Library Media Services
Newsletter
October
Embedded Files
Library Media Services
This month in GCS Library Media Services:
District Data
District Data
We are on track to meet our goal of 1 million circulations this year!
We are on track to meet our goal of reading 10 million minutes this year!
We are off to a good start with digital book usage!
School Shout Outs
School Shout Outs
Congratulations to our top circulating sites for September! Great job Crystal, Hannah, Rachel and Jessica! (Standard 2.a, 2.b, 4.c)
Congratulations Sandy McGoogan, winner of a Dollar Tree gift card sponsored by GASL to fund the next STEM Challenge!(Standard 2.a, 2.b)
Congratulations to our top Beanstack sites! Thanks for moving us toward our goal Heather, Jennifer, Chauncey, and Margaret! (Standard 4.c)
Next Up
Next Up
Next Monthly Meeting
Monthly virtual meeting topics
Location: Teams
Date: October 7
Two time options:
12:00-1:00
3:00-4:00
One of the meetings will be recorded each month.
Next New SLMC Meeting
Location: Jesse Wharton ES
Date: October 10
Time: 12:30-3:30
New SLMC meetings are for any SLMCs in their 1st, 2nd or 3rd years with GCS LMS.
Upcoming Dates
10/3-4: NCSLMA Conference
10/7: Monthly Virtual Meeting
10/10: New SLMC Meeting
10/17: Destiny Training
10/24: SLMC PLCs
11/4: Quarterly PL Day and ES/MS/HS PLCs
11/7: Monthly Virtual Meeting
11/14: New SLMC Meeting
11/21: ES SLMC/STEM Collab
October Responsibilities
Attend NCSLMA (5.b, 5.c)
Hold first MTAC meeting (before end of 1st quarter) (1.c)
Meet with teachers to plan yearly grade level research projects (4.b)
Train staff on Digital Citizenship Instruction (1.d, 4.b)
Run reports on 1st quarter circulation data (2.a)
Remove fines from student accounts if they are no longer at your school (1.a)
Review circulation data and procedures (2.a, 3.a, 5.a)
Evaluate circulation procedures for what is or is not working (2.a, 3.a, 5.a, 5.c)
Begin annual inventory of student collection (3.a, 5.a)
Update progress on Collection Development Plan priorities (3.a)
Plan Native American Heritage Month display/activities/lessons (2.a, 2.b)
Update Destiny Discover homepage and library website as needed (1.a, 3.a)
Tabulate time spent on technology and non-evaluated* tasks (1.c)
File or archive artifacts for evaluation
GCS Reads
GCS Reads
Great job! We are off to a great start to meet our
10 Million Minute Goal!
What reading counts toward the goal?
Student self-selected reading
At-home reading
Non-required class reading
Partner reading
Any reading in which the student is allowed a choice!
Any reading done for fun!
Battle of the Books
MyBOBTeam Accounts
The process has started to purchase MyBOBTEam accounts for schools that submitted commitment forms and indicated they agreed to accept the subscription. Once the purchasing process is finalized, information about account access will be shared with the Primary Coach listed on the commitment form.
ES STEM BOB
The next STEM BOB check-in / support meeting will be on October 14 at 3:00. The meeting will be virtual.
Access the BOB Google Site for support resources and important dates.
News to Note
News to Note
Inventory
Inventory Training
The topic for the monthly virtual meeting will be setting up, completing and finalizing an inventory.
Training Dates and Times:
October 7 at 12:00 and 3:00
Inventory Timeline
An inventory must be completed before doing a Collection Development Plan.
Collection Development Plans will be due at the end of January.
Beginning inventory in October allows three months to complete it.
Overdue/Lost Books and Fines Policy
Library Media Services Policy
School library media centers in GCS are not permitted to charge daily overdue fines at any school level and the recommended maximum fine for a lost book is $5. Students should have access to school library media center materials regardless of the presence of overdue, lost, or damaged items on their account.
Fines for lost or damaged materials should be removed from students’ accounts when they leave a school. By the end of the first academic quarter, SLMCs must delete lost and overdue materials and fines for students who have transferred or matriculated to a new grade level.
Removing Overdues and Fines from Student Accounts
Use these tutorials for clearing student accounts after the first quarter.
SLMCs should reach out directly to other SLMCs to request that accounts be cleared if overdues and fines are still showing after November 30. If after contacting the students' former SLMCs, overdues and fines are not cleared by Winter Break, reach out to the LMS Dept for assistance.
Professional Learning Opportunities
Calendar
2024-25 Meeting List and Due Dates -
This document will always be the most
up-to-date, reliable resource for meeting dates, times and locations!
Grade Level PLCs
Grade level PLCs will be virtual in September.
PLC Resources and Links to Agendas
Dates and meeting links:
Elementary
October 24, 3:00 | Meeting Link
Middle
October 24, 12:00 | Meeting Link
High
October 24, 3:00 | Meeting Link
Region 5 Piedmont Triad SLMC Conference
Save the Date!
December 16, 2024
UNC-Greensboro Education Building
Theme: ❤️For the Love of Libraries❤️
Keynote Speaker: Gabriel Graña, Smith Middle School, Chapel Hill
Special Guest: Mollee Holloman, DPI
Call for Proposals
Successful session proposals will focus on enhancing school library media programs to better engage learners, strengthen individual practice to meet state SLMC evaluation standards, and provide opportunities for collaboration among colleagues.
Proposals are due October 7.
Registration opens in October. Register at this link.
Monthly STEM Challenges Are LIVE! Go to the STEM Challenge site to participate!
SLMCs are challenged to engage their students in low-stakes, low-tech STEM activities this year! (Standard 2.a, 2.b)
The October Challenge is Dancing "Ghosts"! SLMCs who have students try the challenges and submit images to LMS will be entered into a drawing for a gift card sponsored by GASL. One winner will be drawn and recognized in the newsletter the next month.
How can you implement the STEM challenges in your school library program?
use the challenges in lessons with one of the suggested picture books or find an alternative in your collection
set up the challenge as a monthly center in your library
start a STEM club and work through the challenges using the Engineering Design Process
invite students in for "Lunch and Learn" maker activities
any way you want to!!
Destiny Reminders and Trainings
Asynchronous Cataloging Training
What is it? A self-paced Canvas course to learn how to catalog books in Destiny following GCS best practices.
Who is it for? New-to-GCS SLMCs or anyone who wants a cataloging refresher.
When is it? On your own time, must be completed by May to receive credit this school year.
Where is it? Online in Canvas
How do we sign up? Enroll in the Canvas Course
Destiny Training
What is it? A series of virtual meetings focused on gaining a more in-depth understanding of the functions in Destiny Back Office and Discover.
Who is it for? Any SLMC who wants to become more proficient with Destiny.
When is it? 4 dates between October and March
Where is it? Meetings will be held via Teams.
How do we sign up? Attend the first meeting on October 17 and register in Performance Matters.
High Point Public Library Partnership Opportunities
Bookmark Design Contest
Open to all GCS students in Pre-K through 12th grades. Several winners will be selected in each age group or grade. Winning bookmarks will be printed and distributed at High Point Public Library and Guilford County Schools. Winning artists, their parents, and school library media coordinator and/or teacher can attend the award ceremony to receive the first copies of their bookmarks.
Download the Bookmark Design Contest Form or visit the High Point Public Library Website to see contest rules and more information.
Teachers or SLMCs can collect and scan bookmark contest forms and send them in or students can return forms in-person to HPPL. This would be a great collaboration with an art teacher!!
Contact April Mittelstaedt (april.mittelstaedt@highpointnc.gov) for questions about this program. (Standard 4.c)
Teacher Workday Performances
HPPL and Morehead Recreation Center in High Point will be hosting free performances for all ages on teacher workdays throughout the school year. Please share this information with your school community. Contact Sarah Nareau (sarah.nareau@highpointnc.gov) with questions about this program.
Dig Cit Corner
Dig Cit Corner
October Digital Citizenship Theme: We are critical thinkers and creators.
It's essential that students learn to think critically about the news and media they encounter every day. Students will demonstrate the ability to identify, evaluate, and use information effectively, find credible and trustworthy sources, and give proper credit. They will recognize how individuals and society are influenced by the media and the misrepresentations and stereotypes they sometimes promote. Students will reflect on their responsibilities and rights as creators in the online spaces where they consume, create, and share information. Read more about this topic on the Common Sense Education website.
Monthly activities to teach digital citizenship are available on the Guilford is Cyber Safe website.
Technology Tidbits
Technology Tidbits
The Technology Services Handbook For Schools is your one-stop shop for processes, resources, and guidelines.
🎯 Pro Tip: Use the Table of Contents to navigate through the document; you can also use Ctrl + f on a Windows device or ⌘ + f on an iOS device or to search by keyword.
Technology Approval and Procurement Process
Use the Technology Approval and Procurement Process request for all technology purchases including
Hardware
Software
GCS ‘standard’ technology
Brand new technology
Past Issues
Past Issues
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