Education Partners - July 2, 2009

For the first time ever, District 202 summer school students are able to visit their school media center and check out books like they would do during the regular school year.

The idea came to Linda Casey, the district\'s director of instructional technology and media, about five years ago when she was then the director of summer school.

"I don\'t like to see books just sitting on shelves," Casey said. "They always look so lonely, and need to be read."

Now those books are being read year-round in the media centers of schools that are hosting summer school classes.

The media centers are open one day a week on a rotational basis. On Monday, the media center is open at Drauden Point Middle School, on Tuesday it is open at Ridge Elementary School, on Wednesday at Central Elementary School, on Thursday at Eagle Pointe Elementary School and on Friday at Lakewood Falls Elementary School.

Teachers from Bonnie McBeth Learning Center check out books for their students on Wednesdays, when the media center is open at Central Elementary School.

Media Specialist Sarah Gilbert and Media Clerk Machelle Green manage the media centers during summer school. Gilbert said the change is good for both students and staff.

"Staff is really enjoying the fact that the media center is open," Gilbert said. "They have access to resources to enrich their summer school curriculum."

The process for visiting the media center is much like how it would be during the school year. Each class comes down on the day the media center is open at their particular school and visits for 20 to 25 minutes. During that time, students each select one book and check it out. Teachers also use the allotted time in the media center to check out some books for their class.

"Having the media centers open keeps kids reading throughout the summer, promotes literacy and exposes them to new books," Gilbert said.

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