Greenbrier Middle School Facilities Plan

Greenbrier Middle School Media Center

Media Facility PlanPresented by : Delta Casey

FRIT 7132Spring 2011

GMS Vision

The faculty and staff of Greenbrier Middle School is committed to providing a safe and dynamic learning environment which fosters student success and passion for life-long learning.

Columbia County Media Mission“The purpose of the library media center is to support the philosophy, goals, and instructional programs of the Columbia County Schools. It is a service agency and a resource center and should be an integral part of the instructional program” (CCBOE media policy manual, p2).

“The library media specialist is responsible for the design and delivery of an effective media program. This program should emphasize a planning philosophy that stresses the specific needs of the school curriculum and the students. The media program should be changing and evolving in response to societal, economic, and technological demands on education” (CCBOE media policy manual, p.4).

School/ Media Center Data● Greenbrier Middle School is located on the northern side of Columbia County ● The school opened in August 2000 and is adjacent to Greenbrier Elementary School and Greenbrier High School● Greenbrier Middle serves grades 6th thru 8th and consists of 80, 266 square feet out of which, the Media Center encompasses 10,176 square feet● GMS consists of approximately 550 students and 40 certified personnel● The majority of the student population come from average to above-average income homes●GMS serves a special education population made up of five percent of the total student body: of which, less than one percent have physical disabilities

GMS Media Center Profile

●The Media Center is staffed by one full time media specialist and one full time media clerk● The Media Center has approximately 12,720 books●The average monthly circulation is 2,220

Media Center Location

● The Media Center is in the middle of the building on the main hall located across from the lunchroom● The Media Center is easily accessible to all classrooms

View from Main Hall

Current Facility Floor Plan

Media Specialist Office and Circulation Desk ● The MS office and

circulation desk are located at the entrance of the facility.● MS office has two walls with windows which allows views of the MC within the room● Media Clerk has 180 degree view of MC

Entering the Media Center

Circulation Desk

• Busy with book check outs• Over 20,000 books checked out FY 2009

Media Specialist

Media Specialist’s Office

Computer Area

• Computer area contains twelve computers• Used for locating books, internet research, and

typing assignments

Seating Areas● Main-seating is made of ten adult-sized square tables used for large group instruction● Drop-down screen accessible from ceiling to be used with lessons taught in this area● One rectangular table used for smaller groups

Large Group Instruction Area

Additional Seating Area

• Comfortable seating for pleasure reading

Teacher Work Area● Teacher work area contains two copy machines and one letter cutting machine for bulletin boards projects

AV Room

● AV room contains the laminator and a poster maker machine

Distribution Room

• Distribution room houses equipment for recording and distributing programs

Conference Room• Currently used as a resource room by special education teachers

Books ● Four stacks of fiction books ● Thee stacks of non-fiction books● Two stacks of reference books

● Based upon a district survey of the GMS collection, 1,290 new books were added to the collection for a total of 12,720 at the beginning of the school year

Fiction/NonfictionNon-fiction Fiction

Facility Use● Book Check-in/ Check-out● Streaming Video Equipment● Computers● Student Project Research● School and Faculty Meetings● Special Programs

Special ProgramsBook FairsGMS hosts two book fairs annually. One fair is held in September and the other is held in March. Each fair begins with a special preview day for teachers where faculty can reserve titles.

This year’s spring theme was a “Carnival of Books”.

Visiting Authors/ IllustratorsThe GMS Media Center has hosted numerous authors over the last decade. Students are permitted to purchase signed copies of books sold by the visiting authors.Recent authors include:Joey Korn, author of Abe’s StoryMichael White, illustrator of The Library DragonChad Evans, magician and storyteller

Student ProgramsThe GMS Media Center provides students with special reading programs that promote reading for enjoyment. These programs include:Mother-Daughter Book ClubPoetry Cafe

Results of Survey: NeedsStudent Responses

Teacher Responses Needs separate

computers for using OPAC

Needs work space and location for teacher collaboration

Needs additional computers in MC for research

Needs added color on walls inside of media center

Needs more comfortable seating for independent reading

Needs to stay open after school for students to work on projects

Needs more computers for conducting research and projects

Needs more graphic novels

• SurveyMonkey used to construct students survey• Interviewed teachers

Revised Floor Plan

Media Center ImprovementsProblem: Teachers indicate the media center needs a separate computer that is used only for searching the card catalog.

Solution: Designate two computers for card catalog searches only. Relocate the two computers close to the comfortable seating area at the entrance of the media center.

Media Center Improvements● Problem: Limited comfortable seating

The students indicate they want more soft seating to use when pleasure reading

●Suggestions for Improvement:Purchase additional comfortable seating that is age appropriate

Media Center Improvements• Solution: Modernize seating with café style chairs and tables

Provide additional modernized comfortable seating

Gelato Table Item 19-00009$169.95

Scooper StoolItem 19-0006$89.95

Saucer ChairItem 19-0037$146.95

The Library Store, Inc.

Media Center Improvements

●Problem: Teachers indicate theyhave no centralized location to collaborate

● Suggestions for Improvement:Modify conference room to serve as a teacher collaboration/ data room stocked with teacher supplies

Media Center Improvements

Office Max

Large Dry Erase BoardItem #21516682$279.99

Computer DeskItem # 22131275 $149.99

Epson EXZ2000 Multi-media ProjectorItem #: 22383118$699.99

HP LaptopItem #: 22486196$549.99

• Solution: Well stocked collaboration room with planning essentials

Media Center Improvements●Problem: Both teachers and students indicate the MC lacks enough computers for an entire class to conduct research

●Suggestions for improvement: Purchase laptop station with 30 laptops

Media Center Improvements• Solution: 30 Laptops that can be used anywhere

in the media center and easily recharge» Flexi-Cart™

Computer Lab on Wheels» Wireless network Connection

One RJ-45One Power Plug

» Flexible DesignAdjustable Shelves30 Laptops

» Charge in or out of cart» Cost $15, 570

Note Sys

Media Center Improvements●Problem: Teachers indicate the interior of media center is plain and lacks creativity

●Suggestions for improvement: Hire local artist Cole Phail to paint a mural similar to other murals in the building

Master Productions

Media Center ImprovementsProblem: Students want more graphic novels.Solution: Purchase more graphic novels, include the classics.All Action Classics - FollettBound [set/series] (#SA44XX5)FollettBound Glued Set/SeriesComplete set of 3 Titles: $38.88 The Odyssey Title Wave Tom Sawyer The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

Campfire Classics Graphic Novels - [set/series] (#Y141XX7)FollettBound Glued Set/SeriesComplete set of 25 Titles: $377.10

Facility Plan Modifications• Problem: Students want access to the media

center after school to research and complete projects

• Solution: Convert emergency exterior door to allow students to exit media center after 3:00 PM

Current Media Center Policy Key: Black print Columbia County Board of Education policy Red print Greenbrier Middle School interpretation policy

Accessibility● Media Center available for student and teacher use throughout each instructional day of school. Media Center closings for conducting inventory are strictly prohibited.● Columbia County Schools Media Center Hours of Operation are 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM for students and 7:00 AM– 3:30 PM for teachers and staffStudents requested greater access to the facility. The GMS media center should revise the hours 7:00 AM -4:00 PM. ● Media Centers will operate with flexible scheduling to serve the learning needs of the students and staff.This policy needs to be updated. The elementary school media centers use a fixed schedule, effective August 2010.

In my opinion, Columbia County has a solid media center policy manual.

Current Media Center Policy Scheduling• Meetings held in the media center are permissible as long as

they do not impede student use.• GMS Students and staff are free to use the media center

during operation hours. Teachers are required to schedule large group sessions in advance. A calendar is located at the circulation desk in the media center. I would eliminate the use of hard copy calendar and use the GMS Outlook calendar on the school server.

• A one week notice is required if the session involves the use of the LCD projector or assistance from the media specialist. I would change to forty eight hours notice since the projector is readily available.

• For groups of five students or less, the teacher may send the students to the media center with a media pass indicating the reason for the visit. Many teachers do not abide by this policy. I would include an option for limiting the amount of time groups of 5 are in for checkout.

Current Media Center Policy Organization and Staffing

● System Media Advisory Committee appointed by the Superintendent to recommend long and short range media goals, budget priorities, operation, utilization and accessibility procedures, selection process for instructional materials and equipmentThis committee is vital for effective media programs. It also limits liability issues that may arise from challenges.● GMS Media Advisory Committee consists of the Media Specialist and faculty volunteers from each grade levelI would include at least one parent and a community member to provide a well balanced committee made up of GMS stakeholders.● At least one full-time professional certified Media Specialist in each schoolGMS Media Center has one certified Media Specialist and one Media Clerk

Current District PolicyEmployee Computer/Internet Use● The BOE expects all employees to learn to use email and telecommunication tools and apply in appropriate ways in the performance of their positions.This policy should be updated to include that all faculty and staff will be required to sign a statement indicating all computer use will be for professional use only, as we are required to sign every August.

Source: Columbia County Schools Media Manual