Richmond County School District Hephzibah, GA

Melissa Brown FREC 7132

Motto: Be a B.E.A.R! Be Excited About Reading!

Profile Serves approximately 525 students, grades Pre-K through 5th grade Serves 40+ faculty members One full-time Media Specialist One part-time Media Clerk

Location/Outer View

Located on the third hall of the building

In a quiet location
Double Doors lead into the facility, with one clearly designated as the in door

Current Facility Floor Plan

Media Specialists Office and the Circulation Desk

Located slightly to the right, almost centered when you enter the facility The circulation desk has a full view of the facility

The office is Located behind the Circulation Desk A large window is key for a constant view of the media center

Media Room
Schools morning news is broadcasted from this room Two separate broadcasting channels allows teachers to view materials in the classroom without checking them out This system allows materials to be more accessible to teachers.

Auditorium Style Seating Platform

This section can be reserved for reading time Allows all students to view whoever is reading Allows teachers and media specialist the ability to view each child.

Resource Rooms
All materials and teacher resources are located in

resource rooms
Each room contains the materials for one or two

subjects
This allows materials to be easily located, saving

time for the teacher and the media specialist

Resource Rooms
Social Studies and music resource room

Math and Science resource room

Resource Rooms
Language arts resource room
The largest resource area in the facility Windows at the end of the room allow some light, but are mostly covered to protect the items of value that are located in the room

Computers
Five computers are available in the MC

Set of two computers with printing capability, Located near the Circulation desk

Set of three computers located next to the Auditorium Style Steps

Seating
Seating consists of both cubicle-style units and rectangular tables

One round table is located on the other side of the Circulation Desk

The Stacks
NON FICTION
All non fiction books are located in the shelves that line the entire right side wall in the MC These shelves are fully stocked with materials

The Stacks

Fiction stacks are located in the center right of the library, directly in front of the nonfiction

These shelves are waist high, with many units lacking materials to fill them
The top of the stacks contain teachers picks for must-reads

Student Survey Results

Student Poll: What is your favorite thing about the Media Center?
The Steps 0.1 0.25 0.4 The Books The Computers

Student Poll: "What do you wish you could change about the media center?"
0.05 0.25 0.2 0.5

0.25

More computers
More time to stay Softer chairs Other

Other

*Approximately 20 students from a 3rd grade and 5th grade class were polled

Interpreting Poll Results

Poll Question #1:
40% of students named the Auditorium style seating as one of

their favorite parts of the MC Among the items in the other category are the artwork on the walls and the Media Specialist.
Poll Question #2:
50% of the students replied that they would like more time in the

media center 25% of the students would like chairs that are cushioned (all chairs in the MC have wooden seats

Teacher/Media Specialist Survey Results

Teacher Poll: "What do you like best about the Media Center?"
Resource Rooms 0.3 0.5 0.2 Restroom Inside Media Services Other *9 teachers and the Media Specialist were polled for these results 0.25 0.3

Teacher Poll: "What do you like least about the Media Center?"
Need more staff
0.4 More Computers More books Other

0.1

0.1

Interpreting Teacher/Media Specialist Poll Results

Poll Question #1:
50% of teachers enjoy the Media services area 20% enjoy the luxury of having a restroom inside of the MC, citing

that most facilities do not have that luxury

Poll Question #2: 40% (which includes the Media Specialist) feels the MC is

understaffed, leaving little time for the Media Specialist to order new materials and make improvements
30% of teachers agreed with students that more computers are

needed within the MC

Media Center Improvements

Problem: Resource Rooms are hard to keep organized and

some things are hard to reach Possibility for Improvement

These can help keep materials neatly organized, with little stooping and reaching

Mobile Storage Cabinet w/ 15 Tote Trays from https://www.schooloutfitters.com $964.99

Storage Cabinet with pull out drawers from https://www.schooloutfitters.com $714.99

Media Center Improvements

Problem: Many books are too tall for shelves Possibility for Improvement:

Shelves available from https://www.schooloutfitters.com $89.99 $269.99

Place materials on these bookcases. Available with one to five adjustable shelves, in addition to the raised, fixed bottom shelf. These shelves come in several sizes and colors, allowing you to also brighten up the room

Media Center Improvements

Problem: Students complain that the seating is

uncomfortable Possibility for improvement:

Double-Sided Reading Couch https://www.schooloutfitters.com $399.99

Modular Soft Seater Set https://www.schooloutfitters.com $374.99

Media Center Improvements

Problem: The book drop-box is not located near the

door Possibility for Improvement:

This book return is mobile and can be placed near the door for easy returns This can also be moved to the circulation desk for easy unloading

ValueStar Indoor Return http://www.carrmclean.ca $1,795.00

Media Center Improvements

Problem: There is only one computer located at the

Circulation Desk Possibility for Improvement:

Adding another computer to check in/out materials can

make the staff shortage less of an issue.

Dell Inspiron 546 Desktop www.dell.com Staring at $269.00

Facility Plan Modification

Current Media Center Policy

Hours of Operation: From 7:30 am to 2:00 pm for students From 7:30 am to 3:30 pm for teachers

Special Circumstances: Reading Time and Class Time must be scheduled in advance Teachers may send students in groups of 3

Current Media Center Policy

Organization and Staffing One Full Time Media Specialist One Part Time Media Clerk

Funding Currently, the media center is understaffed and

underfunded Funds raisers are underway, such as box top collections, to raise money for the media center.

Current Media Center Policy

Check-Out Guidelines For students:

Pre-K through 2nd grade can check out one book at a time for one week 3rd through 5th grade can check out two books at a time for one week No late fees are imposed, but report cards are held until overdue books are returned

Check-Out Guidelines For teachers:

All materials are first come, first serve Some items in the resource room are one-day only check outs. No limits on how long other materials can be kept

Current Media Center Policy

Internet Safety:
All students must have a parental consent form in order to

access the internet. This a policy of the Richmond County School System
These forms are updated every school year
Many websites considered inappropriate for children are

blocked

Policy Improvements
Problem: Staffing Possibility for Improvement: Student Helpers,

Volunteers, Additional Funding

This Media Center is extremely understaffed, leaving the

Media Specialist little time to improve her facility Students who have received the Student of the Week reward could be nominated to help in the MC at least once a week Parents could be asked to take an active role and volunteer in the MC The Principal of the school could request additional funding to hire a full time Media Clerk

Findings/Conclusions
Staffing is a major issue in this Media Center.

Often times, this Media Specialist is stretched too thin, and many tasks go undone. In order to take the photos, I had to assist in helping her organize. I really feel that if she had the resources and staffing, this Media Specialist could accomplish great things. This is her first year as an MS, and she is doing great with what little resources she has. rooms, but could greatly benefit from combining some of those rooms and creating a classroom/computer room with the empty space. One of the major complaints teachers had was that the media center was understaffed and they were unable to use the facility, or allow their students to use the facility, as much as they would like. A classroom/computer lab could create more space to accommodate students.

The MC is set up with plenty of resource