Survey will
also ask for suggestions on
new tools, increase in
students use of Web 2.0
tools for class assignments,
and general knowledge of
tools by students. The
media center specialist will
re-evaluate effectiveness of
tutorials and will proceed
with tutorials for new tools
or modifications for Web 2.0
tools being implemented
based on results of survey.
Objective 1.2 The library
Evaluation 1.2 After
media center specialist will
completing initial
provide professional learning professional development,
activities for information
teachers will be asked to
literacy skills and how to
give feedback on quality and
incorporate Web 2.0 tools in usefulness of training. The
the classroom.
media center specialist will
provide refresher courses
and updates every 4 months
to encourage continued use
of tools within the
classroom.

Objective 1.3. Students will

begin to use more advanced
Web 2.0 tools in the
classroom, media center,
and home setting.

Evaluation 1.3 The library

media specialist will also
conduct training sessions
during morning study hall
every 9 weeks for students.
The library media specialist

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Goal 2: Literature
Appreciation

Objective 2.1 The library

media center specialist will
promote reading activities,
such as literature circles,
book clubs, reading contests
and literature appreciation
weeks.

Objective 2.2 The library

media center specialist will
begin to incorporate ereaders to enhance the
reading experience.

Objective 2.3 The library

media specialist will create
visually appealing displays
of current books and

will visit classrooms to

assess use of information
literacy skills. The library
media specialist will also
conduct informal
questioning of teachers on
possible increase in the use
of these skills. A ticker
will also be placed on the
school website page that
includes the link to various
2.0 tools to assess an
increase in use.
Evaluation 2.1 The library
media specialist will conduct
at least one book fair
throughout the course of the
year. A book club and
reading contests will be held
at least once a 9 weeks. At
minimum, two literature
appreciation weeks will be
recognized in the course of
one school year.
Evaluation 2.2 The media
center specialist will reach
out to PTO at first meeting
to find available funds to be
used for the purchase of ereaders. By the 2nd nine
weeks, the library media
specialist will arrange the
submission of application for
donation sites such as
donorschoose.org. By the
end of the year, the library
media specialist will have
purchased at least 3 ereaders.
Evaluation 2.3 Displays will
be updated by the library
media specialist, students,
or parent volunteers at least

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recommendations.

Goal 3: Parent/Student
Involvement

Objective 3.1 The library

media specialist will reach
out to PTO to promote
ongoing reading programs in
the media center in order to
form collaboration.

Objective 3.2 The library

media specialist will invite
parents to volunteer in the
media center for shelving,
check out, and other basic
needs in the form of
newsletters and PTO
involvement.

Objective 3.3 The library

media specialist will create a
training program for
students to enable them to
also assist with the basic

once a 9 Weeks. Students

visiting the media center will
be able to vote on favorite
books and recommend new
books. The library media
specialist will track the
amount of times
recommended books are
checked out during a 9
weeks to gauge
effectiveness of display.
Evaluation 3.1 The library
media specialist will
compare events
advertised through PTO
versus those that were not
advertised through PTO.
After the first half of the
year, the library media
specialist will sit down with
PTO president to determine
goals for second half of the
year and possible
collaboration of projects.
Evaluation 3.2 The library
media specialist will send
home newsletters, post on
school website, and will
speak at PTO meetings to
discuss need for volunteers.
At least 3 volunteers will be
sought per 9 weeks. At the
end of the school year, the
parents will complete a
survey on overall experience
of volunteering and
suggestions for
improvement.
Evaluation 3.3 The library
media specialist will create a
training manual and possible
video for students. Students
will be chosen based off of

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needs of the media center.

The library media specialist
will also consult with
teachers for recommended
students and suggested
time periods.

Goal 4: Community
Involvement

Objective 4.1 The library

media specialist will contact
members of the community
for support with funds,
supplies, and incentive
programs.

Objective 4.2 The library

media specialist will
promote activities outside of
the school such as writing
workshops, teen book clubs
at local libraries, and local
contests.

Objective 4.3 - The library

media specialist will invite
members of the community,
parents, and
authors/illustrators/writers

teacher recommendations.
At least 2 students will be
used for help in the library
within the first 9 weeks.
Students will then begin to
train other students. Two
students will then be added
every 9 weeks for the
continuance of the school
year.
Evaluation 4.1 The library
media specialist will obtain
at least 5 connections will
local businesses such as
pizza and ice cream places.
The library media specialist
will conduct at least 1
incentive program per 9
weeks offering coupons,
discounts to local
businesses. The library
media specialist will also
contact bigger businesses
such as Target and Wal-mart
to obtain funding for at least
one project during one
school year.
Evaluation 4.2 The library
media specialist will
advertise at least one local
and one national contest or
event each 9 weeks. The
library media specialist will
also provide other
contest/workshop
information to teachers to
encourage the promotion
within the classroom.
Evaluation 4.3 The library
media specialist will invite at
least 4 members of the
community to make guest
appearances, speak, or

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for guest appearances in

the media center.

present.

Goal Rationales:
Goal 1: Information Literacy Skills
The American Library Association provides 5 standards for information literacy. Standard 1.1.
states, The information literate student determines the nature and extent of the information
needed. The information literate student identifies a variety of types and formats of potential
sources for information (American Library Association, 2013). At the conclusion of my teacher
survey, a few things stood out: the library was only doing a good job integrating technology,
providing technology, and teaching information literacy skills. Teachers also felt the media
center could be improved by further instruction in areas such as Web 2.0 tools and the use of
technology in general. Through the integration of Web 2.0 tools, students will be encouraged to
be creative and will have the means in which to do so. Empowering Learners states, through the
mission of the school library program, that the school librarian is responsible for providing
students and staff with instruction and resources that reflect current information needs and
anticipate changes in technology and education (p.8). With the ever increasing use of
technology by our students, the media center has to provide access to those information literacy
tools that will keep the students engaged in the classroom setting as well as prepare them for
real world application. The use of technology and information literacy is also promoted through
the current state standards, as seen in standard ELACC8W6, Use technology, including the
Internet, to produce and publish writing & present the relationships between info. and ideas
efficiently as well as to interact and collaborate with others (Georgia Standards, 2013).

Goal 2: Literature Appreciation

Empowering Learners (2009) identifies the actions of the school librarian in the role of reading
as, -develops initiatives to encourage and engage learners in reading, writing, and listening for
understanding and enjoyment. motivates learners to read fiction and nonfiction through
reading aloud, booktalking, displays, exposure to authors, and other means (p.21). The survey
showed a lack of use and interest in the media center. By providing exciting activities involving
reading and writing, the students would once again find their love for the media center. They
would come to understand that the media center is more than just checking out books.
Initiatives such as book clubs, contests, etc would hopefully bolster an excitement for the media
center and reading. These initiatives might also show the teachers a different perspective on the
offerings of the media center. State standards call for at least 7 informational and literary texts
to be utilized within in a 9 week grading period and at least 25 novels throughout the course of
the year. The media center can provide supplemental texts to correlate with the existing themes
of the units, making cross-curricular connections easier for teachers and students.

Goal 3: Parent/Student Involvement

The media center does not currently use parent or student volunteers. As a result, the media
center specialist is often overwhelmed and overworked. Also, parents do not have an image of
the function and needs of the media center because they never enter it. Parental and student
involvement in the media center is not promoted; therefore the students dont connect their
parents to this aspect of their school life. The school librarian should, create opportunities to
involve caregivers, parents, and other family members in reading (Empowering Learners, 21).

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They should also, provide appropriate training and support for student aides and volunteers
(p.32). The role of the library media specialist has increased over the years. The expectations
are forever growing. The media center specialist should delegate the somewhat menial tasks of
shelving books, checking out books, and maintaining general cleanliness to student and parent
volunteers. This eliminates some weight off of the media center librarians shoulders as well as
fosters a connection with students and parents.

Goal 4: Community Involvement

The mission statement of Grovetown Middle School is The media center serves a vital role in the
instructional program. While supporting the Columbia County School System curriculum, the
GTMS media center provides resource materials and activities to our students, staff, and
community. The media center cultivates the love of reading and the desire for lifelong learning
for individual students, and facilitates the development and use of 21 st Century skills
(Grovetown Middle, 2013). Currently, Grovetown Middle School has no role outside of the
school. They do not offer any services, such as workshops to caregivers or parents; they do not
seek aide or supplies from local businesses for the use of materials or incentive programs; and
they do not invite members of the community to be involved in daily activities within the media
center. It is important for the students to understand that the acquisition of the 21 st century
skills carry over from their role as their student to their role of a community member. By seeing
active participation from community members in the school setting, students will be encouraged
to be actively engaged in their community. Students will also have exposure to different jobs,
different people, and different opportunities. Community members will have an understanding of
the citizens of their community and the needs of the school.

Goals Evaluation:
All four goals will be evaluated by the library media specialist through the use of surveys and
questionnaires to identify strengths and weaknesses of implemented objectives. These
evaluations will be completed by teachers, students, and parents. The library media specialist
will seek input and suggestions at least every 9 weeks from one of the three groups.
Adjustments to the objectives will be made based on the feedback received. Evaluations are
discussed more thoroughly in the above chart. The first year will be the roll out process for the
four goals. It is intended that each of the four years following will be a continuance of the
original four goals. As the years progress, it is hopeful that the goals are explored in a deeper
manner. For example, the acquisition of three e-readers the first year will hopefully grow to 15 ereaders by the end of the 5 year implementation plan. It is expected that the incentive
programs, guest speakers, and tutorial programs will also evolve into better developed
programs. Through the course of the five year plan, the media center specialist will also modify
goals and objectives based on feedback from the stakeholders.

Advocacy:
The Strategic Management plan will be compiled into a power point presentation accessible
through the schools media center webpage. A link to the pbworks page will also be provided, in
order to allow for virtual feedback. A newsletter will also be sent home with the students
addressing the goals of the media center. The newsletter will feature a parent volunteer sign-up.
Students returning the newsletter with a parent signature will be entered into a drawing. The

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school library media specialist will also address the PTO, informing them of the goals of the
media center and the role that the PTO can play in reaching those goals.

References:
Grovetown middle school. (2013). Retrieved from
http://www.edline.net/pages/Grovetown_Middle_School/Media_Center
American Association of School Librarians. (2009). Empowering learners. Chicago: American
Library Association.
American library association. (2013). Retrieved from
http://www.ala.org/acrl/standards/informationliteracycompetency
Georgia Standards (2013). Retrieved from https://www.georgiastandards.org/CommonCore/Common%20Core%20Frameworks/CCGPS_ELA_Grade8_Standards.pdf

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