Memo

To:

Susan Hallmark, Principal

From:

[Your Name]

cc:

Tonya McCoy, Media Specialist

Date:

November 9, 2015

Re:

Library Media Program Evaluation and Action Steps

Both Mrs. McCoy and I have evaluated the current status of our media program here at Addison
Elementary School. The guiding criteria and evaluation tool that was used was the Georgia Library Media
Association and Georgia Library Association 2013 Library Media Program Self-Evaluation Rubric. This is
the standard rubric that is used to evaluate media centers and libraries across the state of Georgia. The
rubric consists of five categories:
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)

Student Achievement and Instruction

Staffing
Facilities, Access, and Resources
Administrative Support
Staff Development

Within these categories are given target indicators that give an explanation of the expected target goals of
the Media Center/Library. Each indicator is rated at either a basic, proficient, or exemplary rating. After
evaluating the Media Center at Addison it received 7 ratings of exemplary in various categories, it
received 6 proficient ratings, and finally it received 7 basic ratings. Below you will find an explanation of
each of the ratings as well as an action plan that will be put in place to continually improve our Media
Center to benefit those who we serve.

Category 1 Student Achievement and Instruction

Indicator 1:

Proficient - Information literacy skills are integrated into the curriculum through
the collaborative efforts of the Library Media Specialist and teachers. Georgia
Performance Standards (GPS) and Common Core GPS (CCGPS) are used as a
basis for teaching.

Action Plan: Based on the proficient indicator the recommended suggestion to improve
this rating is through collaboration and lesson planning, begin to
implement various information literacy skills into the lessons that are
taught within the Media Center. Provide and maintain a record of artifacts
(lesson plans) to demonstrate the incorporation of the literacy skills.
Indicator 2:

Basic - The Library Media Specialist participates in collaborative planning when

initiated by the teacher.

Action Plan: The Media Specialist will promote collaborative planning with teachers and
instructional leaders. The Media Specialist will go beyond planning
isolated instruction that is solely facilitated by the Media Specialist. The
Media Specialist and the collaborative teacher will provide meaningful
learning opportunities for diverse learning styles, abilities, and needs.
Indicator 3:

Basic - The Library Media Specialist makes recommendations to students for

class projects and pleasure reading. The Library Media Specialist provides basic
orientation and instruction on information location skills.

Action Plan: The Media Specialist will plan and implement various teaching styles to
meet the needs of the diverse learners. The Media Specialist will implement
collaborative planning to discuss the various teaching methods and
strategies to apply within the collaborative lesson. The Media Specialist
will also assess the learning and understanding of the learners using
various methods.
Indicator 4:

Exemplary - The library media center is a critical element in the schools reading
program. The library media program meets the needs of both the
reading/language arts curriculum and recreational reading.

Action Plan: The Media Specialist will continue meet the needs of the readers within the
school and continue to support the curriculum and recreational reading.
Indicator 5:

Proficient - The library media staff selects resources and informs teachers of
these resources with recommendations to support students diverse learning
abilities and styles.

Action Plan: The Media Specialist will collect data from both teachers and students to
create activities that will lead to student achievement. The Media Center

will also use the data to focus on the individual needs of the students that
are served.
Indicator 6:

Basic - The classroom teacher is responsible for assessing student

achievement.

Action Plan: The Media Specialist will continue to create meaningful collaborative
lessons and assess student learning and collaboratively reflect on the data
with the collaborating teacher.
Category 2 Staffing
Indicator 7a: Exemplary - Full-time Library Media Specialist is employed and is not shared at
any other time with other areas in the school nor does he/she provide services
outside the library media center. Adult supervision by certified personnel is
available for the entire day.
Action Plan: The Media Specialist will continue to serve the school by providing
services to the Media Center directly, serving for the entire day as a
certified personnel.
Indicator 7b: Proficient - Library Media Specialist is not required to perform other duties on a
daily or frequent basis. A part-time library media paraprofessional is employed.
Action Plan: The Media Specialist will continue to serve her designated school
exclusively. The Media Specialist will discuss with administration the
reallocation and the limitation of duties and responsibilities outside of the
Media Center. The support paraprofessional will continue to support the
Media center.
Category 3 Facilities, Access, and Resources
Indicator 8:

Exemplary - Flexible scheduling is maintained allowing full participation of

teachers and the Library Media Specialist in collaborative planning and allowing
students to come to the library media center at any time. The library media
center is available both before and after school. Some evening hours may be
scheduled for instructional needs of students and families.

Action Plan: The Media Specialist will continue to allow for flexible planning time to
allow teachers the opportunity to collaboratively plan with the Media
Specialist. The Media Center will continue to offer reading enrichment time
before and after school to allow users various times to access the Media
Center and the Media Specialist.

Indicator 9:

Basic - Based on FTE, the library media center meets minimum square footage
requirements.

Action Plan: The Media Specialist will also reevaluate the current set up and the usage
of space within the Media Center. The Media Specialist will repurpose and
reallocate space in the Media Center to create a more user friendly
collaborative space for users.
Indicator 10: Exemplary - Streaming video and other technologies are used on a regular
basis to support the curriculum. The Library Media Center has a whiteboard and
it is used on a regular basis. The school has several white boards located
throughout the building and used on a frequent basis.
Electronic distribution system meets state requirements.
Action Plan: The Media Specialist will continue to use and implement various streaming
technologies, whiteboards, and electronic distribution systems to provide
relevant instruction and resources to teachers and students, The Media
Specialist will also plan innovative training for teachers to support them in
the use of the various available technology.
Indicator 11: Exemplary - Print and non-print resources, including subscription databases,
access to the Internet, and other library media center resources are available on
a LAN throughout the school. Some library media center resources are
accessible via Internet access outside the school. Students use library media
center technology independently for extended projects and information retrieval.
Action Plan: The Media Specialist will continue to keep physical and digital resources
current and relevant to meet the needs of the students and the staff. The
Media Specialist will continue to provide training for teachers and students
on how to access resources off campus and use technology that is
available.
Indicator 12: Exemplary - The OPAC is available on a LAN throughout the school. All
resources are recorded in MARC format so that access is available on the LAN
and weeding of out-of-date materials can be timely. The OPAC is up-to-date and
reflects the library media center holdings. Some library media center resources
are accessible via Internet access outside the school.
Action Plan: The Media Specialist will continue to update the OPAC system, weed on a
continuous basis, and provide instruction to teachers and student on how
to access the system while at school and when away from the school.
Indicator 13: Basic - Students will be given instruction in accessing GALILEO. The password
will be provided in a timely manner.

Action Plan: The Media Specialist will continue to teach students on how to access the
GALILEO system while maintaining the appropriate use for the appropriate
age group of the students.
Category 4 Administrative Support
Indicator 14: Exemplary - The SMCP maintains communication among Library Media
Specialists in the district. District level administrators facilitate the
communication among the SMCP, Library Media Specialists, and themselves.
The SMCP understands the role of the Library Media Specialist and encourages
opportunities for Library Media Specialists to meet regularly. The district
encourages links on school and district websites for library media center
announcements and services.
Action Plan: The Media Specialist will continue to maintain adequate communication
with the Media Specialist of the district as well as the Media Specialist
community. The Media Specialist will continue to be active in the SMCP.

Indicator 15: Basic - The school principal provides support to the library media program and
makes time to meet with the Library Media Specialist occasionally.
Action Plan: The school principal will encourage the staff to take advantage of the Media
Specialist and Media Center to promote information literacy and to utilize
the knowledge base of the Media Specialist as an Informational Specialist.

Indicator 16: Basic - System and local school library media committees support
implementation of the library media program. A media advisory committee exists
and meets once or twice a year. (This committee may be the same as the
technology committee in some local schools.)
Action Plan: The Media Specialist will encourage frequent meetings of the Media
Advisory Committee. The Media Specialist and the advisory committee will
strategically plan and implement goals to improve student learning.

Indicator 17: Proficient - A library media policy exists is implemented consistently. The Library
Media Specialist recommends periodic revisions.
Action Plan: The Media Specialist will set clear and comprehensive policies and consult
with the Media Advisory Committee for update consideration of policies.

The Media Specialist will frequently review the policies that are currently in
place.

Indicator 18: Proficient - The library media program budget exceeds the minimum state
allocation. Local funding supplements state allocation.
Action Plan: The Media Specialist will consult with the advisory committee to determine
various funding options and what to allocate funding for purchases to
enhance the Media Center. The Media Specialist and the advisory board will
use the allocated funds to facilitate the Media Centers strategic plan.
Category 5 Staff Development
Indicator 19: Proficient - Library Media Specialist seeks to enhance his/her professional skills,
particularly technology skills, beyond those required for recertification or by the
school district. Library Media Specialist provides occasional formal staff
development instruction and informal instruction during collaborative planning
with teachers. The school system makes staff development options available for
library media support staff. The Library Media Specialist is knowledgeable of the
district professional development services.
Action Plan: The Media Specialist will consult with the advisory committee, school

and district administrators to determine funding for the allocations in

the Media Centers strategic plan.