All About the OES Library...

Oakland Elementary Media Center
Mission:
The mission of the Oakland Elementary Media Center is to ensure access to the ideas of the past, the concepts of the present, and the possibilities of the future so that members of the school community will become effective users of ideas and information in the learning process.
Beliefs:
We believe that students are the primary focus of the school library media program.We believe that partnerships with teachers are a vital link to achieve the full utilization of the school library media program.We believe that literacy is essential to the success of the individual, the family, and society.We believe that access to information and ideas is indispensable to the development of human potential.
We believe that members of the school community should have access to information and materials in a variety of formats.
We believe that information and ideas strengthen society and should be honored and protected.We believe that the school library media program which is fully integrated into the curriculum will best serve the school in meeting its goals and objectives.We believe that a certified library media specialist is essential to the instructional program of every school.
We believe that the library media program impacts and serves the school community.
(From "Making Connections: Focus on South Carolina School Library Media Programs,"South Carolina State Department of Education)
Goals and Objectives:
Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning
The Nine Information Literacy Standards for Student Learning
Information Literacy
Standard 1:The student who is information literate accesses information efficiently and effectively.
Standard 2:The student who is information literate evaluates information critically and competently.
Standard 3:The student who is information literate uses information accurately and creatively.
Independent Learning
Standard 4:The student who is an independent learner is information literate and pursues information related to personal interests.
Standard 5:The student who is an independent learner is information literate and appreciates literature and other creative expressions of information.
Standard 6:The student who is an independent learner is information literate and strives for excellence in information seeking and knowledge generation.
Social Responsibility
Standard 7:The student who contributes positively to the learning community and to society is information literate and recognizes the importance of information to a democratic society.
Standard 8:The student who contributes positively to the learning community and to society is information literate and practices ethical behavior in regard to information and information technology.
Standard 9:The student who contributes positively to the learning community and to society is information literate and participates effectively in groups to pursue and generate information.
(Excerpted from Chapter 2, "Information Literacy Standards for Student Learning," of Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning. © 1998 American Library Association and Association for Educational Communications and Technology.)
Description:
All students, 4K - 4th grades, visit the library during a scheduled 45 minute slot every other week. During this visit, approximately 20-25 minutes is spent on story time, library skills, research topics, or other activities. Students spend the remainder of the time selecting and checking out books. Open time is also available for classes to come to the library to conduct research.
Fourth grade students have the opportunity to become "Library Helpers," and they assist with shelving and organizing books, as well as other tasks around the library. They do a great job! We also have a part-time media assistant (Tanya Violett) who works in the media center each morning.
The media center contains two conference rooms (with professional development materials and 100 Book Challenge materials) and an audio-visual room with videos, ITV and AV equipment, and a laminating machine. Teachers are also able to check out iPods, iPads, document cameras, listening centers, and other items from the library.
100 Book Challenge Program:
The 100 Book Challenge is a systematic independent reading program that puts reading achievement in a prominent place at both school and home.
Each classroom has at least 240 books (8 baskets) for students to read in class and to take home. These books are divided into color-coded baskets, organized by reading level. Students progress through levels, using folders and skill cards. Fifteen minutes of reading time equal one "step." Incentives are awarded for students' reading achievement. For each 100 steps, students are awarded a ribbons, bracelets, or other prizes and have their name announced on our morning news show.
Accelerated Reader:
Accelerated Reader was installed on the computers in our school late fall 2003. We currently have approximately 4, 244 quizzes that match up to books in the library. A list of the quizzes that we have at our school can be found under "Links." The PTA AR Coordinator helps with the organization of the program and the distribution of prizes. The incentive list for this year includes items such as treat bags and t-shirts.
Thanks for visiting our page!
Heather Griffin Kanipe, Media Specialist