Our Program:

The Walnut Grove Media Center happily serves the informational and reading needs of 425 students in grades kindergarten through sixth and 50 staff members. We strive to: Bring resources and people together. Provide a welcoming, helpful environment for all patrons. Maximize search capabilities for users. Publicize resources. Eliminate physical, intellectual and time barriers as far as possible.

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Our Patrons:

The Walnut Grove Media Center happily serves the informational and reading needs of 425 students in grades kindergarten through sixth and 50 staff members. We strive to: Share a love of literature and a zest for life-long learning. Provide service to our patrons in a timely manner. Respect the uniqueness of all of our patrons. Provide quality resources to support the information needs of our patrons. Support the intellectual freedom of those we serve.

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Our Policies:

Collection Development-The media center staff assesses and identifies the needs of the collection as an ongoing process. We conduct an annual inventory to assess our collection. Selection- Idenfity high-quality materials that meet district guidelines. Select and order materials for purchase based on criteria. Click here to see the Council Bluffs Community School's Selection and Replacement Policy. Follow established ordering procedures. Process new materials. Review the process by which a parent or guardian can request the Reconsideration of Instructional Materials. Click here to see the Council Bluffs Community School's Reconsideration Policy. Maintenance- Care for library resources. Eliminate materials that do not conform to district guidelines. Do an annual weeding of the collection following weeding guidelines.Click here to see the Iowa Dept. of Education Weeding Document and Sunlink Weed of the Month Weeding Tips Produce records of collection maintenance and development. Follow acceptable alternatives for dealing with lost and damaged materials. Perform occasional repair and cleaning of the collection. Circulation- Books Normal Circulation: As long as it takes to read the books. Number of items: Two per student with exceptions for research. Renewal: One two-week renewal (except for very popular titles). Fines: No fines are assessed for late returns. Magazines Normal Circulation: As long as it takes to read the magazine. Number of items: One magazine. Renewal: None. Fines: No fines are assessed for late returns. Reference Normal Circulation: One day only. Due at the end of the school day. Number of items: Three, unless teacher requests more. Renewal: As needed. Fines: None. Videos Normal Circulation: As long as it takes to view. Number of items: One. Renewal: None Fines: None Lost and Damaged Items Students will be held responsible for lost or damaged items. Fines for damaged but usable items will be assessed by the librarian. If the item may no longer be circulated, the student must pay the replacement cost. Internet Acceptable Use and Permission to Publish - Parents and students read and sign the acceptable use policy and the permission to publish policy. Read the Student Appropriate Use Policy. and Internet Appropriate Use Regulation and Procedure

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Scheduling:

Walnut Grove has adopted a flexible library schedule for the media center. This flexible schedule allows students and staff to access information and independent reading books at the point of need. Students flock to the library to select Reading Counts books, nonfiction titles and other pleasure reading books. Students use the OPAC in their rooms to check on the availability of titles and then come to the media center to check out the book. Students are able to locate their books and many times check them out themselves. Kids are reading more than ever according to our circulation statistics and Reading Counts data. Student helpers are scheduled throughout the day to help with the checkout and shelving of books.See the American Association of School Librarian Position Statement on Flexible Scheduling

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Resources

The Walnut Grove Media Center houses close to 10,000 volumes to support the curriculum and for reading enjoyment. We have an extensive collection of CD ROMS to support instruction, as well as, a current professional library. Teachers may find PWIM posters, digital still cameras, digital video camera with tripod, LCD Projector/Wireless Laptop Presentation Station, Avio Casablanca Editing System, TV/VCRs for checkout. We are building our collection in the nonfiction genre to support the "Every Child Reads" initiative in our state.

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OPAC: Our Library Catalog

Our media center is fully automated using the Follett Circulation and Catalog system. All computers in the building have access to the OPAC from any location. Students and Teachers check the availability of books from their classrooms. Instructions on the use of the OPAC may be found by clicking here.

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