A facility plan for a elementary school media center.

1. Shiloh Elementary School
2400 Ross Road
Snellville, GA 30039
Media Center Facility Plan
By: Garrece Walker

2. The school’s motto:
“Strong minds, strong hearts, and strong
communities.”

3. Shiloh Elementary and Gwinnett County
program and policy information: in
black writing
My suggested improvements: in purple writing

4. SES Media Center
Profile
• Approximately 434 students served,
PreK – 5th grade
• Serves 82 faculty members
• One full-time media clerk
• One full-time media specialist

5. Mission and Purpose of
GCPS School Library
Programs
• Mission and Purpose of GCPS Library Media Center Programs
MISSION
The mission of Media Services and Technology Training is to provide quality
media, technology, and information services in order to enhance learning
and ensure access to ideas and information for all.
PURPOSE
The three purposes of the Gwinnett County media program are to:
• Provide media resources, facilities, services, and staff to support all areas
of the instructional program
• Provide a variety of services for students which develop skills and
encourage the pursuit of life-long learning
• Develop procedures which allow optimum accessibility and effective
utilization of all resources and the flexibility necessary to individualize
instruction for students

6. How the School Media Program contributes
to your child’s academic achievement:
• The school media program supports teaching and learning and
encourages lifelong reading.
• The media specialist works with teachers to help students learn to
find, analyze, evaluate, interpret, and communicate information and
ideas. These skills prepare students to live and work in our
information-based society.
• In a GCPS Media Center, students will find… a state-certified, full-
time media specialist; resources in a variety of formats that appeal
to different learning styles; books and magazines for pleasure
reading and research; an online catalog for locating materials; and
computers that provide access to online resources that are
instructional and age appropriate.

7. Media Center Location
• The media center is located on the main hall, on the far
right end, as you enter the building.
• Easily accessible to students, parents, and faculty as they
enter the building.
• Easily accessible for before and after school hours; has an
outside entrance.
• Extend hours for morning and after school access to the library.
• Utilize the exit doors for extended hours access to parents and students.
• Media center moved to the center of building instead of the end, to make it
easily accessible to all classrooms.

8. Shiloh Elementary Media
Center

9. View from Circulation
desk

10. Circulation Desk & MC
office

11. MC office directly
behind circulation desk

12. Leveled Bookroom
Books to rotate

13. View to the left
• Computer Area
• Seating area for group
lessons
• Projector Screen
• Child-size tables and
chairs
• Beautiful mural
throughout the entire
library
• Sufficient lighting

14. Computer area
• 27 Computers and
earphones for
students
• 3 computers for
teachers
• View of projector
screen to work along
with teachers during
instruction
• T.V. for broadcast
and announcement
viewing

15. Teacher Resources & Media
Production

16. Graphic Novels

17. Nonfiction

18. Picture Books

19. Featured Books

20. Story Time Area

21. Right view of room
• Exit doors leads to
front school
entrance.
• 2nd group area with
Smart board
• DVD/TV in corner

22. MS Office

23. Fiction

24. Periodicals/Biography

25. Reference

26. Existing Facility Layout
Story Area
Picture Books
Group Area #2
Group area #1
MS Office
Smart Board
Computer area
Lounge Area
Fiction Area
Non-Fiction
Entrance
References
Teacher Resources MC Office Leveled Bookroom

27. Revised Facility Layout
Fiction Area
Research Shelf
Group Area #1 Group Area #2
MC Office
Periodicals
Computer Area
Picture Books
Lounge Area
Non-Fiction
Story Area
Leveled Bookroom
Teacher Resources MS Office

28. Facility Layout Changes:
• More media enticing posters at entrance of door that
will appeal to students
• MS office should be centrally located with the
circulation desk, instead of the MC. The MS and MC
should switch offices to allow more access to the MS.
• Add adult sized table and chairs in the Teacher
Resource room to allow make a work station for
teachers.

29. Redesigning Layout
• Relocate the Story Area, Picture Books, Fiction, Biography, Dry Erase board
and References to make the 2nd office easily accessible and prevent blockage
of view for the MC (currently the Ms. DeBord’s office).
Story Area:
• Place story area in far right corner to make a cozy, quiet corner
• Purchase more pillows and soft items, allow students to hold soft animals
during story time.
• Purchase foam roils, wedges, or beanbags to help students with physical
disabilities rest on the floor.
• Place the Picture Books shelves in front of MC office window. They or short
and will allow visual sight from the office to center and office will be more
accessible to students and teachers.
Periodicals/Lounge area:
• New low shelves for the periodicals and place around the lounge area.
• New comfortable sectional couch for lounge area. Matching chairs in the new
fictional area.

30. Layout Redesign continued..
• Fiction, Biography, and References shelves are moved to the middle of room,
where the Picture Books and story area were formally located.
• This arrangement make the references more accessible and visible for
research. This is a better location because the references should be placed
near the group tables, so students can sit at tables with the reference books.
Fiction Area
• Fiction shelves are moved to the round about area with new tables and chairs
in front.
• Reference shelves are moved to side wall new group area #2
Group Area #2
• Smart Board is moved towards the back wall, to clear the view for the new
MC office.
• Dry erase board is placed on the back wall in this area as well.

31. Make Media Center Accessible for Disabled
• Provide slanted worktops, which are easier for visually impaired students to
read from.
• Ensure that students with mobility limitations have access to books. Supply
reachers and grabbers for the higher shelves.
• Optimize acoustics so students can hear directions and provide headphones.
• Shield your instruction space from the activity and noise of the circulation
desk so distracted students can better concentrate,
• Create user-friendly signage, Use "multiple coding"-combining words and
pictures, consistent symbols, and simple fonts. Devise signboards for
nonverbal students' common needs and requests.
• Incorporate visual and audio signals into your teaching lessons.

32. Media Center Guidelines
• The media center is open for use during the entire school
day 7:45am – 3:00pm
• The media center adheres to a open schedule and is
accessible before and after school
• Extend the media center hours to provide more access to the center.
• The media center adheres to the Gwinnett County Policies
for Library and Media Programs in their interpretation.
• Students are encouraged to use the media center for
reference work and for selecting books to read.
• There are special rules for reference books, magazines, and
reserved books.
• The media specialist is always available to assist those who
need help.
• Students are responsible for replacement of lost or
damaged library books, media materials or textbooks.
Failure to fulfill this responsibility will result in report
cards not being released to students and parents.

33. Student Policies
• Students may visit the Media Center with their class.
• Teachers should allow children to go to the library with a pass, as needed,
with a buddy.
• Kindergarten and 1st grade students may check out 1 book.
Students in grades 2, 3, and 4 may check out 2 books.
• Fifth graders may check out 3 books, one of these may be
a magazine.
• Magazines are available to other grade levels for reading
while in the media center.
• Books may be kept for 2 weeks and may be renewed once.
Magazines may be kept for 2 weeks, but may not be
renewed.
• Reference books are reserved for use in the media center
only so they will always be accessible to patrons

34. Faculty Policy
• Combination flex/fixed policy
• Classes come on regular scheduled visit to check out material
• Some teachers schedule classes on a needs basis
• Media center is sometimes unavailable due to scheduled events
• Students are not allowed to go to the media center with a pass
• Media Center is only available when class is not scheduled.
• Teachers sometimes provide instruction that is related to the curriculum,
and the MS collaborates occasionally with willing teachers.
• Principal is very supportive and visits when there are events and scheduled
activities. However, there are sometimes administrative activities
scheduled in the library.
Align the program with the Gwinnett County’s standards and provide a open, flexible
schedule:
• Class visit are driven by class activities
• Center available at point of need
• Classes come for instruction as often as necessary; students come individually
throughout the day
• Instruction involves collaborative planning

35. Technology Guidelines
• Shiloh Elementary is very fortunate to have many technology resources.
This up-to-date equipment provides a variety of opportunities for the
students.
• One of the most versatile information sources for teachers and students is
the Internet.
• Students and parents are required to sign the Gwinnett County
Acceptable Use Form before students are allowed to access the internet
at school. In addition to this requirement, SES has developed the following
guidelines for Internet use at Shiloh Elementary:
A. Students will be instructed on the proper use of the Internet and
will be closely monitored at all times.
B. For most lessons, students will use bookmarked sites. The sites
will have been previewed by the teacher prior to the lesson.
C. If it is necessary to locate additional information on a specific
educational topic, students will use search engines such as Yahooligans or
Kids Click. These engines are monitored for appropriate material and are
specifically designed for use by children. There will be no random searching
by students.
• Provide for wireless network and add another Smart Board to 1st instruction
area.

36. Online Research Library
• The Gwinnett Online Research Library provides students with
24/7 access to accurate, up-to-date, age appropriate information
that supports the school system’s curriculum.
• Access to these resources is provided for Gwinnett students,
teachers and parents only, so a password is required outside of
school.
• Students must ask their school media specialist for the passwords.
• These sites are not maintained by the school system. GCPS
encourages parents to monitor student activity on the Internet.
• http://www.gwinnett.k12.ga.us/media-
resources.nsf/pages/ElementaryAll~Elementary

37. Reading Incentive
• The Gwinnett Readers Rally is a quiz bowl
style competition for students in grades 4
– 12.
• Students read books from a
predetermined list and answer questions
about those books.
• Each Gwinnett County school may send one
team of up to 10 players to the Readers
Rally.

38. Special Events
• Each year there are several scheduled
author visits. Authors motivate the
students to read and they are able to
purchase the author’s books
• Scholastic Book Fairs are held twice a year
and features a Family Night
• Host parents and other receptions in the library media
center to market program.

39. What we like about our
media center (students):
Students: Teachers
• “I like that we have a lot of • “Murals are beautiful and are
books” throughout the entire
• “…and there are a lot of books library.”
that I like in the library.” • “We are lucky to have a large
Kindergartener variety of books.”
• “Ms. DeBord is nice and I like • “The resources are plentiful.”
it when she dresses up like • “Ms. DeBord does a great job
characters.” Kindergartener trying to collaborate with
• “I like it when we do fun teachers.”
activities.” • “We have a good amount of
• “…like when Ms. DeBord had computers for our students.”
the Polar Express train in the
library and we read the book.”

40. Dislikes
Students: Teachers:
• “We can’t touch (play) with the • “Books are not re-shelved properly.”
stuffed animals.” • “Our large selection of books should
• “We are not able to find books some be rotated more frequently.”
times because they are not put in the • “Ms. DeBord does not utilize
right place.” technology enough when collaborating.”
• “We can’t talk to our friends about • “The media center website could be
books while we’re in the library.” used to keep parents connected with
• Provide time for students to share (quietly) the events and access to valuable
their books with friends. information tools.”
• Begin a shelving program such as “Adopt A • Rotate books more frequently.
Shelf” in which each classroom is assigned • Utilize technology in lessons, such as, using the
a designated shelf to check on and ensure internet for research.
that it is in order. Combines student • Provide more information in detail on the media
center website to market program and provide
leadership, being proactive, with research access to information for students and parents.
skills as students learn how the books are
shelved.

41. Selection Policy
General Criteria for Selection of Instructional Materials
(taken from GCPS Policies and procedures P.IFAA):
• A. The following criteria shall be used as they apply to any instructional materials:
• 1. Materials shall support and be consistent with the system's mission, vision, and
goals.
• 2. Materials shall directly support instruction of the Academic Knowledge and Skills
(AKS) curriculum including opportunities for intervention and extension of the
learning as appropriate.
• 3. Materials shall meet high standards of quality in factual content and presentation.
• 4. Materials shall be appropriate for the subject area and for the age, emotional
development, and social development of the students for whom the materials are
selected.
• 5. Materials shall have aesthetic, literary, or social value.
• 6. Materials chosen shall be written/produced by competent and qualified authors and
producers.
• 7. Materials shall be chosen that avoid bias and adhere to standards of sensitivity
towards student cultural, ethnic, racial and religious background and gender.
• 8. Physical format, medium, and appearance of materials shall be suitable for their
intended use.
• 9. The materials selected shall be purchased and used in compliance with current
copyright laws.
I agree with the Selection Policy.

42. Damaged Property and/or Lost Books:
I agree with Damaged Property Policy
• Textbooks and media center books will be checked out to students
using Destiny Textbook Manager or Library Manager available at
each school. At the end of the established loan period, textbooks
and library books are expected to be returned in useable condition
and checked in via Destiny Textbook Manager or Library Manager.
• Students or their parents/guardians will be responsible for
reimbursement to the school for damage to school property,
including lost or damaged books. The cost of a lost textbook will
be the full, current price (also referenced as the replacement
price) as noted in Destiny Textbook Manager. In addition, the full
cost of replacement must be paid if a textbook is declared
unusable due to excessive damage and/or if both barcodes are
missing from the textbook.
• In the event of extenuating circumstances, the principal may waive
or reduce the fee charged for missing or damaged textbooks. The
cost for lost/damaged media center books will be determined by
the Media Services office and communicated annually to Media
Specialists. If the student is unable to pay the fee for the
replacement cost of the material, appropriate voluntary service to
the school, as approved by the principal, may be arranged.

43. Damaged/Lost Property continued…..
• Students failing to pay for lost or damaged books may lose one or
more privileges at the discretion of the school principal, such as
loss of participation in an extracurricular activity, loss of school
privilege, or restricting the privilege to checking out additional
books from the media center. Loss of privilege should not impact
opportunity to learn.
• Grade reports, diplomas, or certificates of progress may be
withheld until restitution is made. Student records may not be
withheld.
• Teacher editions and resource materials will be checked out to
teachers in Destiny Textbook Manager for instructional purposes
aligned with current teaching assignment. At which time the
teacher leaves the school, all teacher editions and resource
materials will be expected to be returned to the school in usable
condition and checked in via Destiny Textbook Manager.
• Funds collected by schools as fees for lost and damaged textbooks
will be retained by the school in a restricted account to defray
miscellaneous costs associated with managing textbooks. A percent
of the balance may be moved from the school account to the
Instructional Materials Office budget according to current
processes established by the Business and Finance Department.