October 2012

MEMORANDUM

Georgia Department of Education Library Media Program Self-Evaluation

An informal self-evaluation of the media center program was performed to prepare for the 2012-13 school year formal evaluation. The following assessment results were made after collaborative observations, research, and discussions between the school media specialist, media clerk, and student school media candidate. Action steps are recommended for each Basic finding. There are also proposals written to help move chosen areas to Exemplary. Category 1- Student and Achievement and Instruction: The media program was proficient to exemplary in all of the areas in Category 1. Proficient Area 2: Collaborative planning includes both the Library Media Specialists and teachers to ensure use of library media center resources that support on-going classroom instruction and implementation of state curriculum and the GPS and CCGPS. Area 3: Professional library media staff are engaged in active teaching role/s. Area 5: Services are provided to students who have diverse learning abilities, styles, and needs. Exemplary Area 1: Information Literacy Standards are integrated into content instruction.

Area 4: The library and media center resources encourage and support reading, viewing, and listening. Area 6: Student achievement is routinely assessed.

In order to create a program that is Exemplary in Area 2 and Area 3, the media specialist will increase the amount of teachers involved in collaborative planning for units, research projects, and/or classroom activities. The media specialist will work with each department and grade level to assess specific subject and teaching needs. The collaborative planning will include standards based learning strategies and activities for the diverse learning styles and needs of all students involved. Information Literacy skills will be integrated and taught by the media specialist. Assessments of student learning will be performed by the media specialist and the classroom teacher.

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MEMORANDUM

Area 5 can be improved and meet the Exemplary category by routinely obtaining data from students and teachers. The media specialist will design an online survey that will be completed by students and teachers and performed annually. The survey will allow the media specialist to collect data on student and teacher needs and interests. This data will be used in combination with CCGPS, GPS, and Standards for the 21st Century Learner in order to find and develop media center resources and create learning activities that will support and meet individual needs. Category 2- Staffing Area 7b: A school system shall employ a full-time Library Media Specialist for each base size school or larger. The media center program is Proficient is this category area. In order to create an Exemplary program, the media center will continue to request a full-time paraprofessional that is not shared with other areas of the school. Category 3- Facilities, Access, and Resources The media program was proficient to exemplary in all of the areas in Category 3. Proficient Area 8: There shall be a plan for flexibly scheduled library media center access for students and teachers in groups or as individuals simultaneously throughout each instructional day. Accessibility shall refer to the facility, the staff, and the resources and shall be based on instructional need. Area 13: One of the national educational technology goals states: Effective and engaging software and on-line resources will be an integral part of every schools curriculum. The GALILEO Virtual Library provides Georgia students and teachers access to exceptional on-line resources at no cost to the local school district. Exemplary Area 9: School library media center square footage requirements based on FTE.

Area 10: Streaming video is used throughout the school to support the curriculum. Interactive whiteboards and computers are used for teaching and learning throughout the school. A central electronic media distribution system is also available.

Area 11: Print and non-print resources and access to online information are basic to a library media program. A school network is effective for delivering media resources to the classroom and beyond. Multiple computers

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MEMORANDUM

are available for student access to online resources that enhance instruction. Area 12: All library media resources are managed for maximum efficient use. The library media center has an electronic online public access catalog (OPAC). Funds for acquisition of computers are utilized to implement the goals/objectives set forth in the State Technology Plan 2007-2012 or in the System Comprehensive School Improvement Plan.

Area 8 will be improved to Exemplary by developing a schedule that allows the media center to be open both before and after school. Parent volunteers, student group volunteers, and paraprofessionals will be encouraged to assist in establishing a rotation schedule that will allow the media center to be open early and late at least three days a week. This will be increased and rescheduled as permitted. To improve Area 13, the media specialist will increase the instruction and promotion of GALILEO use. The use of searches and resources will be introduced and re-taught annually to teachers and students. New teachers and students will receive instruction and will be assisted as needed with searches for information. The media specialist will conduct staff development training that use GALILEO and encourage available online courses and lessons. Category 4: Administrative Support The media program was proficient to exemplary in all of the areas in Category 4. Proficient Area 14: The local system superintendent shall appoint a system media contact person (SMCP) to serve as a liaison to the department. Area 15: Administrative staff support at both the school and district levels is essential for the development of a strong library media program. Area 16: Each local board of education shall adopt a library media policy that provides for the establishment of a media committee at the school system level and at each school. A Exemplary Area 18: Each local school system shall spend 100 percent of the funds designated for library media center costs.

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MEMORANDUM

library media committee makes recommendations and decisions relation to planning, operation, evaluation, and improvement of the library media program. This committee shall annually evaluate library media services and develop a multi-year media plan for budget services and priorities. Area 17: Local Board approved library media policy is current. This policy requires development of procedures for the school system and for selecting materials locally, handling requests for reconsideration of materials, considering gifts of instructional resources, using non-school owned materials, and complying with the copyright law. Improvement of the proficient areas will be a collaborative effort on part of the media specialist, media committee, and school and district administrators. The system media contact person (SMCP) will attend all school and district meetings to ensure the media center program is recognized and is assisted in creating an exemplary program throughout the district. The SMCP will communicate with all library media specialists through face-to-face meetings and electronic correspondence. Information relevant to school administrators, teachers, and students will be made available through announcements, electronic correspondence, and school website. School and district administrators will be made aware of media events and invited to view media center programs in action. Library media advisory committee members will meet quarterly, and additional meetings will be called as needed. The media program will be assessed annually with all members present. The program will be changed and updated as deemed appropriate for current learning standards and school/student needs. Category 5: Staff Development Area 19: Staff development opportunities are available both for the library media staff to enhance their own professional knowledge and for the library media staff to provide information and technology literacy skills to other teacher and administrative staff. Professional resources and services for all faculty members are provided in the library media center for the learning community. This area was assessed as Basic due to the lack of training for library media support staff. Improvement in the area will require that the media clerk is involved in staff development opportunities that focus on the needs of the media center. The media specialist will assist in choosing appropriate courses for staff development. The media specialist will also

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MEMORANDUM

use annually retrieved data from teacher surveys to assist in developing appropriate staff trainings for information and technology resources for standards-based instruction.