Librarian/Media Specialist:

Mary McDowell

Mission:

    We believe that a positive, intellectually stimulating and well-organized learning environment can help to achieve many of our school-wide goals. Our goal is to create a caring learning environment that is the heart of a "Community of Learners." We hope to install a passion for reading in our students and strongly encourage reading for information and enjoyment as lifelong activities. We also strive to:

• Prepare students to be 21st-century learners who are information literate and strive for excellence in information seeking and knowledge generation.
• Ensure all students and staff have access to a wide variety of information and that they become effective and responsible users of it.
• Integrate information literacy skills, technology and research into the teaching and learning process of students and staff.
• Provide a wide variety of reading materials and information sources that adequately support curricular needs as well as the reading interests and needs of all students.
• Encourage literacy and literature appreciation by extending and enhancing classroom experiences.

Support the curriculum while providing an environment that stimulates curiosity and encourages a lifelong quest for knowledge

Library Classes:

• All students are scheduled to come to the media library for lessons and book checkout on a regular weekly schedule.
• The media center is open for book checkout each morning and throughout the day. Students are encouraged to come to the Media Center to return, renew, or checkout materials and/or participate in reading or research activities throughout the day with their teacher's permission.
  
  

Student Circulation Policy:

• Books may be checked out to students for a two week period.
• Students in grades Kindergarten check out one book per visit.
• Students in grades 1-2 may check out two books at a time.
• Students in grade 3-5 may check out three books at a time.
• All materials may be renewed unless there is great demand and/or a waiting list.
• Reference books (encyclopedias, atlases, etc.) may be checked out overnight. They are to be returned in the morning.
• Students may sign out and return materials anytime the media center is open.
• A student may borrow more than the specified number of material when working on a special project with permission from his/her teacher, parents and the media center staff.
  
  

Procedures for Overdue/Lost Books: 

• Overdue notices are sent out once a month to homeroom teachers for students to take home.
• Students are not allowed to check out new materials unless they have returned previously checked out books.
• There are no fines for late books but students will be charged for lost  or damaged materials. Payment for these materials will be returned if the books are later found.