DMK's Library Media Center Policies
Here are some policies that will help keep our Library Media Center a place where all students can feel comfortable visiting, reading, studying, and researching:
Behavior
Behavior in the DMK Library Media Center is expected to be in line with guidelines set out in the teacher and student handbooks. The library rules are as follows: 1) be safe; 2) be respectful; and 3) be responsible. Please respect the rights of other library users, materials, and facilities. All users are entitled to find library materials clean and orderly. Mrs. Abed and/or other teachers/staff are to be seen as supervisors. Go to them with your questions or comments.
New Library Media Center guidelines may be introduced from time to time by Mrs. Abed.
New Library Media Center guidelines may be introduced from time to time by Mrs. Abed.
Visiting the Library
When can students visit the library? Classes are welcome with their teacher when the library is scheduled in advance. Students will be visiting the library at least every other week throughout the year with their English Language Arts teacher (Ms. Bechler, Mrs. Cox, or Mrs. Elam). Students may come to the library during homeroom as long as they are escorted by a faculty/staff member.
Book Check-Out (cIRCULATION)
Students may check out two books at a time for a period of two weeks at a time. Books can be renewed as long as it is not being held for another student. If a student has an overdue book, he or she will not be able to check out or renew books until it is returned. Students may NOT check out books for another student. If a book is lost or damaged, it is the student's responsibility to replace it before receiving his/her report card at the end of the school year.
If Mrs. Abed is not in the library (i.e. during PT 4th period), students may check out by legibly writing their names and the Daniel McKee barcode number (found on the back of the book) on the paper on Mrs. Abed's desk.
If Mrs. Abed is not in the library (i.e. during PT 4th period), students may check out by legibly writing their names and the Daniel McKee barcode number (found on the back of the book) on the paper on Mrs. Abed's desk.
Intellectual Freedom
Selection of Library Materials
Since Rutherford County Schools does not currently have a selection policy, Mrs. Abed uses the one that Metro Nashville Public Schools developed when adding or removing materials in the library media center. It includes selection criteria, procedures, considerations for collection development, professional selection review resources, weeding procedures, and the Library Bill of Rights.
Confidentiality
Circulation (what books you check out) and library questions will be kept confidential unless a book is overdue or lost.
Challenged Materials
If there is a concern regarding any materials from the Library Media Center or from a classroom, see Rutherford County Schools's Challenged Materials Policy and forms below:
This is a link to Rutherford County's policy for reconsidering instructional materials or textbooks. The policy first states that it supports intellectual freedom as cited in the 1st Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and expressed in the Library Bill of Rights by the American Library Association. Next, it lists step-by-step procedures for handling complaints of instructional materials.
This is a link to Rutherford County's form for the reconsideration of instructional materials or textbooks. Any teacher, staff member, parent, student, organization, or community member can fill out this form if he or she has a complaint against a particular book or resource. The form is made up of mostly questions that the complainant should answer in order for the material to be reconsidered by the principal, librarian, and advisory review committee.
This link from Rutherford County Schools is a checklist that a librarian and an advisory committee can use to decide if a challenged book should be taken off the shelf or not. The advisory review committee is comprised of certified librarian(s), classroom teacher(s), parent(s), and student(s). Once they make their decision, they will present it to the principal and the director of schools. If the complainant is not satisfied, he or she may appeal to the school board for further review.
Technology - Acceptable Use
Click on the links below to view Rutherford County Schools's Acceptable Use Policy for technology.