Media Center
GME Media Center
The George Marks Media Center offers print and online resources for our learning community. Throughout the school year, information literacy and digital citizenship is taught via technology and Volusia County District online resources. The Media Center supports library skills and elementary curriculum, and students have access to a collection that continues to develop and grow. Most of all, we wish to encourage the love of reading and information literacy for all of our wonderful students.
The media center is also host to activities like Scholastic book fairs, digital author visits, PTA and SAC meetings, PTA events and multiple reading incentive programs.
The George Marks media center will be featuring multiple events this school year, including both in-person and digital events with community members and authors. See below for details.
- Digital Author Chats with SSYRA award-winning authors
- Scholastic book fairs in October and March
- Celebrate Literacy Week
- SSYRA reading reward parties
Contact Colleen Adkins, the Media Specialist, for any additional information or questions at cadkins@volusia.k12.fl.us.
SSYRA Program
The Sunshine State Young Readers Award Program is a statewide motivational reading incentive activity. At George Marks, students in grades 3-5 are awarded a charm for each title they read, and additional rewards are presented at year's end for students who read multiple titles. Visit the FAME website for more information about the titles.
SSYRA JR Program
The SSYRA JR program began several years ago for students in grades K-2. GME students are invited to participate by reading the selected titles, taking Reading Counts quizzes, and earning sticker books. More information can be found on the FAME website.
Library Media Access for School and Classroom Libraries
The purpose of the school library media center is to encourage the love of reading and support the school community and curriculum goals through self-selected reading materials. The media specialist collaborates with families and teachers to support students in the selection of reading materials that meet their reading interests.
Parents and guardians have the right to limit their child’s access to materials in the school library and classroom library. The library media access level a parent/guardian selects for their student will be in effect for the student’s academic career in Volusia County Schools. Changes may be made at any time by completing the School and Classroom Library Access Form on the Parent Portal.
By default, all students have standard access to age/grade appropriate materials in the school and classroom library.
Definitions of Access
Standard Access- A student has access to age/grade appropriate materials in the school library and their classroom libraries.
Unlimited Access: A student has full access to the materials in Volusia County Schools’ libraries and classroom libraries including access to any titles that require parent permission. This includes permission for the student to check out Young Adult (YA) titles when the student is in middle school.
Restricted Access: A student is permitted access to materials in Volusia County Schools’ libraries and classroom libraries except for specific titles as designated by their parent/guardian. The parent/guardian is responsible for restricting specific materials in their child’s school library or classroom libraries by completing the School and Classroom Library Access Form on the Parent Portal.
School Card Catalog (Search for Book)
Library Media Center Collection Development
Each school library media collection is developed in accordance with Volusia County School Board Policy 320 and Florida Statute 1006.28.
Each book made available to students through a school district library media center or included in a recommended or assigned school or grade-level reading list must be selected by a school district employee who holds a valid educational media specialist certificate, regardless of whether the book is purchased, donated, or otherwise made available to students.
2. Each district school board shall adopt procedures for developing library media center collections and post the procedures on the website for each school within the district. The procedures must:
a. Require that book selections meet the criteria in s. 1006.40(3)(d).
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Free of pornography and material prohibited under s. 847.012.
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Suited to student needs and their ability to comprehend the material presented.
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Appropriate for the grade level and age group for which the materials are used or made available.
b. Require consultation of reputable, professionally recognized reviewing periodicals and school community stakeholders.
c. Provide for library media center collections based on reader interest, support of state academic standards and aligned curriculum, and the academic needs of students and faculty.
d. Provide for the regular removal or discontinuance of books based on, at a minimum, physical condition, rate of recent circulation, alignment to state academic standards and relevancy to curriculum, out-of-date content, and required removal pursuant to subparagraph (a)2.
Selection Process
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The media specialist develops a recommended list of books that meet the needs of the school per the collection development guidelines.
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The media specialist provides the school media advisory committee with professional reviews of each book prior to meeting.
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The school media advisory committee meets to review and approve the list. The committee must come to a consensus on approvals. If the committee is unable to come to a consensus, the principal along with the media specialist is responsible for the final decision.
Challenged Materials:
Volusia County School Board Policy 320 establishes the procedures for the review of complaints concerning media materials.