GENERAL PROCEDURE/INFORMATION

Media Center

The Oakcrest High School Media Center offers students and faculty resources and services enabling them to use a resource-based approach to a subject.

The Media Center's program, collections and environment provide a broad spectrum of learning opportunities for large and small groups, as well as for the individual.

The Media program provides: consultant service to improve learning; instruction in the use of media resources and facilities; instruction to improve learning through the use of printed and audio-visual resources; information on new educational developments; new materials created and produced to suit special needs of students and teachers; materials and equipment for class instruction, and individual investigation and exploration, plus efficient working areas for teachers and students.

Procedure

All students should consider the utilization of the Media Center as a privilege and in so doing, their conduct and activities should reflect its purposes and objectives. Students coming from class must have a pass issued by a subject teacher. Passes must be signed if a student leaves the Media Center before the end of the period.

Small groups of students, who are sent by teachers to the Media Center for group projects, committee work, etc., should have with them passes properly filled out. Teachers wishing to bring their classes to the Media Center should preplan this with the Media Specialist in order to make sure that space and relevant materials are available. A weekly reservation sign-up sheet is available in the library office.

Circulation of Materials

1. Student Charging Cards

Oakcrest Media Center is a part of the Computerized County Library System. Our collection is stored on a central computer in conjunction with the Atlantic County Library. Patrons may review material from all these sources on the patron access terminals located in the Media Center.

Each student and faculty member at Oakcrest High School will receive an Atlantic County Library card for use with our automated charging system. Borrowers should have their card with them to check out a book. It is not transferable and the person whose name is on the charging card is responsible for any material checked out to his card. If the card is lost, report this immediately to the Media staff. Like a credit card, the owner is responsible for items charged unless the loss has been reported. Any materials, which are to be borrowed, must be charged out at the circulation desk.

2. Loan Periods

Materials may be borrowed by faculty members and students for 2 week lengths of time and may be renewed depending on the borrower's need. Reference books may not be charged out. They are to be used only in the Media Center.

3. Reserve Materials

Reserve materials are selected by the teacher and placed on reserve at his request for assigned work. Any change in stated reserve use is made at the direction of the teacher.

4. Periodicals

Current issues and unbound volumes of periodicals are shelved alphabetically by title in the Periodical Room. Back issues for many periodicals are available on microfiche. Students are not permitted access to the magazine room without permission from the librarian.

5. Overdue Materials

Oakcrest High School students are expected to accept the responsibilities, which go with developing maturity. Part of this is a sense of responsibility to the community; in this case, the high school, its students, and its faculty. Students should borrow materials for as long as is necessary and return them promptly to the Media Center in order that they may then be available to other students. The Media staff expects that the young adults who are Oakcrest High School students will accept this concept and will return materials within the loan period indicated.

6. Overdue Notices

Students who have not yet developed responsibility for returning materials to the Media Center within the stated loan period will receive notices of overdue materials through homeroom teachers. If the student does not return overdue items after having been reminded, action will be initiated to help the student develop the sense of responsibility necessary for continued borrowing privileges.

7. Lost Materials

Students who lose items from the Media Center collection will be expected to pay the replacement cost of the item.