Welcome to Our Media Center Lots to do, Lots to learn, Lots of fun!

What is a Media Center? A Media Center is what we call our school library.

Why is it called a “Media Center”? It is called a “Media Center” because it has many types of information materials called “media” and it is the “center” or place where these things are kept.

What type of information materials are kept in the Media Center? Books Magazines (also called Periodicals) Newspapers Maps and globes Videos Computers

Who works in the Media Center? The Media Specialist also called the Librarian works in the Media Center. At I. Ellis Johnson Elementary School the Media Specialist is Mrs. Wilcox. Mrs. Kelly is the Media Assistant at I. Ellis Johnson. She helps students and staff in the Media Center.

What does it cost to use the Media Center? Nothing! The Media Center is open to all students at our school. Students may use the Media Center and all of the student materials for free.

When can I come to the Media Center? The Media Center is open to students every day from 7:30 am until 3:00 pm. Some students come with their classes to check books out every week on the same day of the week. Students may also come to the Media Center when they have finished their book and need a new one. Their teachers will tell them when they can come.

When can I come to the Media Center? cont. Students will also come to the Media Center with other students in their classes to work on projects, do research, and listen to stories. They will learn how to locate information and evaluate that information with the help of their teachers and the Media Specialist.

Where do I find things in the Media Center? There are four book sections in our Media Center: Easy Fiction Fiction Dewey Decimal Reference

What are Easy Fiction Books? Easy Fiction Books are often called picture books. The pictures also called illustrations are an important part of the story. The stories are pretend or not true. Students and adults of all ages enjoy picture books.

What are Fiction Books? Fiction Books are often called Chapter Books because they have many chapters or sections. They are longer than picture books and have more words than pictures.

Fiction Books Cont. The words in Fiction Books are more important to the story than the pictures. The stories in these books are fiction. This means they are pretend or not true.

What is the Dewey Decimal Section? The Dewey Decimal Section of the Media Center has all of the books that have Dewey Decimal numbers. The Dewey Decimal System is a way of keeping books in order.

The Dewey Decimal Section cont. Books are put in groups with other books about the same subject. Books are kept in order in groups by numbers. Each group has an assigned number. Many books with Dewey Decimal numbers are factual or true. Factual or true books are called Non-Fiction books.

The Dewey Decimal Section Cont. Non-Fiction books have lots of information in them. They have information on computers, insects, dinosaurs, automobiles, people, science, history, sports and oh so many different things. These books often have many interesting illustrations and photographs.

The Dewey Decimal Section cont. A special area in the Dewey section is a Non-Fiction section called Biographies. Biographies are the true stories of real people’s lives. The people written about in these books may be living or dead.

The Dewey Decimal Section cont. Other types of books in the Dewey Decimal Section are: Fairytales Folktales Myths and legends Poetry

The Reference Section The Reference Section is the area in the Media center where reference books are shelved. Reference books include encyclopedias, dictionaries, almanacs, and atlases. Reference books are full of information. Reference books remain in the Media Center.

The Computer Station The Computer Station has 12 computers for students to use. Students may take AR tests. They may look up books using the OPAC. They may do online research for a project they are working on.

Checking Out a Book A student may check out one book at a time. When that book is returned the student may check out another book. Students should take an AR test before they turn their book in. Books are checked out and returned at the circulation desk. Mrs. Wilcox or Mrs. Kelly will check books out to students.

Behavior in the Media Center Students will follow school wide PBS expectations in the Media Center. Most importantly students will respect themselves, other students, adults, and the materials they are using.

The Media Center: A Great Place to Be There are many wonderful opportunities waiting for you in our Media Center. Mrs. Wilcox and Mrs.. Kelly are there to show them to you.

Credits Text by Angela Wilcox, Media Specialist at I Ellis Johnson Elementary School, Laurinburg, NC Clip art from Microsoft.Com