Efficient and Ethical Information-Seeking Behavior: 

Candidates model strategies to locate, evaluate and use information for specific purposes. Candidates identify and address student interests and motivations. Candidates interact with the learning community to access, communicate and interpret intellectual content. Candidates adhere to and communicate legal and ethical policies.  

Media Center Website (a group project developed by Jean Lipscomb, Lisa Perkins, Marie Kennedy and Margaret Melton)

Technology has become an integral part of our lives. Learning how to use current and emerging technologies is important and vital in preparing students for their future.  A well rounded media center program must include the use of electronic tools and services to access information.  The use of a media center website is important in providing students and teachers access to information even when they are not in the media center.  The website can be accessed from the classroom or home in an effort to provide continuous access to information.

Literacy and Reading

Candidates are aware of major trends in reading material for children and youth. Candidates select materials in multiple formats to address the needs and interests of diverse young readers and learners. Candidates use a variety of strategies to promote leisure reading. They model their personal enjoyment of reading in order to promote the habits of creative expression and lifelong reading.  

Materials Order Project (a group project developed by Jean Lipscomb and Margaret Melton)

  This project is an example of a materials order that was compiled to enhance the Vickery Creek Middle School's media center math and reading resources.  The 2003-2004 school improvement plan was used as a guideline in developing this materials order. The check list in the project shows the steps used in developing the order.  This project demonstrates skills in selecting media center materials in a variety of formats that meet the needs of diverse learners.  The PowerPoint presentation included in this project was developed as a tool to inform and educate the media committee in the need for the materials.

Internship Journal (not available online)

  As part of my internship I was able to introduce the Georgia Children's Book Award program to teachers and students.  The school had never participated in the program, and I felt it would encourage students to read more.  I registered the school in the program, ordered books necessary to participate, developed a newsletter for teachers explaining the program and providing a variety of ways teachers could encourage participation, and put up  bulletin boards in the hallway outside the library promoting the program.  This project is not yet complete.  The voting will take place later in April.  At this time I do not know how many students are participating but I have seen many of the books checked out.

Access to Information

Candidates support flexible and open access for the library media center and its services. Candidates identify barriers to equitable access to resources and services. Candidates facilitate access to information in print, non-print, and electronic formats. Candidates comply with and communicate the legal and ethical codes of the profession.

Access Enabler Project (a group project developed by Jean Lipscomb and Margaret Melton)

  Access to information should be a priority for any media center program.  Creative ways of providing that access sometimes must be incorporated according to the population of the school it serves.  The Access Enabler project describes a way of providing access to the media center electronic card catalog from the classroom.  This access can benefit special needs students, who may prefer the assistance of their teacher whom they are more familiar with, as well as the entire student body. 

Cultural Geography Bibliography Project (a group project developed by Jean Lipscomb and Margaret Melton)

The Bibliography Assignment helped us see how to facilitate access to information in print, non-print, and electronic formats. With the ease of using the technology of the Internet to find materials/resources, it was a good exercise to find resources in other formats. The resources we did find on the Internet would be good to keep in the school media center database, so we would create partial MARC records for them in order for teachers to access the information in the future.  In addition, materials are included that students can access in the local public library which expands the access to information beyond the school community.

Stimulating Learning Environment

Candidates demonstrate collaborative techniques as they create and maintain an attractive, positive educational climate in a technology-rich, library media center. Candidates use research-based data, including action research, to analyze and improve services.  

I-Search collaborative lesson (a group project developed by Jean Lipscomb and Margaret Melton)

  As part of the I-Search project, I was able to collaborate with Jean Lipscomb, a 6th grade teacher, in presenting the I-Search project to one of her classes.  This project allowed students to choose the topic they wanted to research and use the steps of the I-Search in order to develop a presentation.  Students were encouraged to use technology in developing their projects.  The students were eager to approach a research project in this new and exciting way.

Internship Journal (not available online)

During my internship, I had the opportunity to collaborate with teachers on the science fair projects.  All sixth grade students were required to develop and present a project.  This opportunity gave me experience in working with teachers in developing lessons to teach the steps necessary in developing a good science fair project.  I really enjoy the opportunity to work with the teachers and students over a long period of time.  The projects that were turned in demonstrated that the instruction given throughout the process really helped the students.

Knowledge of Learners and Learning

Candidates ensure that the library media curriculum is documented as significant to the overall academic success of all students.  

PD&E (a group project developed by Jean Lipscomb and Margaret Melton)

  The PD&E project culminated in the development of a useable document that can be adapted to just about any school media center program.  The steps taken in developing the document has given me skills and knowledge in developing policies and documenting  the media center program in an effort to ensure that it follows the school's curriculum and supports the needs of the school.

Effective and Knowledgeable Teacher

Candidates work with classroom teachers to co-plan, co-teach, and co-assess information skills instruction. The library media specialist as teacher of information skills makes use of a variety of instructional strategies and assessment tools. Candidates analyze the role of student interest and motivation in instructional design. Student learning experiences are created, implemented and evaluated in partnership with teachers and other educators.

Internship Journal (not available online)

  During my internship, I had the opportunity to collaborate with teachers on the science fair projects.  All sixth grade students were required to develop and present a project.  This opportunity gave me experience in working with teachers in developing lessons to teach the steps necessary in developing a good science fair project.  I really enjoyed the opportunity to work with the teachers and students over a long period of time.  The projects that were turned in demonstrated that the instruction given throughout the process really helped the students. 

Information Literacy Curriculum

Candidates employ strategies to integrate the information literacy curriculum with content curriculum. Candidates incorporate technology to promote efficient and equitable access to information beyond print resources. Candidates assist students to use technology to access, analyze, and present information.

I-Search project  (a group project developed by Jean Lipscomb and Margaret Melton) 

The I-search is an excellent vehicle for collaborating with teachers and providing a learning experience for students that spans academic subjects.  The I-search can be used in almost any subject area and reinforces literacy skills, reading and research techniques.  The students I had the opportunity to work with were allowed to choose their topic and develop their I-Search project using a variety of media.  The lesson we developed encouraged students to use a variety of materials and we included some of the information literacy standards as outlined in Information Power.  Technology played an important part of the project by the use of the Internet to obtain information and the use of software to develop presentations. 

Connection with the Library Community

Candidates employ strategies to ensure connections between the school community and the larger library world of public, academic, special libraries, and information centers. Candidates participate in professional associations.  

Cultural Geography Bibliography Project  (a group project developed by Jean Lipscomb and Margaret Melton)

  By developing and demonstrating information seeking strategies, media specialists can expand the access to information for  teachers and students.  With the use of technology, the school can reach beyond its walls to the public and academic libraries in order to obtain information .  The Bibliography project demonstrates access to materials outside the school setting by way of the Internet and the local public library.

Instructional Partner

Candidates model, share, and promote ethical and legal principles of education and librarianship. Candidates acknowledge the importance of participating on school and district committees and in faculty staff development opportunities.

Internship Journal (not available online)

During my internship I was able to work with many teacher and students in the media center program.  I feel that I had the opportunity to learn from my mentor and demonstrate and promote the "ethical and legal principles of education and librarianship."  The experience I gained during my internship has helped me to better understand the importance of modeling ethical and legal principles and I have had the opportunity to demonstrate and teach some of these principles to the students through the lessons I have presented.

Educational Leader

Candidates are able to articulate the relationship of the library media program with current educational trends and important issues. Candidates recognize the role of other educational professionals and professional associations. Candidates translate for the school the ways in which the library program can enhance school improvement efforts. Candidates utilize information found in professional journals to improve library practice. 

PD&E (a group project developed by Jean Lipscomb and Margaret Melton)

Through the development of the PD&E I have developed a better understanding in the necessary role of the media center program in meeting the needs of the school and it's students.  By having a guideline in place like a PD&E, the media center program keeps up-to-date on the current education trends and issues by developing and working toward goals that meet the needs of the school program. The school media program can aid in the school's improvement efforts by having a thorough program plan in place. 

Managing Information Resources: Selecting, Organizing, Using

Candidates select, analyze, and evaluate print, non-print and electronic resources using professional selection tools and evaluation criteria to develop a quality collection designed to meet diverse curricular and personal needs. Candidates organize the library media facility and its collections - print, non-print and electronic, according to standard accepted practice. Candidates support intellectual freedom and privacy of users. Candidates plan for efficient use of resources and technology to meet diverse user needs.

Selection Policy (a group project developed by Tricia Gann, Jean Lipscomb and Margaret Melton)

The selection policy provides written guidelines for evaluating and selecting materials for the school library media program. This selection policy project provided me with experience in developing guidelines needed to made decisions in material selection for a media center.  

Internship Journal (not available online)

During my internship I had the opportunity to assist in the weeding and organizing of the teacher resources located in the media center.  Activities included making decisions as to the usefulness of the materials, developing MARC records for the materials and entering the materials into the electronic card catalog.  This activity gave me experience in the organization of the library media facility. 

Managing Program Resources: Human, Financial, Physical

Candidates develop and evaluate policies and procedures that support the mission of the school and address specific needs of the library media program, such as collection development and maintenance, challenged materials and acceptable use policies. Candidates apply accepted management principles and practices that relate to personnel, financial and operational issues. Candidates plan adequate space for individuals, small groups and whole classes.

Selection Policy (a group project developed by Tricia Gann, Jean Lipscomb and Margaret Melton)

This project demonstrates the ability to develop policies for the library media program.  The selection policy is an important tool in maintaining a collection that supports the goals of the school and provides a guide for collection development.  The selection policy also includes a written acceptable use policy and guidelines for dealing with challenged materials.

PD&E (a group project developed by Jean Lipscomb and Margaret Melton)

The PD&E project demonstrates the skills needed to develop a school media program that supports the needs of the school.  This document outlines the management practices that relate to goals, personnel and budgetary issues of the media center program.  It also includes guidelines for evaluating the program   so that decisions can be made for program improvements. 

Comprehensive and Collaborative Strategic Planning and Assessment

Candidates collaborate with teachers and administrators to develop a library media program plan that aligns resources, services and information literacy standards with the school's goals and objectives. Candidates use data for decision-making.

I-Search Project (a group project developed by Jean Lipscomb and Margaret Melton)

  This project is an example of collaboration with a teacher where we conducted an I-Search with one of her classes.  The experience gained from this project has enabled me to feel confident as I worked with other teachers during my internship.

Internship Journal (not available online)

As part of my internship I was able to collaborate with teachers on several projects.  The science fair project was a large project that spanned several weeks and allowed me to work with the teachers and students over a period of time.  I also had the opportunity to work with other teachers on a social studies lesson.