CirculationPolicy

Forprint/bookcheckouts,6/7thgradestudentsareabletocheckouttwobooksatatime
(threefor8thgrade)foratimeperiodofthreeweeks.Studentsarealsoallowedtocheckout
onemagazineforoneweek.Whilethereisnofineforoverduematerials,thestudentwilllose
theirabilitytocheckoutmaterialsuntiltheitemiseitherreturnedorpaidfor.Lostordamaged
materialswillbetheresponsibilityofthestudent($20forhardcover,$10forpaperback,and$1
formagazinesdamagedbooksare$10)andfailuretopayfortheitemswillresultinlost
privilegesforborrowingmaterialsand/orparticipatingincelebratoryevents.EBooksare
availabletostudentsthroughMackinVIAandstudentscanaccessthroughtheireClassaccount.
EClassisalsowherestudentsaccessonlinedatabasesandotherresources.BYOD/BYOT
Agreementforms(
Link
)arelocateddirectlyontheschoolswebsite,andtheResponsibleUse
Policy(
Link
)comesstraightfromGwinnettCounty.
Analysis:
WhileLMSdoesnothaveaspecificdocumentforacirculationpolicyinplace,multiple
componentsfromacollectionpolicyarefoundintheLMSstudenthandbookand/orontheLMS
Mediaswebsite.Fromthestandpointofa21stcenturylibraryanditslearners,theLMSmedia
centerisdefinitelyheadedintherightdirection.ProvidingstudentswithaccesstotheMedia
Catalogonline,EBooksandonlineresources24/7isahugepositive,andclearly
communicatingtheBOYDandResponsibleUsePolicyonthewebprovideseasyaccessand
referencetothesepolicies.Anareaofthepolicywewouldliketoseechangedishavingthe
limitsfortheamountstudentscancheckoutatatimeliftedinsupportoftheconcept,ifwe
wanttolayclaimtocontributingtoearlyliteracy,ourcollectionsneedtobeinchildren'shands,
notonourshelvesfromthearticle,
ReadingbyGradeThree
byLindaJohnsonandJean
Donham.Also,the
PositionStatementontheRoleoftheSchoolLibrarianinReading,the
AmericanAssociationofSchoolLibrarians
(AASL,2011)statesthatschoollibrariesmust

provide"open,nonrestrictedaccesstoavariedhighqualitycollectionofreadingmaterialsin
multipleformatsthatreflectacademicneedsandpersonalinterests"(para.5).Studentswhodo
nothavecomputeraccessintheirhomeswouldbenefitthemostfromunlimitedaccesstobooks
fromtheschoolwhichwouldhelplimitthedigitaldividethatlowincomefamiliesexperience.
Wewouldalsoliketoaddanoverrideoptionforthediscretionofthemediaspecialisttoallow
checkoutstostudentsforprojectorclassroomnecessities,regardlessoftheirstatuswithfines
andfees.Thiswouldallowstudentstohaveaccesstoresourcesforbothschoolassignments
andpersonalenjoymentwithoutworryofalimitofresources.
Muchofthecirculationpolicyinformationrevolvesaroundthestudentsaccessto
information,however,policiesshouldbeinplacethatoutlineteacheraccesstomaterialsas
well.Teachersshouldhaveaccesstoreservingthemediacenter,printmaterials,mobilecarts,
computerlabs,technology,etc.andthereshouldbepoliciesinplacecommunicatingthe
proceduresforreservingandusingthesematerials.Limitsshouldbeplacedinhowmanydays
inarowateachercanreservetechnologyinordertonotmonopolizematerialsprovidingall
teachersaccess.Teachersshouldalsobeawareofhowfarinadvancetheyareabletoreserve
technologymaterialsinordertogainfirstpreference.Asforprintmaterials,teachersshould
haveunlimitedaccessinordertomeettheneedsoftheirstudents.
Anotherareaofthecollectionpolicyshouldaddressparentaluseofthemediacenter.
Whileparentswillhaveunlimitedaccesstomaterialsfoundonlinethroughtheirstudents
eClassaccount,theyshouldalsohaveaccesstoprintmaterialcheckoutsaswell.Usingtheir
studentsaccountandhavingtheparentsignawaiverallowingthemtocheckoutandassume
responsibilityforthematerialswouldbeagreatadditiontoLMSpolicy.
Scheduling
ThehoursofoperationfortheLMSschoolbuildingarefrom9:20a.m.4:20p.m.,
MondaythroughFriday.Thelibraryfunctionsonafixedsetofhours,opentostudentsfrom

8:20a.m.4:05p.m.,MondaythroughThursday,andthenfrom8:50a.m.4:05p.m.on
Fridays.Facultymembersareabletoaccessthelibraryfrom8:15a.m4:30p.m.AtLMS
mediawebsite,facultymembers(andanyoneactually)canselecttheCalendaroptionfound
undertheInformationtabtoseetheavailabilityoftheresources.LMSfunctionsonan
flexible/openaccess,wherethemediacenterisneverclosedduringthedayorconsideredoff
limits.
Analysis:
Whilethereisplentyofextratimeduringthemorninghoursforstudents,thereisvery
little(orno)accessforstudentsafterschool.Thesefixedhourslimittheaccessibilityof
studentswhoonlyhavetimetovisitduringtheafternoontimeframe.BecauseGwinnettCounty
structurestheschooldayformiddleschoolstobeginandendmuchlaterthanelementaryand
highschools,thismakesstaffingsomewhatdifficulttoreachbothendsoftheschoolday.A
quickwaytoremedythisistoworkwiththeclerkoravolunteer(oreventhestellarsub)to
adjustworkinghourstoallowformoreflexibility.Ifonecomesinduringtheregularearly
morningtimeframe,theothercancomeinlaterinthemorningandstaylaterintheafternoon.
Thisslighttimeadjustmentwouldgiveallstudentstheabilitytoaccessthematerialsand
resourcesregardlessoftheircircumstancesandprovideaccessforcommunitymembersand
parentsaswell,allowingthemediacentertoreachtheneedsofthe21stcenturylibraryandits
learners.
Services
LMSMediaCenterhasexcellentvirtuallibraryresources,andthelibrarywebsite
provideshowtoinstructionsforstudentsandparentstologintotheOnlineResearchLibrary.
ThewebpagehasalinkthattakesstudentsandparentsdirectlytoGCPSwebpagetosignin
eClassforonlineresources.Someoftheonlineresourceshavetheabilitytobetranslatedinto
otherlanguages,whichwillallowthelargeHispanicpopulationandotherESOLstudentsat

LMStheabilitytoutilize.Inadditiontodatabasesubscriptions,themediaspecialisthasplaced
avarietyofWeb2.0tools(directlylinked)ontheLinkstaboftheMediaCenterswebsitefor
anyone(students,parents,teachers,etc.)toaccessanduse.Themediaspecialistalsohostsa
Symbaloopageforteacherswhereresources,copyrightinformationguidelines,andother
teacherrelatedlinksarehoused.AmonthlyS'moregoesouttoteachersshowcasingthelibrary
activitiesandresources.
Analysis:
Whileitisnicetoofferlinksandwebsitestovariousresources,wewouldliketosee
morespecificstowhatthelibrarycanofferstudents,teachers,parentsandcommunity
members.Explainwhattrainingthemediaspecialistcanofferintheformofcoteachingwith
teachersthroughouttheschool,orofferspecificbefore/afterschoolprofessionallearning
opportunitiesforteachers(ortrainingeventslunchnlearnsforstudents/parents/community)
toshowcasehowvariousresourcescanbeusedinclassrooms.Also,thereshouldbe
documentshandedoutduringmediacenterorientationaboutcopyright,plagiarismandcreative
commonstostudentsandofferteachersopportunitiesduringresearchprojectsforcoteaching
toassistwiththesetopics.CreativeCommonssites(andinformationaboutwhatitis)should
alsobeincludedonthemainLMSMediaswebsitesincemanyofthesesitescouldbedirectly
linked.
EthicsandLegalPrinciples

Nopolicylisted

Analysis:

Accordingto
EmpoweringLearners,
anumberoflearnersarenowcontentcreators,as
wellasconsumers,andtheymustbeinformedoftheirintellectualpropertyrightsand
knowledgeableaboutacceptableuseguidelines(pg38).Baseduponourfindings,asidefrom
theResponsibleUsePolicylistedabove,thatappearstobetheonlyitemthataddressesanyof

theethicalandlegalprinciples.However,anothermiddleschoolinGwinnettCounty,Trickum
Middle,hasoutlinedbothWeb2.0policiesandTechnicalUsepoliciesthatdiscussesethical
andlegalmatters:
Web2.0Policies
Web2.0toolsareeducationalwebbasedplatformsthatenablestudentstodigitallycreate,
collaborate,andcommunicateacademiccontent.ThereasonforallowingtheuseofWeb2.0
toolsbystudentsisanefforttohelpthemworkindependentlyandcollaborativelybothinand
outofschool.
1. StudentsusingWeb2.0toolsareexpectedtoactsafelybykeepingpersonalinformation
outoftheirposts.Studentsagreenottopostorgiveoutfamilynames,passwords,user
names,emailaddresses,homeaddress,personallyidentifyingpicturesorother
informationthatcouldhelpsomeonelocateorcontacttheminperson.
2. StudentsusingWeb2.0toolsagreenottosharetheirusername,password,or
pseudonymwithanyonebesidestheirparentsandteachers.
3. StudentsusingWeb2.0toolsareexpectedtotreatthetechnologicalspaceas
classroomspace.Languageandbehaviorthatisinappropriateforclassisalso
inappropriateforWeb2.0tools.Web2.0toolswillbeusedtoengagestudentsin
AKSspecificacademicactivitiesandconversations,thereforestudentswillconduct
themselvesinamannerreflectiveofthePositiveBehaviorStandardsforGwinnett
CountyandTrickumMiddleSchool.Studentswhodonotabidebythesetermsand
conditionsmaylosetheiropportunitytotakepartinWeb2.0projectsand/orface
administrativeconsequences.
Technology/MediaEthicsandInternetAcceptableUsePolicy
TrickumMiddleSchoolcontinuestoprovidegreatervarietyofnewtechnologyincluding
classroomcomputers,networkedproductivitylabs,acomputersciencelab,atechnology

educationlab,electronicCDROMresources,severalclassroomminilabsituations,schooled
networking,videoproductionandtelecommunicationsincludingInternetaccess.Trickumoffers
technologytostudentsasaprivilege.Studentsusethistechnologyasanopportunitytoexpand
theireducationalresourceswithinthecurriculum,notforpersonaluse.Keepingthisinmind,
thereistheneedforemphasisontechnologysproperandethicaluse.Therefore,thefollowing
guidelineshavebeenestablishedfortheuseoftechnologyandmediaequipmentinourschool.
1. Studentswillusetheequipmentwithrespecttothepropercareandfunctionofthe
equipment.Anystudentfoundtobeintentionallydamaginganytechnologyormedia
equipment(hardwareorsoftware)willbecitedforschoolpropertyabuse.
2. Studentswillobservecopyrightlawsandfairuseguidelineswhenusinganyprinted,
audio,videoorelectronicinformation.Studentswillnotbepermittedtocopyschool
softwareortobringsoftwarefromhometocopyontheschoolmachinesornetwork.Any
softwareincludingfreewareandsharewaremustbereviewedbytheschools
media/technologydepartmentforitsinstructionalvalueandpossiblepurchaseand
approvedbythecountybeforebeinginstalledonanyschoolcomputer.
3. Studentsactionswillbemonitored,andtheywillbeheldresponsibleforinformation
viewed,receivedandsentwhenusingtelecommunicationstolinktoservicesoutsidethe
school.TheseguidelinesareinaccordancewiththeGwinnettCountyStudentBehavior
Policy.
4. Respectforanycomputerorvideodatacreatedbyothersincludingstudents,teachers
andadministratorswillbemaintained.Studentsmaynotchange,deleteorotherwise
alteranyoneelsesdataunlesstheyhavebeengivenpermissionbytheteacher.
Studentsshouldnotsharepasswordstotheircomputerfilesortrytobreakthedesktop
ornetworksecurityofanytechnologyequipmentinthebuilding.

5. WhenusingtheInternetatTrickumMiddleSchool,studentswillunderstandthattheywill
beheldresponsiblefortheiractions,keepinginmindthefollowingrulesandregulations:
AresponsibleInternetuserwill:

UsetheInternetonlytogatherinformationrelatedtoclassroomassignments.

UsetheInternetforcommunicationstoothersforschoolrelatedprojects.

AresponsibleInternetuserwillNOT:

UsetheInternetforanyillegalpurpose.

UsetheInternettosendorreceivecopyrightedmaterialwithoutpermission.

UsetheInternettoaccess,upload,download,ordistributepornographic,
obscene,orsexuallyexplicitmaterial.

UsetheInternettotransmitobscene,abusive,sexuallyexplicitorthreatening
language.

UsetheInternettoviolateanotherpersonsrighttoprivacy.

UsetheInternettodownloadanysoftwareorgames.

IfanyoftheseInternetpoliciesareviolated,astudentwillloseaccesstotheInternetatschool
orbegivenanotherdisciplinaryactioninlinewiththeexistingGwinnettCountySchoolSystem
rulesregardinglanguageorbehavior.
http://gwinnett.k12.ga.us/TrickumMS/PTSAHandbook.pdf
WealsofeelthatthemediaspecialistshouldofferaMediaCenterorientationatthe
beginningofeveryschoolyear(orsemesterifcourseschangeorrotateinJanuary)where
copyrightlaws,plagiarismandcreativecommonsusageisgoneoverwithstudents.Other
mediacenterpoliciesandprocedurescanbediscussedatthistimeaswell.Wealsofeelthat
someteacherremindersduringfacultyinservicedaysatthebeginningofeachschoolyear
shouldtakeplaceatthedirectionofthemediaspecialist.Informationshouldbepostedonthe
TeacherResourcesSymbalooaswell,forfuturereference.

http://creativecommons.org
CreativeCommonsImageSites:
www.pixabay.com
www.pics4learning.com
DigitalCitizenshipCurriculumInformation:
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/educators/digitalcitizenship
http://www.21things4teachers.net/21things/belegalfair/
Inregardstopatronconfidentially,astatementshouldbemadethatunderno
circumstanceswillthestudentsinformationontheirmaterialcheckouthistoryorreadinglevel
beshared.