Evidence and artifacts
Resources represent the diversity appropriate for preparing students for global citizenship.
The ICCSD teacher librarians choose an area of the collection in which to find current book titles and develop a list of the "best of the best" to use for collection development. Multicultural Gender Free (MCGF) is one of the areas of focus for this process every year. This list is used to identify MCGF books for purchase each year. As a member of the Penn Multicultural Gender Fair (MCGF) Committee, the Penn teacher librarian created a list of reading and viewing materials for teachers to use in the classroom on Martin Luther King Day. This includes resources from the Penn Library and from online resources. |
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The library's budget is sufficient to sustain a current collection of digital and print resources as indicated by the age and quality of physical resources and the range and quality of digital resources.
The Penn library budget is $ 8,350. This funding is used to purchase books, books on tape, DVDs, AV supplies, and equipment that is not otherwise provided for by the ICCSD. The Penn library has quality fiction, nonfiction, and reference books, magazines, local newspapers, art prints, videotapes, DVDs, novel units, leveled books, books on tape, big books, and kits that support teaching and learning for elementary students. There are currently 21,223 materials in the Penn Library collection, with an average age of 2000. Our goal is to have an average age of no more than 12 years old, but we are working towards this goal by weeding a few sections of the library each year. Through the Penn Library website we also provide access to online resources. Students may access the Penn Library website from school or from home to find links to online resources provided by the Iowa Area Educational Agencies (AEAs), the library catalog, and educational games and other online resources appropriate for elementary students. |
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The facilities are accessible to students and staff throughout the school day, and before and after school.
The Penn Library is available for student use before and after school with teacher and/or parent permission. |
Circulation policies facilitate and encourage use of library resources.
Students check out materials for one week and may renew the materials as many times as they want, unless someone else has requested the item. Kindergarten students check out one library book at the beginning of the year, and later in the year two books each week. Other students may check out three books each week. When students are working on any special projects they may check out additional books from the library. There is no charge for overdue books. Students who have had overdue books for three weeks or more may check out books to keep in their classroom, but not to take home. Primary students are invited to participate in the Early Literacy Library program. Early Literacy Library books are brought home each day in a zip-lock bag to be read with a parent. Parents are asked the books that the child has read with the parent. After the book has been read at home it is returned to the library the next day and the student then checks out a new Literacy Library book. |
A formal, board-approved selection policy ensures intellectual access to diverse perspectives.
The ICCSD School Board has adopted a policy related to multicultural/gender fair education.
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Policies and procedures have been adopted regarding confidentiality of library records and ethical use of information. These policies are regularly reviewed.
The ICCSD School Board has adopted policies related to access to library records, selection of materials, reconsideration of materials, and the use of information resources. ICCSD Board Policies:
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The facilities are attractive and support a variety of learning experiences that engage students in information access via multiple formats.
A grant from Lowe's and support from the Penn PTO allowed us to renovate the library last year. We purchased new bookshelves, tables, chairs, two loveseats, pictures, and hired a local artist to paint quotes from children's books on the walls. The renovation included making space on one wall so that a multimedia projector and interactive SMART Board could be mounted, creating a better space for the large group area. Before the renovation, if a class was meeting in the library it wasn't possible for students to check out books. We were able to create zones for different activities, such as the checkout desk, Story Area, book stacks, large group area, student workstations, and a quiet area for reading or working with a small group. Now we are able to have multiple activities taking place at the same time. A variety of formats support student learning, including books, computers with online access, CDs, DVDs, and multi-format kits. The interactive whiteboard is used often to increase student engagement. |
The library and its staff exhibit a welcoming atmosphere for students and staff.
New paint, new furniture and bookshelves, new carpet, and quotes from children's books were used to spruce up the library. It is now an inviting space that encourages students to linger. Library staff work to make the library feel like a welcoming place. |