Media Center
Media Hours & Check Out Policy
Media Hours:
Checkout Policy:
Students in kindergarten and first grade may check out one book.
Students in grades 2-5 may check out two books if they do not already have overdue or damaged books. Books may be checkout out for a period of two weeks and may be renewed.
Students will need to pay for any lost or damaged books before they can check out another book. Students or parents may pay for lost or damaged items in the media center during regular school hours.
Parents may also check out books from the media center. Up to five books may be checked out for a period of one week.
Please do everything you can to help your children take good care of the books they check out and to return them on time.
Library Media Access for School and Classroom Libraries
The purpose of the school library media center is to encourage the love of reading and support the school community and curriculum goals through self-selected reading materials. The media specialist collaborates with families and teachers to support students in the selection of reading materials that meet their reading interests.
Parents and guardians have the right to limit their child’s access to materials in the school library and classroom library. The library media access level a parent/guardian selects for their student will be in effect for the student’s academic career in Volusia County Schools. Changes may be made at any time by completing the School and Classroom Library Access Form on the Parent Portal.
By default, all students have standard access to age/grade appropriate materials in the school and classroom library.
Definitions of Access
Standard Access- A student has access to age/grade appropriate materials in the school library and their classroom libraries.
Unlimited Access: A student has full access to the materials in Volusia County Schools’ libraries and classroom libraries including access to any titles that require parent permission. This includes permission for the student to check out Young Adult (YA) titles when the student is in middle school.
Restricted Access: A student is permitted access to materials in Volusia County Schools’ libraries and classroom libraries except for specific titles as designated by their parent/guardian. The parent/guardian is responsible for restricting specific materials in their child’s school library or classroom libraries by completing the School and Classroom Library Access Form on the Parent Portal.
School Card Catalog (Search for Book)
Library Media Center Collection Development
Each school library media collection is developed in accordance with Volusia County School Board Policy 320 and Florida Statute 1006.28.
Each book made available to students through a school district library media center or included in a recommended or assigned school or grade-level reading list must be selected by a school district employee who holds a valid educational media specialist certificate, regardless of whether the book is purchased, donated, or otherwise made available to students.
2. Each district school board shall adopt procedures for developing library media center collections and post the procedures on the website for each school within the district. The procedures must:
a. Require that book selections meet the criteria in s. 1006.40(3)(d).
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Free of pornography and material prohibited under s. 847.012.
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Suited to student needs and their ability to comprehend the material presented.
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Appropriate for the grade level and age group for which the materials are used or made available.
b. Require consultation of reputable, professionally recognized reviewing periodicals and school community stakeholders.
c. Provide for library media center collections based on reader interest, support of state academic standards and aligned curriculum, and the academic needs of students and faculty.
d. Provide for the regular removal or discontinuance of books based on, at a minimum, physical condition, rate of recent circulation, alignment to state academic standards and relevancy to curriculum, out-of-date content, and required removal pursuant to subparagraph (a)2.
Selection Process
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The media specialist develops a recommended list of books that meet the needs of the school per the collection development guidelines.
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The media specialist provides the school media advisory committee with professional reviews of each book prior to meeting.
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The school media advisory committee meets to review and approve the list. The committee must come to a consensus on approvals. If the committee is unable to come to a consensus, the principal along with the media specialist is responsible for the final decision.
Challenged Materials:
Volusia County School Board Policy 320 establishes the procedures for the review of complaints concerning media materials.
Media Release & Opt-Out Forms
Please note the difference between a News Media Release form and an Opt-Out Form.
Opt-Out Form - This form is to be filled out by parents if they DO NOT want their kids to be photographed/videoed by district personnel (teachers, administrators, etc.).
Media Release Form - This form MUST be filled out by parents if an external agency (news media, business partners, community organization, etc.) is coming in to take pictures or video. If this form is not on file for a child, then they are not allowed to be involved with any media.
Reading Counts
During the school year, students will have the opportunity to participate in the Reading Counts program. Reading Counts is an individual, independent reading incentive program designed to promote student reading. Children select books from the media center, public library, or their home library. After reading the book, they take a computerized comprehension tests in the classroom or the media center in order to earn points. These points enable children to both track their reading progress and to receive positive recognition for their efforts. There are now over 60,000 Reading Counts tests available to students in Volusia County Schools.