The Media Center is to be used to broaden a student’s base of knowledge, to supplement classroom activities, to provide research assistance, and to provide media and material support.  The Media Center will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday when school is in session. Students may individually use the Media Center before and after school and at break.  Classes may use the Media Center during a class period, providing prior scheduling has been arranged with the media specialist.  Teachers are encouraged to schedule the Media Center for classes.

The Media Center provides Internet access to as many as 30 students simultaneously through the use of 12 desktop computers networked via LAN and 21 laptop computers that have mobile wireless access. All computers have print capability.

Use of the Internet by individual students in the Media Center is restricted to those students who have an Internet User Agreement and Parent Permission Form that has been signed and dated by the student and parent/guardian. These are available throughout the school year from homeroom teachers and should be signed and returned to the Media Center, where they are kept on file. The Pickens High School Media Center complies with CIPA – Children’s Internet Protection Act – requirements.

The Media Center houses and will be responsible for most audio-visual equipment.  Teachers wishing to use such equipment should see the media specialist. There is also a wide selection of curriculum-related materials available in various media formats for teachers to check out and use.

Teachers and students should be constantly aware of the great number of contemporary publications available in the Media Center, including daily newspapers. In addition, Media Center staff can assist students and faculty in locating appropriate web-based resources which may facilitate research, current events, curriculum instruction and other instructional objectives.

Individual students will be permitted to go to the Media Center during class hours only with an official Hall Pass signed by the supervising teacher.  The time and date will also be on the pass.  Upon entering the Media Center, the student should immediately take the pass to the Circulation Desk and sign in on the clip board.  This pass will be signed and timed by the media specialist or paraprofessional.

Rowdiness or unnecessary noise will not be permitted in the Media Center. Misuse or abuse of any of the facilities or equipment will not be tolerated. Students who are noncompliant will be asked to return to the classroom and may face disciplinary action. Teachers should send no more than two students per period to the Media Center, except with prior approval.  Students who are sent to the Media Center each period must report back to the classroom before the period ends.

There is a charge of 5 cents for each black-and-white page and a charge of 25 cents for each color page obtained from the Media Center printer. There is also a 10-cent charge for each page copied on the Media Center copy machine.

Any books and materials leaving the Media Center should be checked out by the media specialist or paraprofessional. There is no limit on the number of books a student may check out. The loan period for books is two weeks. Students may renew the loan of a book only once.

Fines will be assessed for any overdue books at the rate of five cents per day, not to exceed the cost of the book. Notices are sent to the homeroom teachers on a regular basis. Students are expected to pay the replacement cost for any lost or damaged book. Any student who has outstanding fines or book costs at the end of the year will be referred to the administration.  Grade cards, registration, and transcripts will be held until any outstanding Media Center obligations are paid.

Sharon Rasco, Media Specialist sharonrasco@pickens.k12.ga.us	Instructional Technologist PHS Instructional Technology
Joyce Carr, Media Center Para-Professional joycecarr@pickens.k12.ga.us
InfoCentre Online Catalog