Library Philosophy
"The goal is to assist all students in becoming active and creative locators, evaluators, and users of information to solve problems and to satisfy their own curiosity."  --From Information Power prepared by the American Association of School Librarians

Library Hours
7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. daily
(Times may vary due to meetings, clubs, and events.  Please check ahead before staying after school!)

Learning Lab Hours
Need help with your homework/classwork? 
Monday/Wednesday: 3:10-3:40
Tuesday/Thursday: 7:15-7:40

Checkout Policy
● Students may check out two books at a time (exceptions are made for fast readers and special projects)
● Books check out for two weeks and may be renewed once
● Extensions on loans may be given by teacher permission
● Students may check out books during class visits or when they come on their own (with a pass or during break).
● Overdue notices are sent out monthly.
● We do not charge overdues at the middle school, but if students do not return their books promptly, they may lose checkout privileges!

Library Facts
The JMS Library Media Center collection has over 6,000 fiction and non-fiction books, 31 periodicals (magazines and newspapers), 250 videotapes, maps, globes, and six computer stations with access to Galileo (online databases).  The library is fully automated, using the Mandarin cataloging system that is available on computers throughout the school.  Students are encouraged to become self-sufficient in finding and using library materials!  

The JMS library collection is tied closely to the Georgia state curriculum.  Materials are selected through teacher, state, and book review recommendations, but we also try to encourage student recommendations in our collection.  From student surveys, we found that offering exciting, hot-off-the-press books encourages student reading beyond any other incentive!

Library Media/Technology Curriculum
Information Literacy Standards
JMS Library Media Center has adopted the Big6 information problem-solving model. All problem-solving and research includes strategizing in logical stages.  Please see the Comparison of Information Skills Process Models for a comparison of the most popular research models.

Information Literacy Checklist (created by GLMA - under possible revision)

American Association of School Librarians (AASL) Standards for the 21st Century Learner

ISTE's Technology Standards (NETS)

Other Programs

The JMS library also organizes the following programs.  Please see Ms. Pals if you are interested in participating!

• JMS Action News Team - a daily live and/or taped broadcast of school news and reporting
• JMS Academic Club - we currently participate in the PAGE Academic Bowl, GATA Bowls (2), regional tournaments (Athens, Lilburn), the KMO (Knowledge Master Open), and local competitions (JMS vs. JMS staff, JMS vs. JHS, etc.)

Lindy Pals, Library Media Specialist
lpals@jeffcityschools.org
Ms. Pals graduated from the University of GA with an undergraduate in English Literature and a master's degree in Instructional Technology.  Ms. Pals lives in Athens, but loves working in Jefferson.  She wishes her dog Kali could be the library mascot, but that position is already filled by a dragon.    

Ms. Pals serves as a district chair for the Georgia Library Media Association (GLMA) and she is also on the leadership committee for CLOC (Community Libraries Outreach and Collaboration).

LeeAnn Parks, Library Paraprofessional
lparks@jeffcityschools.org