Library and Media Resources
Each school should have a Library or media center that provides a collection of appropriate instructional materials selected and organized for use by students and teachers. The space selected for the Library should be Large enough to accommodate a class for special assignments.
Considerations for Setting Up a Library and Media Center Space
- Create a welcoming environment
- Provide a wide variety of texts - formats
- Connect to the curriculum
- Offer student-centered programming and makerspace activities. Visit Ultimate Makerspace Guide for Schools and Libraries
- Collaborate with outside organizations, such as sister schools and the Local Library
- Share advocacy resources to help students find their voice/passion
Library and Media Center Requirements
There is no North American Division requirement for the minimum number of titles. Check with your local or union conference offices of education to see if there are local requirements.
Reference Resources
- Bible - a variety of translations and formats
- Bible concordance
- Bible dictionary
- Bible information - a Seventh-day Adventist website that can help students find answers to questions about the Bible
Denominational Resources
- Conflict of the Ages Series by Ellen G. White
- Online resource for Ellen G. White's writings
- Ellen G. White® Estate: Home
- Family Home Christian Books
- Adventist Book Center
Minimum Guidelines for Library and Media Centers
| Category | Elementary |
| Print and Electronic Resources | |
| General Reference | Copyright dates within 10 years |
| Church Reference Material | Online or hardcopy materials |
| General Collection | To meet the needs of the school curriculum and student interest within the Seventh-day Adventist world view |
| Digital resources | Online subscription to pre-search or research database, eBook library, online reading program |
| Classification System | Cataloged using the Dewey Decimal System |
| Periodicals | Priority given to curricluum support and research interests within the Seventh-day Adventist world view |
| Technology | |
| Computer Workstations | 1 in the library or media center |
| Internet Access | Reliable Internet bandwidth to support school-wide usage with policies governing acceptable use and security |
| Accessibility | |
| Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC) | Access to electronic catalog and Electronic Circulation System on and off campus |
| Facility | Designated space for differentiated resources that foster recreational reading, research, and collaborative learning |
| External Community Resources | Utilizes information resources from the local public library |
| Management and Staffing | 1 staff/volunteer assigned to manage the space |
Organizing the Library and Media Centers
Organizing, classifying, processing, and purchasing materials is a challenging job! Check with your church members for names of retired librarians, church volunteers, and community resource people available to help. Your local conference office of education may also have names of individuals with experience or willingness to help organize and maintain your library.
Classification
The two most common library classification systems are the Library of Congress Classification System, used in most college and university libraries, and the Dewey Decimal Classification (DOC) System, used in school, public, and small libraries. The DOC was conceived by Melvil Dewey in 1873, was first published in 1876, and is continuously revised to keep pace with knowledge. It uses numbers to group by subject. The ten main classes are:
- 000 Computer science, information, and general works 100 Philosophy and psychology
- 200 Religion
- 300 Social sciences
- 400 Language
- 500 Science
- 600 Technology
- 700 Arts and recreation 800 Literature
- 900 History and geography
Collection Development
- Visit the Adventist Education ELA website for recommended resources
- Many library resource companies employ professional librarians who can provide on-demand custom book lists to meet your needs. This service is a significant time saver for librarians and library managers. See the recommended library collection development services and book.
- Book Reviews - Be sure to read reviews on books you have selected, especially new and popular titles, even when recommended by a professional librarian. See the list of trusted review sites.
Weeding Library and Media Center Collections FAQs
Q: What is weeding?
A: Weeding is the process of re-evaluating library resources and removing items that are worn out, have outdated or inaccurate information, or no Longer serve the students' Learning needs and reading interests. The weeding process is a planned, systematic, and thoughtful activity and a critical part of collection development. The WRDSB's Selection of Educational Resources guideline (2021) sets out expectations for weeding so that library collections remain current, equitable, relevant, and appealing.
Q: Why weed?
A: Weeding ensures that:
- The collection adheres to criteria in the WRDSB guideline document Selection of Educational Resources
- The collection is current, relevant, and appealing
- All areas of the collection have been evaluated for equity issues, bias, and stereotyping
- The collection appears refreshed, making it more appealing to developing readers and researchers, increasing circulation
- Current and reliable resources are more accessible to Locate
- Strengths and weaknesses of the collection and areas of need can be assessed (collection analysis)
Q: How do you decide what should be weeded?
A: School librarians frequently use the popular CREW Method as a framework for weeding. CREW stands for Continuous Review, Evaluation, and Weeding. The acronym MUSTIE sums up the main criteria used in the CREW Method:
| M | Misleading | Factually inaccurate; obsolete information; contains racial, cultural, or sexual stereotyping. |
| U | Ugly | Refers to the physical condition of the book, including outdated appearance, wear and tear, dirty or moldy, and beyond repair or not worth repairing. |
| S | Superseded | The resource has been superseded by a newer edition or a more current resource or information format. |
| T | Trivial | No discernable literary, scientific, or educational merit. Does not engage today's readers. Poorly written or presented. |
| I | Irrelevant | No Longer serves the needs or interests of the school community. |
| E | Elsewhere | Maintaining a useful collection on the topic isn't easy. More comprehensive collections are available from other sources. |
A small school library can be organized with shelves along the walls, a few cozy reading spots, and books grouped by Level or subject. A central table or tech corner adds flexibility, making the most of limited space.
Makerspace Resources
Q: What is a makerspace?
A: It is a place that provides hands-on, creative ways for students to research, design, and experiment. Students use various tools and technology, creating an environment that fuels engagement and innovation.