L I B R A R Y M E D I A C E N T E R 3 - Y E A R P L A N

Hilltop High School Library Media Center

Collection Development, Technology, and Services

to Maximize Student Achievement

1998-2001 Action Plan

School Description

Hilltop High School, Chula Vista, California, is a four-year comprehensive high school located in the central section of Chula Vista, a suburban community that lies between San Diego and the Mexican border. Hilltop is a lower/middle income area undergoing rejuvenation with single family dwellings as well as condominiums and apartments. Hilltop High’s student population is over 1,900 students on the campus with a staff of 93 including teachers, a library media teacher, counselors, and administrators and 68 classrooms. We have earned a well-deserved reputation in academic and extra-curricular programs, including a 1996 California Distinguished School Commendation and a 1997-98 National Blue Ribbon Nominee Commendation. College rates are high at 80%, with 30% of students going to four-year, and 50% going to two-year colleges.

From 1987 - 1998, enrollment increased more than 31% from 1491 to 1952 students. In three years (1998-2002), the projected student enrollment will increase more than 20% to 2352. Parents and staff members focus on encouraging all students to maximize their potential. The school seeks to provide all students, including mainstream, GATE, students with learning disabilities and English Learners, with the resources and educational opportunities necessary to compete in the 21st Century. Special education and resource students comprise 7.7% of the total student body; the number of identified at-risk students increases annually. California’s increasing diversity is also reflected in our changing demographics. Hilltop High School’s student population is diverse in culture, language, and socio-economic status. Our student body is 66% ethnic minority with the largest percentage (58%) of Hispanic background. Thirty-nine percent have a home language other than English; 8% of students are Limited English Proficient (LEP) and 2% are Non-English Proficient (NEP). The number of students on the Free and Reduced Lunch program has increased 8% over the last four years from 21% to 29%. Eight percent of our families are on Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. There are 68 classrooms and the campus is used seven days a week, day and night by adult education, ROP, athletic teams, and community groups.

In October 1998, Hilltop High School was selected as one of six San Diego county schools to receive Digital High School Funding. The Library Media Teacher coordinates this grant as well as the SB1510 School-Based Education Technology Grant awarded in July 1998. By June 1999, 100% of the campus will be networked; presently 10% of the site is connected. The Hilltop High School Technology programs and grants are aligned directly with our School Technology Plan, School-Based Coordinated Plan, state standards, the District Master Plan, Technology Master Plan, WASC school-wide Action Plans, and restructuring and education reform efforts.

Library Media Center Program Description

Vision

We, the students and staff members at Hilltop High School, envision a large library media center that is staffed by a credentialed librarian and a number of library assistants and technicians to assist students and teachers in locating and using information resources effectively. Resources, including various technologies, print and nonprint, and in languages to meet student needs, are available at different interest and ability levels across the curriculum. Students access a rich selection of resources that help them achieve the academic standards. The library media center is an activity-oriented learning environment, with space, furniture, equipment, and a rich variety and increasing quantity of resources available for researching, browsing, reading, listening, viewing, and computing. The decor is aesthetically pleasing and inviting, carrying a visual message that welcomes students, staff, and community members. Parents and community members serve as volunteers, supporters of the school library media center, and members of committees at the school. Effective library media center programs are planned, organized, and evaluated on the basis of the goal that all students and staff will become effective users of information and ideas, motivated readers, and lifelong learners.

Mission and Goals

The Mission of the Hilltop High Library Media Center Program is to ensure that students and staff are effective users of ideas and information. The Goals are:

1. To provide intellectual access to information through learning activities that are integrated into the curriculum and that help all students achieve information literacy by developing effective cognitive strategies for selecting, retrieving, analyzing, evaluating, synthesizing, creating, and communicating information in all formats and in all content areas of the curriculum.

2. To provide physical access to information through
(a) a carefully selected and systematically organized collection of diverse learning resources that reflect a wide range of subjects, levels of difficulty, and formats; and
(b) a systematic procedure for acquiring information and materials from outside the library media center and the school through such mechanisms as electronic networks, interlibrary loan, and cooperative agreements with other information agencies; and instruction in using a range of equipment for accessing local and remote information in any format.
(c) a facility with ample space and equipment staffed by skilled clerical and technical personnel and flexibility in scope and scheduling to provide full access to information and learning resources.

3. To provide learning experiences that encourage students and others to become discriminating consumers and skilled creators of information through comprehensive instruction related to the full range of communications media and technology.

4. To provide leadership, collaboration, and assistance to teachers and others in applying principles of instructional designed to the use of instructional and information technology for learning.

5. To provide resources and activities that contribute to lifelong learning while accommodating a wide range of differences in teaching and learning styles, methods, interests, and capabilities.

6. To provide a program that functions as the information center of the school, both through offering a locus for integrated and interdisciplinary learning activities within the school and through offering access to a full range of information for learning beyond this locus.

7. To provide resources and activities for learning that represent a diversity of experiences, opinions, and social and cultural perspectives and to support the concept that intellectual freedom and access to information are prerequisite to effective and responsible citizenship in a democracy.

Motto

The Motto of the Hilltop High Library Media Center is: Learning through books, media, and technology.

Facility

The library media center is housed in a small centrally located facility in front of the school. It consists of a library media center that accommodates 50-55 students comfortably ? one class and additional students from other classes - and ten student computer workstations, five administrative computer workstations, and a large workroom/storage area for instructional materials. More than 5,500 student and teacher visits are made to the library media center per month. The library media center is open eight hours per day. The library media center staff includes a full time credentialed library media teacher and a full time library assistant. Every day after school, the library media center, staffed by the library assistant and the student program facilitator, is open for an additional hour for tutoring and services for students and teachers. The library media teacher and teachers work collaboratively in curriculum planning and instruction. The library media center is available throughout the school day for all students and teachers.

During 1997-98 school year, the library media center was renovated adding electrical/data infrastructure for ten state-of-the-art computers and printers in the student technology area. Administrative work areas and computers were also added, updating automated circulation, textbook, and electronic catalog services. Since fall 1997, the library’s electronic catalog is available on four student computers. The library media center web page is available on ten student computers for students and teachers and includes web links relevant to assignments.

As of October 1998, there are 18,500 learning resources in the library media center, (48% of the American Library Association’s strong recommendation of 20 resources per student/staff). Presently, the library media center has 9.7 learning resources per student. Between 1996-98, more than 1500 items were added to the library media center collection, however, with the rapidly increasing student population, the ratio of resources per student continues to decrease. The average age of science books (500s) is 20 years; the average age of reference books is 15 years; 10 years for fiction.

Technology

For instruction, the library media teacher instructs students and teaches daily about available print and non-print learning resources, use of the electronic catalog, and Internet searches relevant to specific assignments. Magazine and newspaper web subscription (Electric Library and Social Issues Resources Series) and a college search web subscription (College View), purchased with library and categorical funding, enables students and staff to access these databases at school. The ten computers have access to the Internet, web subscriptions, CD resources, and word processing for research and presentations. Informal surveys conducted during spring 1998 indicate student and teacher frustration with the library media center computers, citing lack of equipment and technical obstacles as major deterrents to gathering research and creating presentations.

Increasing the integration of technology into the curriculum is seen as a means to enhance academic performance and postsecondary success in college and the work place. Increasing the use of technology is a means for introducing students to a real world educational and work atmosphere that stimulates and motivates student learning.

For administration and management, the library media center inventory and circulation have been computerized since 1987. During the past eleven years, upgraded management software and hardware have been purchased. All library instructional resources are searchable through networked computers in the library media center. Today, 65 percent of materials are catalogued as detailed MARC records following American Library Association guidelines, enabling students and teachers to search for resource information by keyword, author, title, or subject. The library media teacher modifies and edits brief catalog records. The library assistant provides efficient operation of the system and services to students and teachers. Additional software and hardware are needed to expedite cataloging, provide additional requested curriculum-Internet searches for teachers, and link the electronic catalog and web page to all classrooms. Additional staffing is needed to meet the learning and information needs of students and teachers.

Funding

School library media services have undergone a radical change in emphasis. With the focus of school library media programs moving from resources to students to creating a community of lifelong learners, funds to meet the changing needs of the library media center come from a variety of sources:

1998-99 Funding Sources	Purpose	Amount
Annual School Site Allocation	Base Allocation - Literature and research resources; videos; newspaper, magazine, and College View web subscriptions; specialized materials; technical support service contracts; motivational reading incentives; and software licenses and upgrades.	$9,000
California Public School Library Act of 1998 and AB862; estimated funding is based on 1952 students per CBEDS 1998 at $28 per student.	Supplemental - Funds may be expended for library resources to bring the collection up to the ALA standard of 20 items per student. Board approval of the district plan for library media centers is required. Funds for this school year are expected to be available in Spring 1999 with additional funds annually. $54,656	$54,656
Hilltop High Friends of the Library	Supplemental - Funds provided through PTSA FOL membership drive and direct donations to the library media teachers; annual donations vary; funds provide videos, special resources requested by teachers, and literature and research books.	$450
Other	Supplemental - In the past, SUHSD Collection Development Program, categorical, FLAGS, California Public School Library Protection Fund Grant, and SUHSD Mini-Grant Program provided collection development funds. SUHSD Technology Grant provided renovation funds and upgraded hardware and software. DHS funds will add additional hardware, software, and infrastructure.	Amount varies from year to year and with each program or grant.

1998-2001 Action Plan

The three-year action plan is designed to expand the collection, increase access to technology resources, and enhance services in the Hilltop High School library media center in accordance with the District Library Media Program Master Plan. The library media teacher in collaboration with the principal and the Director of Curriculum and Language Acquisition will monitor and evaluate the action plan.

1998-99

Needs	Goal	Action	Staff Responsible	Estimated % of budget
Materials to support language arts, social sciences, science, and school to career.	Goal 2a	Review and purchase materials to support research, interdisciplinary activities, and reading	Library media teacher, department chairs, teachers	30%
Technology to access information resources beyond the library walls to support the language arts, social sciences, and science, and school to career.	Goal 2b	Goal 2b Review and purchase web subscriptions, hardware, and software.	Library media teacher, SUHSD Director of Technology	30%
Resources and experiences which promote critical thinking, reading enjoyment, and life-long learning.	Goal 5	Review and purchase materials and incentives for Senior Projects, free reading, thematic reading, and the California Young Reader Medal programs.	Library media teacher, Department Chairs, teachers	20%
Effective searching strategy tools for students using print, non-print, and Internet.	Goal 2, 6	Review and purchase materials and enhance electronic catalog.	Library Media Teacher, Department Chairs, teachers	5%
Library infrastructure, hardware, and software necessary to complete above Needs; train library personnel as needed; additional technical support staff; enlarge the library media center to accommodate more resources, users, and technology.	Goal 2abc, 3, 7	Review and purchase hardware and software to add 10 student workstations, CD-ROM tower, security computer, projection unit, and other technology; attend training workshops. Post and hire a textbook clerk. Post and hire a campus technology technician. Enlarge the library media center.	Library media teacher, library assistant, Director of Technology, DHS Technology Facilitator, Director of Human Resources, Director of Planning, DHS and District/Bond funds	15% Note: Other funding sources will be used to meet needs.
1998-99 Total				100%

1999-2000

Needs	Goal	Action	Staff Responsible	Estimated % of budget
Materials to support math, fine arts, and foreign languages while continuing to support Year I curricula.	Goal 2a	Review and purchase materials to support research, interdisciplinary activities, and reading.	Library media teacher, department chairs, teachers	30%
Effective searching strategy tools for students using print, non-print, and the Internet.	Goal 1, 2, 6	Provide intellectual access; encourage students and others to become discriminating consumers and skilled users of information through comprehensive instruction; provide program of integrated activities.	Library media teacher	30%
Resources and experiences which promote critical thinking, reading enjoyment, and life-long learning.	Goal 5	Review and purchase materials and incentives for free reading, thematic reading, and the California Young Reader Medal program.	Library media teacher, Department Chairs, teachers	20%
Infrastructure necessary to complete above Needs; train library personnel as needed.	Goal 2abc, 3, 7	Analyze needs, review and purchase hardware and software, and train staff.	Library media teacher, library assistant, DHS Technican	20%
1999-2000 Total				100%

2000-2001

Needs	Goal	Action	Staff Responsible	Estimated % of budget
Materials to support all other curricular areas while continuing to support Year 1 and Year 2 curricula.	Goal 2a	Review and purchase materials to support research, interdisciplinary activities, and reading.	Library media teacher, department chairs, teachers	40%
Effective searching strategy tools for students using print, non-print, including Internet.	Goal 1, 2, 6	Provide intellectual access; encourage students and others to become discriminating consumers and skilled users of information through comprehensive instruction; provide program of integrated activities.	Library media teacher	30%
Provide resources for information, evaluating, synthesis, and evaluation strategies for teachers and others.	Goal 4	Provide leadership, collaboration and assistance to teachers and others in applying sound principles of systems design for instructional and information technology.	Library media teacher, Consultants, Peer Technology Leaders (DHS grant)	10%
Infrastructure necessary to complete above Needs; train library personnel as needed.	Goal 2abc, 3, 7	Analyze needs, review and purchase hardware and software, and train staff.	Library media teacher, library assistant, DHS Technician	20%
2000-2001 Total				100%

References

The District Library Media Program Master Plan and the Hilltop High School Collection Development, Technology, and Services 1998-2001 Action Plan are formulated according to national and state standards for effective school library media programs. The plan provides equal access to and opportunity for participation in high quality curricular activities for all students.

Check It Out: Assessing School Library Media Program: A Guide for School District Education Policy and Implementation Teams. Sacramento, CA: California Department of Education, 1998.

Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning. Chicago, IL: American Library Association, 1998.

Information Literacy Standards for Student Learning. Chicago, IL: American Library Association, 1998.

Lisa Politzer, Library Media Teacher, Torrey Pines High School, for providing guidance and a model for developing a site plan for the library media center.