Contents

Mission Statement
Staffing
Teaching
Programs
Resources; collection
Classroom Library Plan for Grades K-4
Administrative Support
Community Participation
Facilities
Planning and Assessment
Summary

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Mission Statement

The vision is of a library media program that promotes reading and the love of literature; that maintains a collection of excellent quality supporting a wide range of interests and abilities, accessible to students, faculty, and the greater Claremont family; that uses and teaches the use of technology which is infused into, and supports, the curriculum; in which every student is able to access, evaluate and use information, and uses well-developed creative and critical thinking skills; and in which every student develops into an information-literate person, a lifelong learner, and a responsible citizen.

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The success of a library media program ultimately depends on the quality and number of personnel responsible for the program. A well educated, highly motivated professional staff, adequately supported by technical and clerical staff members, is critical to the endeavor. A capable clerical support staff is responsible for certain library operations that expand the library media program and ensure that the library media teacher has time to work as a teacher, an instructional partner, an information specialist, and a program administrator.

The library task force recommends that:

• services of a certificated librarian be provided at each school library site.
   
• library training be given to current library staff at all schools.
   
• technical support be made available as needed to maintain network, hardware, and software.
   
• substitutes be provided to enable library personnel to participate in staff development.
   
• volunteers be trained and utilized wherever possible in each school's library media center.
   
• processing of library materials centrally be continued, empowering library staff to assist students and staff at the site library.

Goal 2. Teaching:
To provide for more effective student learning through a collaborative process for planning, teaching and assessment.

Library media teachers contribute unique expertise to and are involved in all aspects of the teaching and learning process in the district. Many benefits to student learning occur when classroom teachers and the library media teacher work as a teaching team, bringing their own specialized skills to collaborate for student success. Activities are designed with available resources in mind and the library collection is developed specifically to support classroom activities. Students become effective users of information and ideas within the context of the subject taught. The library task force recommends that

• the library media teachers be involved in curriculum development, technology planning, textbook selection, departmental meetings, and other schoolwide projects.
   
• non-certificated library staff receives training and staff development in all library skills.
   
• all district libraries follow a sequenced schedule of instruction in information literacy and technology literacy skills.
   
• school site administration becomes aware of the benefits of, and supportive of library-curriculum integration and teacher-library media teacher collaboration.

Goal 3. Programs:
To ensure that all students in the district have access too equally effective library media programs.

Library media programs exist to serve all students. While each school library develops its collections and services according to the needs of its instructional program, students and teachers, the district has a responsibility to ensure that all students have access to equally excellent districtwide programs.

The library task force recommends that

• instruction be provided to students and faculty in the access, evaluation, and use of information.
   
• reading and information literacy be promoted through optimized access, a dynamic collection, and publicity for events, achievements, and programs.
   
• for each school site, a library web page be maintained.
   
• instruction be provided to students and teachers for the creation and production of multimedia presentations.
   
• library skills instruction be given to all students.
   
• library media staff works with the teachers at school site to ensure that the library resources support the curriculum.
   
• each library media person works with other instructional staff to integrate information literacy skills into the curriculum.
   
• community-library partnerships to be developed.

Goal 4 (a) Resources; collection:
To provide up-to-date, relevant resources in a variety of formats to meet the diverse needs of all learners.

The library media program needs to be an active partner in preparing students to become skilled readers, competent users of technology, and effective users of information. The resources, both print and non-print, will meet the growing needs of an increasingly diverse school community.

The library task force recommends that

• every library uses an automated circulation system, an electronic catalog, and a library security system to provide optimal access and protection for the collection.
   
• over the next five years books and other resources be purchased to meet or exceed the state standard and national standards.
   
• library media staff works with the teachers at school site to ensure that the library resources support the curriculum.
   
• every library provides student workstations with Internet access, with CD-ROM and online reference materials including an encyclopedia, a magazine index, and a full-text database.
   
• high quality print and electronic materials be purchased for recreational and curricular support purposes.
   
• an annual inventory of the collection and other resources be conducted at each library, to expose strengths and weaknesses that can be targeted for attention.
   
• under the guidance of a qualified library media teacher, the collection be screened for timeliness, relevance and condition of materials.
   
• every library has a copy machine on site, and sufficient printers to satisfy student need.

Goal 4 (b) Classroom Library Plan for Grades K-4:
To provide up&endash;to-date, relevant resources for nontext classroom library materials used in kindergarten and grades one through four.

Inventory to be conducted for assessment of collection strengths in grades K-4

• K-4 teachers will conduct an assessment to determine their strengths and weaknesses in their individual/grade level classroom libraries.

• K-4 teachers will purchase grade-level appropriate non-textbook fiction and nonfiction books and periodicals in accordance with the district-wide library plan that supports their core curriculum.

• K-4 individual/grade level collections will be screened for timeliness, relevance and condition through each classroom teacher check out system.

• K-4 individual/grade level teachers will purchase quality books to support recreational and other curricular needs.

• K-4 teachers will develop a process to prevent loss, damage or destruction of classroom/grade level library books.

Goal 5. Administrative support:
To ensure ongoing administrative commitment for effective library media programs.

Quality library media programs that are integral to learning and teaching do not exist without a district vision statement and administrative support. Administrative commitment is evident in actions, policies, resources, and high expectations for the library media program. This support will yield higher student achievement, motivated readers, and lifelong learners.

The library task force recommends that

• each library media center be accessible to classes, small groups, and individuals before, during, and after school.
   
• flexible blocks of time be scheduled in the library media center to enable library instruction and library media teacher/teacher collaboration.
   
• administration be aware of library mission, programs, achievements and challenges and take proactive steps to demonstrate support.
   
• administration demonstrate library leadership, especially where there is no library media teacher, and prioritize the commitment to securing the services of a certificated library media teacher, in order to improve student achievement.
   
• administration keep open channels of communication to the library and ensures ongoing quality of program, collection, electronic resources, and access for students and teachers.
   
• administration secures the ongoing support of the PFA for library needs, special programs, and volunteer efforts.

Goal 6. Community participation:
To involve parents and community members in the development and support of library media programs for improved student learning.

Involving parents in schools is essential both for their influence as the most important teachers their children will ever have and for the community perspective they bring to the school. The involvement of parents and community members has enhanced successful library programs in a number of ways. They act as volunteers, as supporters of the school library, and as members of committees and library leadership teams at the district and school levels. Parents and community members benefit from their involvement in the library media program by having access to quality literature, new technologies, and primary language materials and by learning about reading and literacy - all of which contribute to the success of students.

The library task force recommends that

• each school maintains ongoing communication with parents and community members about the programs and achievements of the library media center.
   
• technology training for parents and the Claremont family be offered.
   
• district and school staff develops community partnerships to support the library media program.
   
• public awareness be maintained of library-based student achievements, to develop community pride and maintain community support.

Goal 7. Facilities:
To provide appropriate facilities to meet the learning and teaching needs of an effective library media program.

The library media program requires appropriate facilities at both the district and school levels to meet the needs of the program. As a classroom that serves every student in the school, the library media center should provide adequate space for recreational and academic use. The library should look attractive and its staff be friendly, to make students feel welcome.

The library task force recommends that

• each facility's ambiance, equipment, and resources actively promote student learning.
   
• library staff maintains a welcoming and helpful atmosphere.
   
• adequate and appropriate space be provided for differentiated library activities.
   
• each library facility be able to accommodate large groups, small groups, and individuals.
   
• access be ensured for students with special needs.
   
• each library media center provides student workstations with Internet access, up-to-date reference software, printers and copy machines.
   
• an automated circulation system and electronic catalog, together with an effective library security system, be used at each library.
   
• the building housing the library be secured by an alarm system.

Goal 8. Planning & assessment:
To ensure that the library media program serves as an essential catalyst for learning and teaching through comprehensive plans, policies, and on-going program assessment.

Programs need a focus and a structure to become and remain effective. This structure must include ongoing assessment that provides the necessary foundation for informed decisions. Effective library media programs are planned, organized, and evaluated on the basis of the goal that all students and staff will become effective users of information and ideas.

The library task force recommends that

• each library media person enact controls to ensure that resources support current curriculum, current state and district content standards, and current state frameworks.
   
• each library media person be continuously aware of the changing needs of its increasingly diverse community, to ensure that it is responsive to those needs.
   
• each library media person work with teachers to ensure that information literacy and technology literacy taught by library staff is integrated into the curriculum.
   
• each school promote a schoolwide culture of reading and learning in which all students are expected to read to discover meaning, to learn, to find personal pleasure, and to improve their reading skills.
   
• each library media person develops a procedure to document its needs and accomplishments and to measure progress throughout the year.

Brief Summary: Goals and Recommendations

Goal 1: Staffing

• certificated librarian services at each site
• technical support for network, hardware, software to be available as needed
• library staff to receive training
• substitutes to keep library open during staff training
• volunteers to be trained & utilized
• centralized materials processing to be continued

• library Media Teacher to be involved in schoolwide planning & activities
• non-certificated staff to be trained in library skills
• all libraries to sequence their library instruction
• school site administrators to be involved and supportive

• instruction to be provided to students in the access, evaluation and use of information
• dynamic collection development and publicity for acquisitions
• promotion of reading
• library web page creation and maintenance
• technology literacy skills to be integrated into curriculum
• opportunities for creation of media/multimedia
• student library-related electronic productions to be showcased
• student aides to receive library skills and information/technology literacy instruction
• community-library partnerships to be developed

• inventory to be conducted for assessment of collection strengths
• collection to support curriculum
• collection to be screened for timeliness, relevance, and condition.
• acquisitions to reflect or exceed state standard of 20 volumes per student
• quality print & electronic purchases for recreation & curricular support
• automated circulation system, electronic catalog, security system
• student workstations with internet and reference software
• copy machine & adequate printers on site

• administrative awareness & proactive support
• access for classes, small groups, and individuals before, after, and during school
• in the absence of a certificated Library Media Teacher, administrative leadership
• administration to ensure access & quality control
• administration to secure support of PFA for library programs
• access in summer
• flexible time scheduling to enable collaborative library instruction

• school/community communicate about library programs, achievements
• technology training to be offered to parents
• community partnerships to be formed
• student library/electronic/multi-media achievements to be flagged

• library ambiance to promote learning
• adequate spaces for differentiated activities
• accommodation of different sized user groups
• student workstations
• electronic circulation, catalog, & security
• building to be armed with alarm
• access to students with special needs
• library and staff to maintain pleasant, welcoming atmosphere

• collection to support state standards & frameworks
• collection to meet diversified needs of multifaceted community
• information literacy & technology literacy to be integrated into curriculum
• schoolwide culture of reading to be promoted
• protocol for measurement & reporting of needs, accomplishments & progress