Memorandum

To: CC:

R. Hightower, Principal Media Committee

From: Mary Frances Van Houten Date: Re:

10/17/11 Summary of Results from Library Media Rubric

Category 1: Students and Instruction

There are six indicators in this area. The first evaluates how efficiently the Information Literacy Standards are integrated into content instruction. The media center was given a rating of exemplary in this area. The media specialist works to integrate Information Literacy skills into the curriculum by discussing the standards with students at the beginning of the school year and exhibiting an awareness of the standards. The media specialist conducts a media center orientation to familiarize students with the collection and facility. Due to the time restraints placed on the media specialist, a Hot Topic List is completed by staff in order to better serve them. The new Media Center Handbook also has a digitalized copy of the forms to fill out when assistance is needed. The second indicator requires that the media specialist collaborate with other teachers to ensure use of library media center resources that support on-going classroom instruction and implementation of state curriculum. The media center was given a rating of exemplary in this area. In an effort to ensure collaborative planning, the media specialist sends memos in an effort to encourage classroom teachers to utilize resources in the media center. The media specialist attends departmental meetings at least once a month. The media specialist shares resources that promote incorporating literacy skills into the classroom curriculum. The media specialist also sends emails to teachers with new ideas of how to increase information literacy skills in any content classroom. The third indicator requires the media staff to be engaged in an active teaching role. The media center was rated as exemplary in this area. The media specialist works with classroom teachers to allocate time for the media specialist. Teachers and the media specialist work collaboratively to develop shared assignments. The media specialist is required to assume the role of teacher in at least one portion of a shared lesson. The media specialist is also required to work with teachers to create student assessments.

The forth indicator states that the library media center resources encourage and support reading, viewing, and listening. The media center was given a rating on exemplary in this area. The media center promotes the reading of many books through visual displays and announcements of new arrivals in the media center. The media specialist acts as the schools AR program administrator and assists teachers with any technical difficulties that they may encounter. Also, the resources in the media center reflect a wide variety of interests and perspectives. The fifth indicator mandates that the media center provide services to students who have diverse learning abilities, styles, and needs. The media center was given a rating of exemplary in this area. The media specialist is knowledgeable about the Lexile framework and STAR testing and gathers data to give to classroom teachers in order to ensure students accommodations are meet. The media specialist also houses early childhood books in the library, as well as books for ESL students. The sixth indicator requires that the media specialist routinely assess student achievement. The media center was given a score of exemplary in this area. The media specialist works in conjunction with teachers to test students and assess data through various types of student reports.

Category 2: Staffing
There are two indicators in this area. The first area states that a school system shall provide no less than half-time services of a library media specialist for each school less than base size and shall provide adult supervision in the library media center for the entire instructional day. Our school is base size so we did not rate this section. The second section states that a school system shall employ a fulltime library media specialist for each base size school or larger. The media center was given an exemplary score in this area. One full-time media paraprofessional is employed in the media center. The media specialist is always available to assist teachers and students.

Category 3: Facilities, Access, and Resources

There are six indicators in this category. The first indicator states that there should be a plan for flexibly scheduled library media center access for students and teachers in groups or as individuals simultaneously throughout each instructional day. The media center resources are available for parents to check out through the PACKET program. After school media hours have also been extended for students and parents. The media center was given a rating of exemplary in this area.

The second indicator covers the school library media center square footage requirements based on FTE. The facility was given an exemplary rating in this area. The third indicator states that the media distribution system for television and radio programs is available. The media center was given an exemplary score in this area. The forth indicator requires print and non-print resources and access to online information are basic to a library media program. The library houses 15 computers that students are able to utilize throughout the day. The school also is equipped with a computer lab that houses 25 computers. The media center was given an exemplary rating in this area. Students are encouraged to use the library media center technology independently for extended projects and information retrieval. The media center houses about 58 books per student. The fifth indicator states that all library media resources are managed for maximum efficient use. The library media center has an electronic online public access catalog (Destiny). The media center was given an exemplary rating in this area. The sixth indicator supports the national educational technology goal that states, Effective and engaging software and on-line resources will be an integral part of every schools curriculum. The GALILEO on-line service provides Georgia students and teachers access to exceptional on-line resources at no cost to the local school district. Searches performed in GALILEO databases will exceed one million annually and the number of full content items viewed will exceed one million annually. The media center was given an exemplary rating in this area. Galileo services are utilized and results of the usage amount is announced at the end of each school year. Staff Development is available for instructional uses of Galileo. Students are taught how to use Galileo by their classroom teachers and the media specialist scaffolds students and staff members when needed.

Category 4: Administrative Support

There are four indicators in this category. The first indicator states that the local system superintendent shall appoint a system media contact person (SMCP) to serve as a liaison to the department. The media center received a proficient rating in this area. Suggestions for improvement would be to have links available to teachers websites. Teachers would be able to post assignments, links, etc. The second indicator states that administrative staff support at both the school and district levels is essential for the development of a strong library media program. The media center received an exemplary rating in this area. The third indicator requires that the board of education shall adopt a library media policy that provides for the establishment of a media committee at the system

level and at each school. A library media committee makes recommendations and decisions relating to the operations of the library media program. The media center received a rating of exemplary in this area. The forth indicator requires that 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. The media center received an exemplary rating in this area. The fifth indicator mandates that each local school system shall spend 100 percent of the funds designated for library media center costs. The media center received an exemplary score in this area.

Category 5: Staff Development

The indicator in this category states that 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 teachers and administrative staff. The media center was given an exemplary rating in this area.

The media center was ranked proficient in the following area: A system media contact person (SMCP) The media center was ranked exemplary in the following areas: Diverse learners Media Staff engaged in teaching roles Information Literacy Standards Resources encourage and support reading, viewing, and listening Media Specialist collaboration with teachers Assesses student achievement Employs a full-time media specialist and paraprofessional Square footage Media Distribution system Print/ non-print resources Galileo

CONFIDENTIAL

 Category 4: Administrative Support Category 5: Staff Development

An action plan has been included for each area marked proficient.