SUNSHINE STATE YOUNG READERS AWARD - The Sunshine State Young Reader's Award Program is a statewide reading motivation program for students in grades 3-8. The program, cosponsored by the School Library Media Services Office of the Department of Education and the Florida Association for Media in Education (FAME), began in 1983. The purpose of the SSYRA Program is to encourage students to read independently for personal satisfaction, based on interest rather than reading level.

FLORIDA READERS AWARD - Sunshine State books are selected for their wide appeal, literary value, varied genres, curriculum connections, and/or multicultural representation. Students are encouraged to read books that are above, on, and below their tested reading level in order to improve their reading fluency. Students who read at least three of the fifteen nominated books are eligible to vote for a favorite and attend a celebration in the spring of the year. Students who read all 15 have their names engraved on a perpetual trophy housed in the media center. They are invited to participate in a Battle of the Books at the close of the program. Annotated booklists may be found at myssyra.org.

All students in kindergarten through second grade participate in the Children's Book Award sponsored by the Florida REading Association. The students are read all eight nominated titles and they are invited to vote for their favorite in the spring. In order for a book to be considered for the Children's Book Award is must have broad appeal for the K-2 population, be published within the last five years and be currently in print, and lastly, be available in english. The nominated titles can be found at www.flreads.org.

ACCELERATED READER - Accelerated Reader is a program which pairs books with a computer based comprehension test. It is utilyzed for reading motivation and intended to make the selection of books easier for the student. Students take a computerized test (STAR) and their teacher assigns a color or level based on their performance. As they read books and earn points for passing tests, students may move on to the next color. It is a great tool for goal setting! Students are able to take tests in the media center before school, or from any networked computer through out the day. They are not able to take tests from their home computers. Please use the destiny catalog to see if a particular book has a corresponding test. Tests are purchased throughout the year as new books are entered into the library.

READING ACROSS BROWARD - Reading Across Broward is a reading motivation program sponsored by our district. The program runs from April 1st through March 31st of the subsequent year. Students are to log their books on a record sheet. There are three levels of recognition, silver award, gold award and superintendent's award. Primary students are required to read 100 picture books to earn the highest level of award, and intermediate students are required to read 50 chapter books to achieve the superintendent's level. Any studet who turns in a reading log at the end of March is invited to march in the literacy parade in April. Students dress as literary characters and march around the school. Superintendent levels are awarded a different lapel pin for each grade.

BOOK-IT - Pizza Hut provides a personal pan pizza for students who meet their reading goals. The program is handled by the classroom teacher and runs from October to April.

PROCEDURES - All materials MUST be checked out of the media center. This practice makes it easier to locate materials when they are needed by teachers and students. All materials may be searched using SAVVYCat, Broward School's online card catalog. Our school check-out policy is as follows:

Pre-Kindergarten:
One book at a time
Kindergarten-Grade 1
One book at a time
Grade 2-5:
Two books at a time

When more resources are needed for projects or reports, materials will be checked out to the classroom teacher.

FACULTY - Unlimited books and audiovisual materials except for reserved materials. Faculty circulation period is for 30 days and may be renewed if materials are not reserved.

STAFF - Ten books at a time. One audiovisual material at a time. Staff circulation period is for 30 days and may be renewed if materials are not reserved.

PARENT/COMMUNITY - Two books at a time. Circulation period is for 1 week.

STUDENTS - Students may borrow all Fiction and Non-Fiction books except for Teacher Resources. Student circulation period is 10 days with renewals possible if materials are not reserved. Reference collections are limited to in-school use only.

RESERVING MATERIALS - To reserve materials for student use, please contact your media specialist. The reserved materials will be placed on a reserve shelf for use.

REQUESTING MATERIALS - For teachers who wish to request materials for their classroom, please contact your media specialist. The materials will be checked out to the classroom teacher.