Lake Myra Elementary School Media Center Circulation Policies and Procedures
I. Purpose The Lake Myra Elementary School Media Center has developed circulation policies and procedures to ensure fair access to materials and information for all patrons.
II. Access A. Flex Access The LMES Media Center operates on a flex access schedule. Students may bring their shelf markers and come to the media center any time their teachers deem it appropriate unless the library is listed as closed on the TV. This includes during academic time as applicable but may not occur on a daily basis.
C. Kindergarten Storytime and Circulation Kindergarten classes may email Mrs. B to sign up for a weekly storytime with circulation. Mrs. B will read to your class while the Kindergarten teacher remains. After storytime, Kindergarten students will be allowed to check out one book from a designated area.
D. All students should be able to visit the library once per week at the very minimum.
III. Loan Periods A. The LMES Media Center has developed the following loan periods for materials: i. Kindergarten.....1 Books for one week First Grade.....2 Books for one week Second Grade.....2 Books for one week Third Grade.....Unlimited with guidelines for two weeks Fourth Grade.....Unlimited with guidelines for two weeks Fifth Grade.....Unlimited with guidelines for two weeks
IV. Checking Out Materials A. Students and other non-faculty patrons are permitted to check out a designated number of fiction and nonfiction books.* The student in grades 3-5 self-checkout system will limit students to 10 items, but this may be overridden by Mrs. B. Regardless of number, all materials are subject to the appropriate loan period.
B. Faculty members are not limited in number of materials and equipment checked out at any given time. The Media Center staff will notify faculty members if another individual has requested the items currently on loan.
C. Students are not permitted to check out materials in their name for another student. If this does occur, the student whose name is on the account associated with the book will be held responsible for its return and any subsequent consequences as a result of overdue, lost, and damaged materials.
D. The self check-out computer is available to all students/staff who do not have overdue items or outstanding fines and have their shelf marker. Please make sure that the computer screen does not have another patron up before scanning your shelf marker and click the “reset” button when you are finished so that no one else may use your account to check out items.
V. Renewal of Materials In order to renew materials, students must bring the book to the Media Center. The Media Center staff will not renew a book unless they can account for it in the student's possession. There is no limit on the number of times a book can be renewed; however, students will be notified if a hold has been placed on a particular title so that they may understand that other students are waiting for the book.
VI. Hold Requests LMES Media Center patrons can request to put an item on hold by indicating this intention to a member of the Media Center staff or by filling out an online request form. When a book is returned and ready for the next person in the hold request line, the book will be checked out to that patron and delivered to their classroom teacher. If a patron has overdue materials, they will be notified that their item is available when they have returned their overdue items. All materials on hold will be put aside for one week.*** If the materials are not picked up in one week, they will go back into general circulation or move to the next person in the hold line.
***If a student or teacher is tracked out when a book is made available for pick up, the book will be put aside until that individual has tracked back in.
VII. Overdue Materials When a student has overdue materials, he/she will be permitted to check out one book at a time until the overdue material is returned. We do not issue overdue fines unless the material is lost or damaged.
VIII. Lost and Damaged Materials A. Lost Materials “Forgiveness” Policy: We will forgive the fine of one book if the parent requests it. We understand that mistakes happen and accidents occur. Our main goal is to put books in our students’ hands, but we want to make sure they understand the need to treat materials responsibly as well. When a student invokes the “forgiveness” policy, we will make a note on their account but clear all restrictions. This policy may only be used once.
When a student determines that he or she is unable to locate a book and that it is indeed lost, that student must pay for the replacement of that item (unless the parent invokes the “Forgiveness Policy”). The fee will be the current cost of a new hardback copy. If a student chooses to replace the book instead of pay for it, the replacement copy must be new, in perfect condition, and hardback.
Students will receive a receipt of the transaction and are encouraged to hold onto the receipt. If a book is found after payment has been made, a student will only be reimbursed if he or she can present the receipt. Reimbursement is only considered within 6 months of the date of payment.
B. Damaged Materials Students will be charged to replace damaged materials as determined on a case-by-case basis. The fee will be the current cost of a new hardback copy. If a student chooses to replace the book instead of pay for it, the replacement copy must be new, in perfect condition, and hardback. A student’s parents may also invoke the “forgiveness” policy if it has never been used..
C. In the event that a student is unable to pay for lost or damaged materials, the student may be asked to assist in the library for a period of time. This is known as “School Service” and parents must sign a permission form allowing for his/her child to volunteer.
IX. Restriction of Media Center Privileges The LMES Media Center reserves the right to restrict, suspend, or revoke privileges according to the judgment of the LMES Library Media Coordinator and the LMES Administrative Team in compliance with WCPSS policies and guidelines. The following situations serve as examples of when such action might be taken: numerous lost or damaged materials, chronic overdue materials, theft or attempted theft of materials, and/or other extreme cases.
X. Confidentiality The LMES Media Center respects patrons' confidentiality and protects media center use records accordingly. The goal is to permit users to act and read without fear of repercussion.