To: Ms. Reese

From: O. Ingram and J. Holloman

Date: February 23, 2011

Re: Georgia DOE 2010 Library Media Program Evaluation

Message:

On February 21st, Ms. Holloman and I evaluated the RMS Media Center using the

Library Media Program Evaluation Rubric. The rubric evaluates the media center on

various categories ranging from Student Achievement, Staffing, Facilities,

Administrative Support, and Staff Development. Categories were scored Basic,

Proficient, or Exemplary. Including in the memo are the results of our findings.

Action Steps or improvements to transition indicators from Basic to Proficient or

Proficient to Exemplary have been included. Overall, one item were scored as Basic,

while eight items were Proficient, and 10 items were scored as Exemplary.

According to the evaluation, RMS would rank as having a Proficient Library Media

Program. The program is rewarding to its students, staff, and community but there

are improvements that can be made. We are aware of restraints due to the declining

budget.

O. Ingram –

RMS //

Phone: (678)

874-0000

Fax: (678)

874-1000

O. Ingram –

RMS //

Phone: (678)

874-0000

Fax: (678)

874-1000

Category 1 – Student Achievement and Instruction

Out of the six target indicators assessed in this category, four of the indicators were

scored as meeting the proficiency level and two at the exemplary level. Proficiencies

are scored in this category due to the lack of collaboration between the media

specialist and the staff, the media specialist being engaged in active teaching roles,

and assessing student achievement. Generally, the media specialist and teachers work

and plan independent of each other.

Action Steps:

In an attempt to transition these areas to exemplary, the media specialist and the

school’s teachers should be encouraged and willing to collaborate. It would be

helpful if the Media Specialist would attend Department meetings, and planning

sessions to collaborate on lesson plans. Throughout the year, the Media Specialist

shares her knowledge on different subjects. Resources are pulled whenever teachers

schedule time in the media center. Also, she offers her time, many times, to no avail.

It would be helpful if the teachers would confide with the media specialist about

certain subjects or areas that need to be included in the media center. It would assist

the media specialist with how to better help the students by establishing the different

needs of the students and adding to the collection. Possible dates each month could

be set for the media specialist to attend grade level and departmental meetings.

Category 2 – Staffing

The second category evaluates the staffing of the media center. The indicator rates

the media center as basic due to being base size or larger and not employing a full

time clerk or paraprofessional.

Action Steps:

The full-time media specialist is the only person employed in the media center on a

daily basis. A paraprofessional is occasionally assisting. To bring this category to

proficient or exemplary, the media specialist needs assistance. She is being asked to

perform duties of a media clerk. Volunteers could be asked to come in the media

center to help.

O. Ingram –

RMS //

Phone: (678)

874-0000

Fax: (678)

874-1000

O. Ingram –

RMS //

Phone: (678)

874-0000

Fax: (678)

874-1000

Category 3 – Facilities, Access, and Resources

The third category evaluates the Facilities, Access, and Resources that are available to

the media center. Two of the six indicators are rated on the rubric as proficient while

the remaining indicators are rated exemplary.

Action Steps:

In order to make improvements and move this indicator to Exemplary the media

center needs to be open every day and all day. The media center does follow flexible

scheduling. However, sometimes it has to be closed due to important visitors in the

building and when meetings are being conducted. The Parent Center or other rooms

could be used to hold the meetings. The students and parents can be asked to see if the

media center needs to be open additional hours. Volunteers could be used to operate

the media center before school or after school. In regard to Galileo, staff development

opportunities or workshops should be utilized to improve the staff’s knowledge.

Also, collaborative units should be used in the classrooms to promote student’s usage.

Category 4 – Administrative Support

The fourth category evaluates the media center’s Administrative Support. There is a

media contact person assigned by the superintendent, support is given to the program

by the school and district levels, and a current functioning library media policy. Three

of the five indicators are scored as exemplary on the rubric. The remaining two are

scored proficient – 100% funds being spent in the program and having an effective

and active media advisory committee.

Action Steps:

To improve in this category the Media Specialist needs to meet with the Media

Committee more often throughout the school year to discuss updating technology,

budgetary needs, and making improvements to the media program. In the past, the

committee has met several times a year. This year the committee has not been

meeting as often. The committee is occasionally emailed regarding updates. The

technology in the media center was recently upgraded, so there are few long-range

O. Ingram –

RMS //

Phone: (678)

874-0000

Fax: (678)

874-1000

O. Ingram –

RMS //

Phone: (678)

874-0000

Fax: (678)

874-1000

planning in terms of technology. However, long-range planning could include

collection updating and staff development. Supplemental funds are scarce.

Fundraisers that were organized in the past have been taken over by the PTSA.

Category 5 – Staff Development

The fifth category evaluates the staff development opportunities that are available for

the library media staff to enhance their professional knowledge and for the media staff

to provide information and technology literacy to other staff. The media center is at

the exemplary level. The media specialist often attends staff development

opportunities and workshops to keep her craft current. Also, she often conducts

workshops for the teachers to try to obtain information about their needs and to teach

current technology. O. Ingram –

RMS //

Phone: (678)

874-0000

Fax: (678)

874-1000

O. Ingram –

RMS //

Phone: (678)

874-0000

Fax: (678)

874-1000