Farmington Elementary Roadrunner Library

Farmington Elementary Library Media Guidelines 

Mission Statement   The Farmington Elementary Library/Media Center exists to provide informational resources for teachers, staff, students and parents, assist students in developing literacy and research skills, and provide recreational reading opportunities.  The library is a gathering place that promotes knowledge, learning and creativity for all members of the school community. 

Selection Policy    Materials selected for the library will help support the curriculum, interests and the needs of students, teachers and staff members. Materials selected will be chosen for their accuracy, timeliness and interest and various reviews.  Materials will meet the developmental/maturity level of both younger readers and more advanced readers.  Requests from students, parents, teacher and staff may also be considered.  The School Library Advisory Committee may also help media specialist with selections.  

Donations   Donations to the school library are appreciated and will be dealt with at the discretion of the media specialist.  Unwanted items may be sold, donated or recycled. 

Weeding    To maintain an attractive and up-to-date collection, library materials will be continually evaluated. Materials may be removed from the collection for being no longer accurate, damaged, duplicate, unused, or no longer part of the curriculum. Worn out but still heavily circulated materials may be replaced if funds are available.  Weeded materials may be sold, donated or disposed of in the trash/recycle system. 

Circulation   Kindergarten students do not check out books for the first few months.  After learning proper book care, library skills and how libraries work, they will begin checking out a book.  Books will not be taken home until Winter Break.  1st and 2nd grade students may check out 2 book each week.    3rd-6th grade students may check out up to 6 books per week.  Students are expected to bring all library books each week to either renew or check-in.  If a student has any overdue books, they are not allowed to check out more books until the book(s) are brought back.   There are no overdue fines. If a book is lost, a parent may contact the school letting the Media Specialist/Librarian know that they are aware the book is missing.  The student will be allowed to continue checking out books for 1 month.  If book is still missing after 1 month it will need to be paid for.  A parent resource section is also available for parent to check out materials on various subject matters with regards to parenting and children. 

Scheduling   With input from teachers, each class, 1st-6th grade will be assigned a 30-minute time period each week for library. Kindergarten receives 15 minutes weekly.  Library time that is missed may be made up if a time can be found that works for the teacher and the library schedule.  The library will have daily free exchange/trade time.  Hours will be posted on library doors.  Teachers may bring in a class for research or other class or grade level activities when library is not in use.  Teachers must coordinate with media specialist and be with class while in the library during any extra time.   

Fines for damaged or lost books    Books that are damaged will be accessed a fine for the damage/repair of the book.  Students who have lost a book will need to pay for a replacement of the book.  Because many books are library bound copies and/or have other protection added, parents may not purchase the same copy from a store or online to replace it.  A $2 processing fee is added to the cost of a book. If a lost book is found within 30 days of paying for it, the book may be returned to the library and patron will received a refund for the price paid.   

Parental Restrictions    Parents have the right to restrict their child/children from checking out all or certain types of books.  All restrictions need to be written down and turned into the media specialist where a note will be added to the student’s record. 

Procedures   During library time, students enter quietly, check-in books and sit in the “D” quietly until class is all in and ready for lesson or activity.  Each student is expected to be an “active learner”, meaning hands and feet to self, eyes on person talking, ears listening, and being involved in the discussion/lesson that is being presented.  Students are expected to use library voices during book selection time and each student must go through the check-out line.  

Computer access   Students may use the library computers during their scheduled library time for library card catalog searches and/or research.   Students may also come in during no-class scheduled library times for research and/or typing of documents.  Students may lose library computer privileges if not adhering to the District Acceptable Use Agreement. 

Volunteers/Library Assistants   Student Library Assistants/Volunteers may be used at Farmington Elementary.  Selected students need to come in during their scheduled recess time.  Each assistant will need to pass a library test to demonstrate adequate knowledge in order to properly shelve books and provide other assistance and have a signed parent permission slip.   Good attendance and proper behavior while assisting in the library are required and may be grounds for dismissal.  Parent/Community Volunteers may also volunteer.  Younger, pre-school aged, children may not come with the volunteer.  The school Media Specialist will determine times that work for the library schedule for all volunteers.   

School Library Advisory Committee    Farmington Elementary Advisory Committee may provide input, promote library/reading programs and may assist in challenges to library materials.  This committee will be formed early each school year and shall meet at least one time during the school year.  They may also help as the Collection Evaluation Committee. 

Collection Evaluation Committee   Farmington Elementary Collection Committee responds to challenges to library materials.  The Collection Evaluation Committee consists of an odd number of voting members, not less than five, and may include an administrator, counselor, upper and lower grade level teacher, parent representatives, and student representatives where appropriate.  The school library media teacher or library media specialist shall be a voting member and chair the committee. 

September 2019