[ Mission Statement ]
[ Policies ]
[ Reservations ]
LMC Mission Statement
The Northern Valley Library Media Centers support and work to fulfill the mission statement of the American Library Association set forth in Information Power: Guidelines for School Library Media Programs.
The mission of the library media program is to ensure that students and staff are effective users of ideas and information. This mission is accomplished:
- by providing intellectual and physical access to materials in all formats
- by providing instruction to foster competence and stimulate interest in reading, viewing, and using information and ideas
- by working with other educators to design learning strategies to meet the needs of individual students.
(--Information Power: Guidelines for School Library Media Programs (2003), p.1)
The mission statement for Information Power: Guidelines for School Library Media Programs is as relevant today it was when it was originally written in 1988, and so it remains the mission statement for the information literacy standards for student learning as well and for Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning. Although changes in society, education, and technology have transformed many of the challenges facing library media programs during the past decade, the mission itself remains the same. Today, this mission focuses on offering programs and services that are centered on information literacy and that are designed around active, authentic student learning as described in the information literacy standards for student learning. The goals of today's library media program point to the development of a community of learners that is centered on the student and sustained by a creative, energetic library media program. These goals are as follows:
1. To provide intellectual access to information through learning activities that are integrated into the curriculum and that help all students achieve information literacy by developing effective cognitive strategies for selecting, retrieving, analyzing, evaluating, synthesizing, creating, and communicating information in all formats and in all content areas of the curriculum.
2. To provide a physical access to information through
a. a carefully selected and systematically organized local collection of diverse learning resources that represent a wide range of subjects, levels of difficulty, and formats;
b. a systematic procedure for acquiring information and materials from outside the library media center and the school through such mechanisms as electronic networks, interlibrary loan, and cooperative agreements with other information agencies; and instruction in using a range of equipment for accessing local and remote information in any format.
3. To provide learning experiences that encourage students and others to become discriminating consumers and skilled creators of information through comprehensive instruction related to the full range of communications media and technology.
4. To provide leadership, collaboration, and assistance to teachers and others in applying principles of instructional design to the use of instructional and information technology for learning.
5. To provide resources and activities that contribute to lifelong learning while accommodating a wide range of differences in teaching and learning styles, methods, interests, and capacities.
6. To provide a program that functions as the information center of the school, both through offering a locus for integrated and interdisciplinary learning activities within the school and through offering access to a full range of information for learning beyond this locus.
7. To provide resources and activities for learning that represent a diversity of experiences, opinions, and social and cultural perspectives and to support the concept that intellectual freedom and access to information are prerequisite to effective and responsible citizenship in a democracy.
(Excerpted from Chapter 1, "The Vision," of Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning. ? Copyright 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 American Library Association. Last Revised: September 2, 2003)
LMC Policies
Purpose of the Media Center
Primarily the information center of the school, the Library Media Center provides access to print and electronic resources in-house and through inter-library loan. All students will have access to the NVOT and 30 BELS libraries' shared collections. Students who have a local public library card will also be able to access BCCLS libraries' collections. Every effort is made to support the curriculum and assist students in completing assignments and researching topics of personal interest in a pleasant environment.
Students can take advantage of the inter-library loan delivery system and return public library books at the school library, where they will be checked in and sent to the owning library.
Media Center Hours
The Media Center is open each school day from 7:30AM to 4:00PM.
Media Center Use
Students, staff, and community members may use the Media Center. It is necessary to maintain a quiet atmosphere where everyone can concentrate and work without being disturbed. Anyone causing disturbances that prohibit others from working or reading for pleasure will be asked to leave. Food and drinks are not permitted in the library. Cell phones may not be used in the library. Valuables (calculators, backpacks, etc.) are the sole responsibility of the owner.
Circulation of Materials
1. Students will have access to library collections by use of a library card.
2. If students have local public library cards, they should register with it in the NVOT Library Media Center at the start of their freshman year (or when they register) to access school and public libraries collections.
3. If students do not have local public library cards, a unique card will be created for them in the NVOT Library Media Center at the start of their freshman year (or when they register) to access the school libraries' collections.
3. Books are charged out for a four-week period and may be renewed unless previously reserved by another.
4. All books must be charged out at the desk before they are taken from the Library Media Center.
5. All book damages, lost books, or late fees must be paid by the person to whom the book was charged.
6. Students who do not observe the regulations may have their privileges suspended.
7. Year-end report cards and class schedules for the following school year will not be issued to students who have any obligations.
Overdue Materials
A charge of 5 cents per day will be assessed on overdue materials borrowed from the Library Media Center. Failure to satisfy obligations will result in the loss of borrowing privileges.
Computer Lab
Twenty computers in the lab are available during the day for all students unless reserved by a teacher. Nine reference computers are always available near the circulation desk. Library Media Center computers are to be used for educational purposes according to the Board of Education policies. School use always takes priority over recreational use. Students who abuse this privilege in any way are subject to losing the privilege.
LMC Facilites Reservations
Reservations for the Library Media Center facilities (Academic Theater, Computer Lab, and main floor) during the school day are welcomed. The facility requested should balance the class’ or meeting’s needs and the efficient functioning of the LMC, including:
- requirements for instruction
- use of technology or technologies, and
- requirements for meeting spaces, either enclosed or open
- size, for groups smaller than, equal to, or larger than average class sizes.
Reservations are made on the “first-come, first-served” basis. On occasion, classes or meetings may be asked to relocate between the Academic Theater and Computer Lab, or between the Library Media Center and classrooms in order to utilize both technology and space in the most educationally effective manner. Relocations are arranged with careful attention to the needs of classes or meetings. Any relocation must be approved by the administrator, teacher, or advisor making the original request.
Academic Theater
Priority is given to classes or meetings that are:
- of an academic nature
- utilize projection technology and/or individual computers
- require seating for one or more classes
Computer Lab
Priority is given to classes or meetings that are:
- of an academic nature
- utilize individual computers
- require seating for one class
Library Main Floor
Priority is given to classes or meetings that are:
- of an academic nature
- require seating for one or more classes