Bulloch Academy Media Center Facility Plan

Challenging, Teaching and Nurturing Tomorrow’s Leaders Today

“Providing support andinstruction for BA stakeholders as we strive to meet our school wide mission”

“Providing intellectual and physical access to materials

Providing instruction to foster competence and stimulate interest in reading, viewing, and using information

Working with educators to design learning strategies to meet the needs of individual students” (BA Media Center Handbook, p. 3).

Media Center Mission Statement

Serves K-12: ◦ 225 elementary

students◦ 118 middle grades

students◦ 139 high school

students

Staffed by◦ 1 full-time media

specialist◦ 1 part-time media

clerk◦ Various high school

Seniors working as student aids

BA Media Center Profile

Current Facility Plan

Students want:◦ More books◦ Laptops◦ A comfortable place to

read

Teachers want:◦ An organized work

room◦ More books

Summary of Feedback

To mix a metaphor, Bulloch Academy’s Media Center is a space that wears many hats. It must serve four distinct groups: elementary students, middle grades students, high school students, and their teachers. Obviously, expanding the collection and adding more new titles would be one of the first steps in giving the library an update. However, the media center could also use an overall facelift to achieve a more modern, inviting atmosphere. Each population served needs to feel at home in the media center. This can be achieved by creating spaces that appeal uniquely to each group, such as a fun and colorful story time area for the kids and a cool new reading lounge for the teenagers.

Circulation Desk

I would upgrade the desk itself and be sure to add a book return chute to cut down on clutter and confusion as to where to sit books upon returning them.

The library needs a bigger clock. The current one is hard to locate and to read, especially at a distance

The printer is inaccessible to the elementary students because of its height on the desk. I would move this to a separate printer station.

The signs and posters are outdated and mismatched. I would replace these with themed artwork, perhaps of oversized book covers.

Suggestions for Improving the Circulation Desk Area

Media Specialist’s Office

View from the MS’s office

The office is in need of storage. This could be provided via shelving and cabinets.

Small touches such as adding a floor lamp and rug could also make the office feel more inviting and less confined.

Suggestions for Improving the MS’s Office

9 round tables 4 chairs per table Spread out

between the stacks and the circulation desk

Seating Area

Replacing the round tables with six rectangular tables would allow them to be arranged into more configurations for collaborative work.

The heavy wooden chairs would also be replaced with light weight ones that will be easier to move during group work.

I would also move the tables to the left of the stacks.

In order to create a presentation area, I would mount both a projector and a retractable screen to the ceiling in the area where the tables would now be located.

Suggestions for Improving the Seating Area

The media center currently lacks any comfortable place to sit and read for pleasure.

By rearranging the shorter bookcases in the stacks slightly, such an area could be created by adding a “sofa” such as the one pictured. This unit has a style that would appeal to the older students but would also still be accessible to the younger students.

Other Suggestions for Improving the Seating Area

Computer Areas

22 computers Line the right and

left walls 1 printer on

circulation desk

Because the computers are currently on both the left and right sides of the media center, teachers have to constantly go back and forth while their classes work. I would move the computers to the right side of the media center and put them in configurations of 4 per table.

I would also replace the large, clunky monitors with new flat-screen monitors.

5 laptops would be purchased to be used throughout the library.

Suggestions for Improving the Computer Area

Teacher Work Room

Professional Resources Room

Teachers at BA give up their classrooms for one period a day. This means that most teachers spend at least an hour in the media center every day. They often work in the table area but are interrupted by classes coming in and out.

It is especially important that the teacher work room be organized and inviting.

This room is starting to be overrun with unused projector carts since the classrooms have updated to other technology and no longer require them. They should be removed and disposed of.

By removing the wall between the teacher work room and this room, one large space could be created and dedicated to teacher use.

Suggestions for Improving the Teacher Work Room

Suggestions for Improving the Storage Room

Audio Visual/Server Room

This room has been used as a dumping ground for out-dated and unused equipment such as the large TV carts. This surplus equipment is blocking access to the audio and video materials. These TV carts should be cleared out and disposed of. Shelving could be added to the wall next to the server to provide more organizational space.

Story Time Area

As it is now, the story area consists of a rug and a broken bench.

The elementary students need a defined space with comfortable, kid-friendly seating.

I would add step seating like the one pictured. Creating a space for this would involve some remodeling by removing the walls of the conference room. (The conference room is rarely used as it is. Any meetings that occur in the library are generally conducted in the table area.)

This particular unit also has shelving which could serve as a place to spotlight seasonal books or to highlight books by a particular featured author.

Suggestions for Improving the Story Time Area

To further create a space dedicated to the elementary students, I would frame the entrance to the story area with two sets of these curved bookcases.

I would house the picture books and elementary nonfiction on these shelves.

Also, adding cushions such as the ones pictured would add additional seating options for pleasure reading.

Other Suggestions for Improving the Story Time Area

The Stacks

House 11, 332 books

Revised Facility Plan

Current Media Center Policy

All language is taken directly from the Bulloch Academy Media Center Handbook.

7:30 AM to 3:30 PM, Monday through Friday

“The Media Center is open to all students throughout the school day. The automated circulation system and catalog make accessibility to the library collection available to students at all times. Books, computers, computer software, audio-visuals, cassettes, and other materials offer a variety of learning resources” (p. 3).

Accessibility

“Library books are signed out for two weeks. Books may be renewed as needed. There are no fines for overdue books. Overdue notices will be sent to teachers after two weeks and then a follow up. After that point, we will assume the book is lost, and the student will be billed for the replacement cost. Teachers may pull materials as needed, and are asked simply to return them promptly. You will receive an overdue notice if an item is out for more than two weeks. Please view this simply as a reminder. If you need the item longer, please notify the Media Center” (p. 4).

Circulation

“Book Checkout: 2-4 students at a time (return a book and select a new one)

Reading: 2 students at a time (can be used as a reward to come and read book)

Research: 4 students at a time Computers: 2 students at a time (for word

processes, graphic design, or software exploration)

Internet Access: 2 at a time (Students should have a research goal that correlates with class work. Random surfing will be limited to the first 10 minutes of the period.)” (p. 4).

Scheduling for Independent Work

“You can sign up your class or part of your class for use of various areas of the Media Center. Schedule early to get the time slot you want. You lead the group in an activity that you plan” (p. 5).

Scheduling for Teacher Supervised Group Activities

“The primary basis for inclusion in the collection shall be the present or projected contribution to curricular needs. Attention shall also be given to the quality of the media, clarity of presentation, integrity of treatment, instructional design and appropriateness for the instructional and maturity levels of students to be served.

Critical reviews from reputable, professional publications and/or personal examination or recommendations by teachers or the media committee shall be the primary bases of selection” (p. 5-6).

Selection and Evaluation of Media

“Other factors to be considered are:◦ Requirements of the copyright law◦ Formats to vary content presentation◦ Instructional and ability levels◦ Representation of various ethnic, cultural and

religious groups◦ Replacement of damaged or lost materials which

continue to have instructional value◦ Updating obsolete data◦ Cost in relation to learning benefits, the number

of potential users and a comparison of comparable items

◦ Established selection criteria for particular formats

◦ Materials available from other sources” (p. 6).

“All gifts of instructional materials or equipment shall be subject to approval by the BA Media Specialist and shall be subject to the same criteria as purchased media. These materials shall be subject to review for continued applicability to the school’s instructional program using the same criteria for purchased materials” (p. 6).

Gifts

“Careful evaluation and selection of media by qualified school personnel does not insure acceptance by all segments of the school community. Therefore, occasional complaints may be made concerning appropriateness. A fair and orderly procedure for addressing such concerns has been established through the adoption of the Bulloch Academy Reconsideration of Materials form” (p. 6).

Reconsideration of Materials

“Internet access is available throughout the school. Students who wish to use the Internet at BA must have on file an Acceptable Use Policy, signed by the student and their parent/guardian. A master list of students with Internet permission is kept in the Media Center” (p. 6).

Internet Access

“The internet may be used in the media center only with a signed and dated permission form that is issued by a classroom teacher and that states the specific educational objective being explored. This form must be presented to the media specialist and approved before students will be allowed to log on” (p. 7).

“Students will not be allowed to access private e-mail accounts or participate in chat rooms through school computers; however a classroom account may be set up to meet specific educational objectives set forth by the teacher. In such cases, students and parents will be required to review and agree to additional school policies designed to ensure the legality of actions and personal safety of all students” (p. 7).

Sending or displaying offensive messages or pictures

Using obscene languageHarassing, insulting or attacking others

Damaging computers or computer systems, both hardware and software

Violating Copyright laws Using others’ passwords Trespassing in others’ folders,

work or files Intentionally wasting limited

resources, including the downloading of large files without prior teacher approval

Employing the network for commercial purposes

Posting personal contact information about your or other people, this includes addresses, telephone numbers, etc.

E-mail will not be used at school by students

Plagiarizing works that are found on the Internet

Students will not use any type of program over the Internet that requires you to logon such as Yahoo, Messenger, MSN Messenger, etc.” (p. 8).

“The following actions are considered unacceptable use of the Internet:

At first glance the policies regarding internet access may seem overly restrictive, particularly when compared to some public schools; however, these policies do represent the values of Bulloch Academy.

While I agree with other policies set forth in the Media Center Handbook, I feel that a few points could use further clarification. For instance, what happens if a teacher loses on item? Is he or she financially responsible for replacing the item? The circulation policy does not make this clear.

Also I feel that it would be beneficial in the long run to articulate a policy specifically on cyber-bullying.

Thoughts on the Media Center Policies