Tanner Williams Elementary Library Media Handbook

Rounding Up Great Resources at Tanner Williams Elementary Library Media Program Mission The library media program will enable individuals to become information literate and effective lifelong readers. The program will provide educational and technological opportunities to students and staff in keeping with their needs and abilities. The program will enable individuals to access, analyze, assimilate, and use information effectively. Collaborative planning between library media specialists and teachers is essential to ensure that the library media program is fully integrated into each school's instructional program. Media specialists take the lead in the use of technology by maintaining the expertise necessary to evaluate, select, manage and use emerging technologies and by facilitating their full integration into the curriculum.

Developing Life-Long Learners The media center at Tanner Williams Elementary is focused on developing life-long learners. Students are taught integrated lessons to incorporate classroom content with library and research skills and technology. Common Core Standards are embedded in library lessons, projects, and activities.

Accelerated Reader We have an individualized Accelerated Reader (AR) program that encourages and rewards students based on their reading needs. Quarterly goals are set based on a computerized assessment (test). Students in second through fifth grades have nine weeks, one quarter, to meet the AR point goal and percentage correct goal of at least 90%. This program allows each student to read on a level that is "just right" for him/her. Students are rewarded at the end of the quarter at a school assembly. PTA and media center fundraisers provide the funds for student prizes. Students earn "Tanner Williams Tigers are Readers" backpacks, pencil boxes and more. Students who meet their goal all four quarters are rewarded with an additional surprise! Our school also has a "Millionaire's Club" recognizing students who read over one million words in a school year and maintain at least 90% correct.

Student Circulation Policy Kindergarten through fifth grade students are allowed to checkout library books. Check-out privileges will be suspended when a patron has overdue materials or lost/damaged fines at any school in the Mobile County Public School System. Kindergarten and first grade students are allowed to checkout one library book at a time. Second through fifth grade students are allowed to checkout up to three library items.

Student Circulation Policy Students are encouraged to checkout books within their Accelerated Reader ZPD (zone of proximal development) to ensure that the book is on the “just-right” reading level for the child. After meeting his/her AR goal, a student is allowed to checkout a “fun” item that may be a book not on the reading level, a Play-a-way, book on tape, video, CD, DVD and more. Books are checked out for a two-week period. After 14 days, the item is considered overdue. The student may renew the item if the item is not on hold by another patron. We do not charge overdue fines, however, fines are charged for lost and or damaged books.

Lost/Damaged Library Books Students and teachers must pay for all damaged (beyond reasonable wear) or lost materials. Fines for lost books will be $20 per book or the replacement fee. Fines for replacement of labels will be $3 per book. Damage fines will vary depending upon whether or not the book can be repaired and what the repair involves. Students may be required to pay a replacement cost if the book is damaged beyond repair. Check-out privileges will be suspended when a patron has overdue materials or lost/damaged fines at any school in the Mobile County Public School System. At the principal’s discretion, end-of-year report cards may be held in the school office for parent pick up pending payment of fines. 

Library Procedures 1. Enter the library quietly. 2. Scan items for check-in. 3. Place returned items on the cart by type: (E) Easy, Numbers, (FIC) Fiction. 4. Use a shelf-marker to browse the library shelves. 5. Scan your library folder. 6. Scan the items you want to take “out” of the library. 7. Enjoy your library materials.  

Advisory Committee Hannah Pittman Kelly Parker LeAnne Pearce Melissa Manning Wendy Adams