The SGMS Media Center provides access to ideas, information, and learning opportunities that enable each student to function effectively in an information-based society. The Media Center provides access to print, nonprint, and online resources for students and staff. Its collection also includes an excellent selection of recreational reading, magazines, and newspapers. The collection is arranged in Dewey Decimal order and is clearly labeled for easy access. The Media Center includes an instructional area, a Learning Research Hub, a TV studio, and a workroom.

Hours:

The Media Center is usually open to students every day from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. unless there is a meeting after school or a media staff emergency. If this happens, the Media Center closes at 2:50 p.m.

Passes:

Students must have their planners signed by a staff member in order to enter the media center during the school day. If students wish to use the media center during lunch, they must pick up a pass from either Ms. Battista or Mrs. Weidner before they go to lunch. They will then be permitted to leave the dining room after they have eaten. The students will remain in the Media Center until it is time for them to go to their next class.

Expectations: While in the Media Center, students will...

Be respectful to all media center users. Return all materials to the appropriate shelves or to the book cart in front of the media assistant¹s desk. Clean their work area and push in their chairs before leaving the media center. Handle all materials and equipment with care. Refrain from chewing gum, eating, and drinking.

Circulation:

Students may check out three items at a time. All fiction and nonfiction books may be borrowed and renewed for a loan period of 3 weeks. Reference books and older issues of magazines may be borrowed on an overnight basis. The overnight materials must be returned by Connect time the next school day. The current issues of the magazines do not circulate. Students who have an overdue item and/or owe a fine will have to wait until the item is returned and the fine paid before taking out another item. The media center staff will hold the item for three days in reserve for the student. Students are notified of their overdue materials in the following way: Overdue notices are sent to their English/Reading teachers and the teacher will give them the notice. The overdue lists are posted on a board outside the Media Center door. Overdue notices are sent through each student’s Edline account. Only the student and his/her parents will receive the overdue notice. Letters are mailed home in January and June. ConnectEd calls are made several times during the school year. The student’s name will appear on the list and in Edline until their obligations have been met. Students are responsible for all items that they sign out. If they damage or lose the items, they will be obligated to pay for those items before they leave for summer vacation in June.

Learning Research Hub :

Fifteen Dell computers, a scanner, and a laser printer make up our Learning Research Hub. Students are able to access all online resources that have been purchased by MCPS and the media specialist, the Internet, word processing, multimedia software, and presentation programs on every computer in the hub. When using the computers, the students should: Log in only using their login ID and Password. The password must remain confidential. Recognize that scheduled classes have priority use of the computers. Understand that printing is done by a media staff member or the classroom teacher. Understand that the Internet is only to be used for the completion of classroom assignments Understand that inappropriate use of the Internet, computers, or printer will result in the temporary or permanent loss of computer privileges. Understand that the failure to follow SGMS computer use guidelines will result in loss of computer privileges.

Online Resources :

The MCPS Online Resources are available for student use at school and at home. Students are given a handout containing the URL, login, and password for each of the resources during Media Center Orientation. They are told to take the handout home and place it next to their home computers. Any member of the students’ families may use this information to do research.

Copy Machine :

A copy machine is available for student use. Copies are 10 cents per page. Students must have exact change. If the students need assistance or change for the machine, they should see either Ms. Battista or Mrs. Weidner.