Mossy Creek Middle School Media Center

1. Mossy Creek Middle School Media Center Facilities Improvement Plan Tambra Singletary FRIT 7132 October 29, 2012

2. Table of Contents • I. School Description • About Mossy Creek Middle School • About Mossy Creek Middle School Media Center • II. Facilities Layout and Analysis • Original floor plan of MCMS Media Center • Survey used • Survey results • III. Facilities Redesign • Photographs of original designs with proposed changes • Illustrations and pricing of new equipment and furnishings • Updated floor plan for MCMS Media Center • Compiled list of proposed changes • Policies

3. Mossy Creek Middle School • Located in Kathleen, Georgia • Constructed in 2007 • 706 students in three grades (6-8) • 85 staff members (including certified and classified)

4. Mossy Creek Media Center • "The mission of the Mossy Creek Middle School Media Center is to guide, motivate, and inspire our students toward becoming productive and educated citizens who are effective users of information technology and lifelong readers.“ • Located at the front of the school directly across from the office • Houses a collection of 8,943 books • Has one full-time Media Specialist • Utilizes parent volunteers and student helpers as additional staff since media clerk position removed two years ago • Young Adult Choices Project (YACP) for the past three years • Reading Counts program through Scholastic • School-wide distribution network for showing videos throughout the school with the use of closed-circuit channels • Thirteen computers available for research

5. Original layout of media center Door to outside • Original Media Center layout using E-draw Max trial software • The media center is located at the front entrance of the school across from the office. Inner hallway of school

6. Mossy creek media center survey I used Survey Monkey for the surveying tool. I surveyed 56 faculty members and 150 students with a sample from each grade level. A total of 206 survey results were reviewed. The first four questions are shown here:

7. Mossy Creek Media Center Survey Remaining questions are shown here:

8. Some results of survey • 79% of those surveyed were “very satisfied” with services offered at MCMS Media Center • 84% of the customers of our media center considered “books in print” the most used feature of our media center while only .01% considered magazines an important feature • 47% of those surveyed would like to see more technology in the form of e-readers and video equipment available in our media center • A surprising result of the survey was the fact that 77% of those surveyed felt that our media center did not provide a sufficient amount of resources to meet their needs • I feel that this percentage is a result of the need for more technology. • 31% were not satisfied with the current schedule of our media center • Will address this in policy of hours and availability.

9. Additional Survey Results • When asked for more information on resources they would like to see made available by our media center, these were some of the responses: • E-readers • E-books • Many participants requested a change in the policy for bringing e-readers such as Kindles or Nooks to school. This will be addressed in the policy section. • Video equipment available for checkout by teachers • Document cameras • iPads • Mobile Laptop labs • More non-fiction titles to use with new CCGPS • More class sets of novels for Social Studies

10. Additional survey results • When asked what type of schedule they would like to see in our media center, these were some of the responses: • Media center is only open from 7:20 until 3:00 each day. There isn’t enough time for me to visit before or after school. It would be helpful to change the hours to 7:00 until 3:30. • Media center was open for a few hours one day each week during the summer. Why can’t they open one evening until 5:00 at least once or twice each month to help with research and projects? • I would like to see media center scheduling to include other classes besides language arts. Social Studies and Science classes need research time also.

11. Media center location The media center is located on the front hallway across from the office. It is easily accessible and has a welcoming entrance.

12. View upon Walking in the door • When I completed the initial library walkabout, this was one of the places I found to be lacking in our media center. This is certainly not a very welcoming display for students or other visitors.

13. Proposed change to this area • The window in that technology room is covered from the inside with blinds, so I felt that it would be okay to cover the area with an entertainment style credenza with a flat-screen television monitor for displaying the school news and book trailers created by our students.

14. Materials needed for change • Entertainment/storage unit from Ikea • $149 • Holds a flat-screen television monitor up to 55 inches • Shelving area may be used to display new books or any other themed book displays as needed • Should make a much more pronounced and helpful display for customers entering the media center

15. Materials needed for change • SANYO 55" Class LCD 1080p 120Hz HDTV,DP55441—available at Walmart for $728 • This will be placed in the credenza for displaying student news and book trailers.

16. Main entrance views This is the main entrance view of the check-out area. The book drop is located here also which is very convenient for students to just drop in and drop off their books.

17. Library views From left side of media center From right side of media center

18. Class meeting areas There are currently nine rectangular tables with six chairs at each table for the main students meeting area. In addition to this, there are also three circular tables with four chairs each. I propose removing three of the rectangular areas which will remove 18 seats, but there will still be room for 48 students which should be sufficient for two classes of students.

19. Reading area Our reading area consists of five “office-style” chairs in a semi-circle crowded with circular tables and chairs. The chairs are located near the magazine area, but there are no other book displays near that area. I propose a new, more comfortable reading area with a book display on the lower shelves located outside the office of the Media Specialist.

20. Updated reading area • New reading area will still incorporate old magazine shelving • Themed book display area will be located near reading area in order to allow students to browse these books while enjoying the comfortable reading area • There will be a coffee table that has two shelves which can be used for displays of books or magazines. • This reading area will also provide a comfortable discussion area for Book Club or the Media Club that will begin working on student news. Display area

21. Sofas for reading area • IKEA • Purchase two of these sofas for the comfortable reading area • Available for $349 each at IKEA • Color is dark to prevent staining and wear and tear • Material is microfiber for easier cleaning

22. Table for reading area • Coffee table for comfortable reading area • Available for $99.99 at IKEA • Can serve as a display area for books or magazines as well as a place for students to work when sitting in comfortable reading area

23. Bookshelf for display Right now, this bookshelf is empty and is serving no purpose in the media center. I propose incorporating this bookshelf into the comfortable reading area by creating book displays that are themed around certain times of the year or certain authors. Students will be close to the bookshelves and more likely to browse through the display while they are enjoying the reading area.

24. Current media storage room • This room is currently a “catch-all” junk room with a laminator. • The only “useable” item in the room is the laminator. • I propose creating a media production room where students can use video cameras and other technology to record student news for daily reports and create book trailers for the media center to advertise. • The laminator could be moved the other storage area.

25. Creating a media room • The current space that I propose to use will not need to be altered in any way. The door to the outside hallway can be locked from the inside which would prevent others from entering in the middle of a production, as well as securing the technology which will be stored in this room. • I propose purchasing ten video flip cameras and ten iPads for use in creating book trailers and student news. These items will be housed in this room, and will be available for checkout to teachers for projects. • I will also purchase a smaller flat-screen television for this room for students to preview their work.

26. New technology for updates • Apple iPad 2 with wi-fi, 16GB, black • Available at Best Buy for $399.99 each • Will purchase 10 of these for circulation • School has just recently been updated for wi-fi with hotspots in every hallway.

27. New technology for updates • Griffin Technology 10-Bay MultiDock Charge & Sync Station for iPad - NA23149 • Available from J and R online for $699.99 • Will charge and sync up to 10 iPads at once • Will be stored in the Media Production room for checkout by teachers

28. New technology for updates • DXG 5MP HD Digital Camcorder, 3.0" LCD Display, DXG-5W0VB • Available at Walmart for $69 each • Will purchase ten of these for the updated Media room for recording book trailers and student news • These will also be available for checkout to teachers for projects in the classroom.

29. Update incorporating computer lab • There were several comments from faculty on the survey regarding the availability of computers and time in the media center for research. • In trying to solve this problem, I decided to do some structural changes. • Right now, we have a storage room that links to the outside hallway where there is a computer lab. I propose linking these two areas using the storage room as a pass-through to the computer lab. • This change would enable classes up to 30 students to meet in the computer lab and still have access to the media center. Doorway to the storage area which will be connected to the computer lab

30. Inside of storage area • Door leading to computer lab will be made in the storage area. • Cleanup and organization for this room once completed Door to computer lab will be placed in this general area.

31. Pass through to computer lab • With this change, there would not need to be any purchases made for the computer lab. The lab is already functioning with 30 student computers and one teacher station. It also has a SmartBoard. • The location of this classroom with the connecting passage to the media center would enable more than one classroom to utilize the media center for research.

32. E-reader area • There is a low bookshelf located right outside the Media Specialist’s office. This will become the new E-Reader area. I propose purchasing twenty Kindles from Amazon to store in this area for checkout by students and faculty. Kindles will be stored here

33. New technology for updates • Kindle wi-fi with 6 inch display • Available from Amazon.com for $69 each • Will purchase 20 of these to begin an e-reader circulation

34. Nonfiction shelves Non-fiction shelves have plenty of open space to fill with newly purchased non-fiction texts to supplement the CCGPS. I don’t feel that there is any need to change the shelving at this time.

35. Fiction Shelves Fiction shelves still have ample room for additional purchases. Arrangement of shelves is suitable for media management and supervision of students. I do not see a need for any changes here.

36. Teacher resource area The back row of shelves are for teacher resources and classroom sets of novels or other resources. As you can see, we have plenty of available space here as well. I do not see a need for changes in this area.

37. Updated Media Center Layout Existing computer lab now connected through storage room Door to outside

38. List of changes made • Added a decorative storage credenza to the left of the front double doors to use as a display area for new books or themed book displays • Added a flat-screen television monitor to use for school news and for advertising books using book trailers created by students in the newly updated Media Production Room • Added a more comfortable seating area for students near the magazines and themed book display area • Added a new book display area for new books or themed book displays near the updated seating area • Removed three of the rectangular tables and 18 chairs in order to provide more space for the comfortable reading area • Created a connection through the media storage room to an already existing computer lab with 30 computers and a SmartBoard teaching area • Media center will be open twice monthly for extended media hours from 3:00 until 5:30.

39. Policies to be updated—regarding extended hours • Accessibility: • The media center at each school and the system materials center shall be accessible to teachers and to both individual students and groups throughout the instructional day during each day of the school year. Further, provisions shall be made for access to media resources to support instruction in all programs offered outside regular instructional time, including the adult education program, the alternative school, after-school or evening classes, summer school, and any other programs offering courses approved by the Georgia Board of Education • This policy allows us to make changes to our own media center schedule. Based on survey results, I propose that we offer two extended day media center dates each month. We will monitor the turnout on these dates for two months and determine if the program will continue or change. We have an external door which feeds to the outside of the building, so there is no need for students to have access to the school building unless we deem that necessary.

40. Policies to be updated—regarding technology • Accountability for School Equipment and Materials • Students and school personnel shall be accountable for textbooks, media materials, and all other instructional materials and equipment purchased with public school funds. • We will implement the “Permissions and Acceptable Use Form” for checkout of Kindles, video recorders, and iPads. Students must have these forms on file before these items can be borrowed. Our form will be adapted from the form you see here. • Should not need to be a change to the policy. We just need to update the procedures for checkout to protect the equipment. cobbk12-org.campuspack.net/...Media...Media.../eReader_Checkout

41. Informational technology acceptable use policy • This policy will need to be amended in regards to wireless hotspots for wi-fi which will need to be available throughout the school. We will begin with it in the media center, but it will eventually need to be available in all classrooms so that teachers may use the equipment purchased. • This equipment (Kindles, video recorders, iPads, etc.) will eventually be made available for use by teachers and students throughout the school. We need to be sure that our policy is firm on downloading and sharing information on the internet. We currently have an Internet Safety Policy in place, so this should be covered through that policy. Adding the wireless areas will only change the accessibility factors.

42. Policies to be updated—cell phone policy • Our school system is currently working towards establishing a “Bring Your Own Technology” program. Our schools are being updated with wireless in all areas in preparation for this policy change. • This policy change will not only help our media center, but it will also provide more access for wireless and more options for using technology in our schools such as students bringing in e-readers and iPads.