ALL MEDIA  -  ALL THE TIME!

The media center is operating on a flexible schedule this year, rather than being part of the related arts rotation.  This does not mean that children will not "have media" this year!  Instead children can have media as often as they want or need.   The media center will be open 7:30-3:30 every school day.

Students may come any time during the day from 7:30 until 2:30 to check out books, read magazines, do research, take AR quizzes, or to complete assignments. Students must be accompanied by a parent after 2:30.

Media center time will now be a vital part of each child's instructional time.  Because teachers will be coming with their students, the media specialist and the teacher can plan together to make the media center an extension of the classroom.

Mrs. Jennifer Burley is the BHE media specialist.  She has taught children's literature at USC and at Appalachian State University and was a literature consultant for the ETV 15-program series "Jump Over the Moon: Sharing Literature with Young Children."

 Before coming to Blythewood in 1984, Mrs. Burley was a school library media specialist in Charlotte, North Carolina and in Sumter, South Carolina.

 Mrs. Burley has a bachelor's and a master's degree from the University of South Carolina. She is also a NASCAR fan (Jeff Gordon) and an Atlanta Braves fan.  One of her hobbies is collecting giraffes. 

Mrs. Burley has two grandchildren - Caleb (born in 2005) and Camryn (born in 2006).  They already have a good start on their personal libraries!

Mrs. Nancy Utlak is the media center assistant. She came to South Carolina in 1999 from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  Her husband was transferred here by his employer, Westinghouse.  Her son Stephen was part of the first graduating class at Blythewood High School.  He is a student at Clemson University. 

Mrs. Utlak's family also includes their Cairn terrier, Nikki, who came to them from a Cairn Rescue organization.

Mrs. Utlak says Pittsburgh is home, but her family has come to enjoy being part of the Blythewood community.

• First graders and kindergarten students may borrow one book at a time

• Students in grades two through five may borrow two books.

• Overdue books may result in a student’s loss of check out privileges until the overdue books are returned. We do not charge fines for overdue books.

• Lost and severely damaged books result in loss of check out privileges until payment for a replacement copy is made. The cost is $15.00 to cover the purchase of a new book and to pay for the processing necessary to make it a part of our automated circulation system.

Accelerated Reader Wall

Add names and stars to the AR mural in the long hall as students earn points.  The media specialist will prepare the list each Thursday afternoon for Friday updates.

Book Shelving

      On a typical day, over 200 books are checked out and another 200 returned.  Keeping books shelved in their proper places is a big job and is very important.

      Fiction and Picture Books - Alphabetical by author's last name

      Biographies - Alphabetical by last name of person the book is about

Nonfiction - Numerical order to keep books on the same subject together

Repairs

 An ongoing project is the replacement of worn AR labels on our books.  This task involves printing the book level and points on a new label, removing the old label, attaching the new label and covering it with an adhesive protector.

 Campbell's Soup Labels

 Before we can submit our Campbell's soup labels for redemption, they must be cut (to show only the front of the label), counted, and tied together.  This is one of our jobs that can be done at home.

 Book Fairs

The media center holds two book fairs each year, in December and April. Volunteers are needed to set up the fair, supervise classes as they shop and collect money from shoppers.

Bethel-Hanberry uses the Accelerated Reader reading management program. AR is a computer program that tests students’ reading comprehension. Students in grades 1-5 read selected books that have corresponding reading tests. After reading the books, the students can access the Accelerated Reader program from their classroom computers or computer terminals in the media center.  5 or 10 multiple choice questions test how well students understand what they have read and challenge them to read carefully and thoughtfully.

If students are successful on their tests, they are awarded "points." A mural in the long hallway recognizes students when they earn 10 AR points by displaying the student's name on the tail of a kite.  Each time 25 points are earned, a red star is added to the kite.  At the 100 point levels, the students are presented with  certificates on the school morning news program.