Hullender, Sikes, Stark: Group 1

Key Assessment
FRIT 7331
Lisa Hullender, Amanda Sikes, & Jason Stark
Section IV: School Library Media Center Facilities
Physical and Virtual Environment
Learning climate:
Long County Middle School media center provides a friendly, welcoming, and accepting
atmosphere that supports a learning environment. The furnishings and decorations are clean and
comfortable but could be brought up to date. With the addition of technology, the overall
scholarly climate provides an atmosphere conducive to instruction and learning.
The media center layout includes a print and lamination station, bulletin board area, book
section, instruction area with smart board, group learning area, reading space with a mat,
audio/visual section, the circulation desk and a computer area consisting of 10 new desktops. All
of these provide the necessary environment to facilitate a class and assist teachers.
The nurse station is located within the media center confines.
Furnishings:
There are 12 tables with a variety of available seating to set up collaborative student work. As
one walks into the library from the main entrance, this is the first area brought to the attention.
The area is wide and makes a person feel comfortable. There is plenty of room to spread out
without feeling you are infringing on anothers work space. The tables and chairs are of
matching color made of sturdy oak. There are chairs available for 44 students working in groups
of 6 and 4. The media center has a story reading area. This area contains a large colorful rug for
younger grade levels to sit comfortably for story time.
As one enters the main entrance of the media center, the computer stations are located directly to
the left. Each station is a small desk that supports two new desktop computers. There are both

Hullender, Sikes, Stark: Group 1

power and data connections built into the floor for each station. The stations are spaced for easy
navigation without the worry of knocking over or damaging the hardware. All stations are
positioned where screens can be monitored from the circulation desk.
Throughout the book areas, there are blue bean bags scattered to give students a comfortable
setting to read individually. The book area is located to the left of the media center as you enter
the main entrance. Three main shelving areas along the wall provide the majority of book
shelving. Each area is six shelves high with five columns for a total of 30 shelves per area. In
addition to this area, there is another book area that includes four waist high shelves for books.
Each of those shelves contains three levels of books that are easily accessed by all. The book
selection covers a wide range of genres including 000 General Knowledge, 100 Psychology and
Philosophy, 200 Religion and Mythology, 300 Social Science and Folklore, 400 Language, 500
Natural Sciences, 600 Technology and Applied Sciences, 700 Arts and Recreation, 800 Literature
and 900 Geography and History. There is one shelving area dedicated to encyclopedias and
globes. The fiction materials are located in the main library area and are easily accessible by all
students. Fiction books are separated by grade level and have two main sections labeled 4th-5th
grade fiction and 6th-8th fiction.
Virtual and Technological Elements:
The facility has wireless technology but currently the school has not adopted a BYOT policy.
The students must use media center provided technology. Currently, the student body is not
utilizing the cloud. There is an ongoing initiative to make Google Drive available but are still in
the process of implementing.
Work/production areas not available to students:

Hullender, Sikes, Stark: Group 1

Located directly to the left as one enters the main entrance, there is an area dedicated to teachers
for bulletin board creation and lamination. The area is restricted from student use.
Sounds, light, etc.:
The media center has very little ambient light. Sunlight enters through three 4x4 windows along
the left wall above the book shelves. The only other ambient light available originates from an
outside entrance located at the rear of the facility. The high ceiling provides an open feel to the
area. There are sections of fluorescent lighting intermingled with incandescent lighting. This
helps balance the overall effect upon the eyes. The facility is held at a comfortable temperature
throughout the school year. The media specialist can make temperature adjustments if needed.
Acoustically the facility is quiet due to the carpeting. The floor is kept clean, and the carpet
shows very little wear despite the heavy traffic. Upon entrance, one is greeted with a pleasing
fragrance that has no hint of muskiness.
Accessibility:
All students and faculty have easy access to the facility. The atmosphere is open and inviting.
The computer stations in the first row are spaced adequately for wheelchair access. However, the
second row would be a tight fit for students in wheelchairs. All available tables are wheelchair
accessible. There is plenty of open walking space.
The facility lacks signs in other languages to help guide students that are non-English speaking.
Audio aids are available to students who are in need. Headphones make it possible to access
online media without disrupting other learning activities.
The circulation desk, located at the back right side of the facility, is accessible to all students
including wheelchair bound. There are two book return areas dedicated to different grade levels.

Virtual Facility
Resources available:

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The school media center website is available to students, faculty and teachers. The website is
outdated and provides few resources. It contains a welcome page, useful websites page,
Accelerated Reader page and teacher technology resources page. Faculty members have access
to a small selection of videos to supplement instruction. These resources are stored in a small
room at the back of the facility.
OPACS:
Long County utilizes Destiny as the systems online card catalog. The online card catalog is
available to all students and faculty. It can be accessed from both school or home. Book searches
and e-books are available, and other resources are accessible such as teacher professional
materials and technology.
Filtering software:
The Long County school system implements a basic internet filter for the entire network.
Students are restricted from using YouTube, social media, and other related sites. The filtering
restricts many useful sites. Teachers may request that a site be unblocked, but the process is
tedious and often gives no results.

Needed Changes
Elements that work well:
The facility is well lit despite the lack of ambient light. The addition of incandescent lighting
eases the harshness of the fluorescents. The overall space provides an environment conducive to
learning. There is ample seating for classes or small groups who would like to work
collaboratively.
Changes needed:

Hullender, Sikes, Stark: Group 1

The nurse office needs to be relocated. Its presence increases the foot traffic in what is an already
busy space. The main shelving is too high for many middle school students. The center also
serves 4th and 5th-grade levels who certainly find it difficult to reach the upper shelves.
The media center website needs a complete overhaul. The site lacks current resources for
teachers, students, and parents. A modern, clean design with easy navigation and up to date
events and announcements would create online traffic to the site. The site should reflect the
media center as the hub of the school's learning resources and technology.
The library is shared between 5-grade levels which makes it crowded at times. The high volume
of students also decreases the availability for class reservation.
Barriers:
Web filtering hinders access to some beneficial student and teacher resources. Due to the high
percentage of economically disadvantaged student population, many will be unable to utilize the
Google Drive and other beneficial online tools once they are available.
Environment conducive to learning:
Overall, the facility creates an environment that is conducive to learning. The media center is
very flexible with scheduling. Students can visit during lunch and break as long as they bring a
pass. Ten new desktop computers were installed this year for student use. The books are
sectioned by elementary and middle. The separation helps keep the two schools separate. There
is a para pro available daily to assist all students.
Facility Attractive:
The facility has a need for extra storage space. There is evidence of clutter that could be moved
out of sight. Student displayed projects help create a colorful environment along with decorations
around the facility. This help eases what is an outdated color scheme from an older building.
Education climate:

Hullender, Sikes, Stark: Group 1

There is a positive educational climate. Students and faculty are all encouraged to take advantage
of the resources the media center has to offer.
Adequate space:
Due to the number of grade levels using the facility, space could be increased to handle the load
of users. Two classes at most may be serviced at one time. That is only with one fully seated, and
the other spread out through the facility. Teachers would benefit from having an enclosed work
space for bulletin board creation and lamination station.