Policies & Multimedia

["Beatrice C. Brittain" <bbrittai@PEN.K12.VA.US>]

I am opening a new middle school library this fall and am
looking for some suggestions-

I have purchased over 100 recorded books, some with
accompanying books, some without.  These are to be used in a
variety of ways (to accompany reading of classroom novels, for
use in an at-risk student reading program, and I plan to have
some individual listening stations set up so that students can
have a book/tape on reserve and can come into the library to
listen to it).  I have not yet decided whether to make the
recorded books available for check out to students.  Any
suggestions or experience with this?  Also, for the first time
I will be using a security system on all books and AV
(CheckPoint).  Any suggestions from those of you with security
systems as to where to place the target on the tapes that come
with a book in a plastic bag?

The second question deals with periodicals.  The two libraries
with which I have been associated in the past did not allow
student check out of periodicals - since they are so easily
lost.  I know that other schools in our county permit this and
I am interested in knowing how this has worked out for those of
you have done this.  How do you handle check out of the
periodicals?  At my last school we had a circulation card for
each periodical - only teachers could check them out and did so
by signing their name, the date, and the issue date or volume
of the periodical.

The last technology is technology related.  With the exception
of the circulation system, Winnwbago on an IBM, my experience
with computers (until 3 months ago) has been with MACS.  My new
school will be completely DOS - 486's (DX, I think) with a
Windows environment.I have become fairly comfortable with Word
Perfect however I know nothing about Multimedia on a DOS
machine.  I want to set up one multimedia cart with computer,
monitor, laser and VCR.  I'd like to purchase software that
would enable teachers to scan materials, import and edit
digital photos, videos and sound, etc.  Is there anyone out
there that has done that successfully and can recommend -
   specific software programs
   hardware requirements
   exactly how to set up everything

Look forward to hearing from you - and welcome any ideas that you
might feel would be helpful in starting out the new year in a
new school.  Obviously I'm looking forward to it and am very
excited.

                    Bea Brittain

*******************************************
Bea Brittain
Media Specialist, H.H. Poole Middle School (under construction)
1729 Jefferson David Highway (temporary)
Stafford, VA 22554
(703) 659-3141 (ext.3031)
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bbrittai@pen.k12.va.us