Faculty and Staff Policies

CHEROKEE ELEMENTARY LIBRARY MEDIA CENTER

FACULTY AND STAFF POLICIES

The Cherokee Media Center is a resource for teaching materials used by the Cherokee faculty and staff. The media specialist is available for service to all members of the school population. 

SCHEDULE:

Although the media center will best serve students and teachers with a flexible access program, time has been scheduled in the following manner:

          Kindergarten – 1 hour class per week

          1st grade – 1 hour class per week

          2nd grade – 1 hour class per week

          3rd grade – 1 hour class per week

          4th grade – 1 hour class per week 

Students may return their books to the designated place in their classroom. Books will be picked up each morning and taken to the library. Students may also carry them in when coming to class; however, if we receive the books early we can check them in and be ready for students to check out as soon as they arrive. Students are encouraged to return books as soon as they have finished reading them and to check out others.

OPEN CHECK-OUT

 The media center is available much of the day for open check out. There are many times during the week scheduled as open check out times. These times change year to year. Please check with the media center for specific times and encourage and allow your students to use these times. This time has been set aside for this purpose. 

 Please remember that checking out sometimes takes time. Children are taught to choose a book they think they will enjoy reading and to use the 5-finger rule to determine if it is a good fit for them. If we see students wasting time, we will take action as necessary.

STUDENT RULES:

 Students are expected to observe these rules whenever they are in the media center:

• • Listen and follow directions when they are given.

  • Walk quietly at all times

  • Use an appropriate voice for activities in the library.

  • Respect others and school property.

  • Keep hands, feet, all objects, and to yourself.

  • Keep all 4 legs of your chair on the floor.

  • Return books on time.

  • Use good book care.

  • Just be nice.

  • Think.

Check-out directions:

• • • • • Walk  

        • Whisper   

        • Use a Shelf marker

Students using the media center outside scheduled times will be returned to the classroom if rules are not observed.

CIRCULATION 

STUDENTS: 

Students may check out books and magazines according to the list below. 

• • Kindergarten – 1 item  

  • 1st grade – 2 items (1 item until end of 1st nine weeks)

  • 2nd – 4th grade – 3 items

If students follow the rules for good book care, they will have no trouble taking care of them and keeping up with them. 

Rules for good book care:

• • Have clean hands when you look at books.

  • Turn pages from the top.

  • Use a book mark to save your place. Never dog-ear the corners.

  • Carry books home and back in a backpack

  • Keep books away from food and drink. (Never carry food or drink with books in a backpack. Many of our books are damaged in this way.)

  • Keep books away from pets and little brothers and sisters. 

  • Find a safe place to keep books at home so that they are not lost.

  • Return books on time.

  • Do not attempt to repair books at home. Return the book to the library media center so that the damage can be evaluated and repaired, if possible, using the proper materials. 

While there is no fine charged for overdue books, students with overdues will not be allowed to check out until all overdue books are returned. If books are damaged beyond repair, students will be expected to replace the book. At the end of the year, all items must be returned before report cards are received. 

 TEACHERS: 

Laptop computers, teacher projection carts, document cameras, and docking stations are checked out to the teacher. Materials purchased for specific grade levels are checked out to the grade level classrooms. They remain in the classrooms even if a teacher is moved. Teachers are responsible for materials checked out to them and to their classrooms. The number of items checked out to each classroom is unlimited.

When checking out library materials, please bring all materials to the circulation desk to be checked out by the media center staff. All materials may be kept 6 weeks or until requested by another teacher. All materials should be returned at the end of the year except equipment  and materials checked out to the room. Laptop computers may be returned to the media center or locked in your storage closet. They must be checked out for the summer if not returned to the media center. Please let the librarian know where your are storing your equiment for the summer. 

RETURN OF MATERIALS:

       Please return books  to the book drop  in the library.  Other materials may be placed on top of the book drop to  prevent damage . 

REQUESTING MATERIALS:

           When requesting materials from the media center, please fill out a request for materials form at least two days before you begin your unit of study. This form is linked on the Teacher Resources page of the Library web page. The media center staff will gather materials and notify you when they are ready to be picked up or we can deliver them to your classroom.  You may also place materials on hold using Destiny or Destiny Discover (our Online Public Access Catalog). f you would like instruction in the use of Destiny or Destiny Discover, please let us know.  Emergencies do arise, but if last minute requests can be avoided, the media center staff will be better able to serve you.  

EQUIPMENT:

All equipment is checked out through the media center. The following equipment is to remain in your room and will be checked out to the classroom. 

Projector, Document camera, Desktop computers, AV carts, Printer, Television

The teacher is responsible for all equipment checked out to his/her classroom. Small items such as boom boxes, tape recorders, etc. are checked out to the individual teacher. Laptop computers are checked out to the individual teacher.  Laptop and ipad carts are checked out to the teacher. Individual laptops and iPads are checked out to students in grades K - 4. The following equipment is available:

•                     CD/tape players

•                     Listening centers

•                     Math Safari / GeoSafari Talking Globe

•                     Digital cameras

•                     Video Cameras

•                     Digital camera  - sets of 6 for student use

•                     Calculators

 We have a few record players and a film projector, filmstrip projector, and slide projector if needed. 

EQUIPMENT REPAIR

If you are having problems with any equipment, please use the following procedure to have your equipment repaired. 

Computers, Projectors, document cameras,  iPads, VCR: Turn in a workorder to the Tech Assistant using the link "Help Desk" (SysAid)  on the Johnson City Schools Portal.

All other equipment – contact the media center staff by e-mail or place a note in librarian’s mailbox.

 Equipment is expensive. Please be sure you are properly trained on all equipment that you are using. If you need training on any equipment, please contact the media center to set up a time. This includes the Ellison die cutter and laminator in the workroom. If we take care of our equipment, it will serve us for many years.

PURCHASE REQUESTS:

We welcome your suggestions for purchases. Requests for purchase of materials should be made in writing. No specific form is required. Please use a full sheet of paper. Include as much information as is available for each item. (author, title, publisher, copyright date, catalog, order number, page number, etc.)