The Media Center is where everyone reads, writes, and researches to learn.

The Media Center at the Union Academy Lower School is the “heart of the school.”  The overall objective of the library and information skills program is to help the students in grades K-4 make satisfying choices of media for information, for entertainment, and for relaxation and enjoyment.  By using a sequential program, the students learn about the types of information that are available to them.  Each child learns the skills to locate the materials that they want and need.  Each child also develops the ability to evaluate, select, and interpret these materials.

These library and information skills are integrated into the curriculum of each grade level through joint planning between the media specialist and the classroom teacher.

MEDIA – Kindergarten

In the Kindergarten year the children learn that the materials in the library media-center have a specific order and that it is important to keep these materials in order so that we can locate what we need to find easily.  Each child is allowed to borrow a book from the library media center.  The media specialist assists the kindergartner in finding an appropriate book, in knowing how to take care of it, and in knowing when to return it so that others may have a turn to use it.  Listening and viewing skills are developed by listening to and viewing stories in a variety of media and developing the ability to respond.  Appreciation of literature is developed by looking at many storybooks and picture books and discussing favorite books and main characters.

MEDIA – First Grade

First grade students review the location skills that were introduced in Kindergarten. The difference between fiction and nonfiction materials is explained and the students are allowed to use both of these types of materials.  Periodicals or magazines are introduced and more audiovisual presentations are part of the experience.  The parts of a book are identified and the title, author, and illustrator are discussed.  Storytelling is expanded and the students are encouraged to participate in more discussion following the story.  The appreciation of literature is further developed by enabling the student to draw the point of the story into his/her own experience. 

MEDIA – Second Grade

When the students are in second grade they are taught to locate a book in the easy section by the author’s last name, knowing that the spine label tells where the book is placed on the shelf.  He/she is introduced to the fact that books on specific subjects may be located in the nonfiction section of the library media center.  These students become more proficient at determining the difference between fiction and nonfiction.  They enjoy locating books shelved in the easy collection independently.  They locate books in the fiction collection with assistance.  They also locate nonfiction materials on an assigned topic with assistance.

The Reference Collection is located by the students who then begin to practice finding a topic in an encyclopedia with assistance.  These students also realize that the dictionaries are located in the reference section.  They practice using alphabetical order and guide words in dictionary exercises.

Second grade students become very familiar with the primary periodicals and are aware of the other materials located in the library media center.  Audiovisual presentations continue to be a part of the library experience. 

Each pupil is encouraged to choose books on his/her reading level and on subjects of interest and personal preference.  These students are exposed to and begin to really understand that there are various forms of literature.  They review the parts of a book and in addition to identifying the title, author, and illustrator, can now begin to identify the publisher, place of publication, and the date of publication.   The listening and viewing skills of second graders is further developed.  They participate in activities to recall, summarize, and paraphrase what is listened to and viewed.  As they listen to  and read the various types of literature, they become more expert at drawing the point of the story into their own experience.

MEDIA – Third Grade

The third grade students begin to use the Online Public Access Catalog (the OPAC) and understand that every book and most other material in the library media center collections are included in the OPAC.  They can locate a book on a subject using the OPAC with some assistance.  Using the information found on the OPAC, they attempt to find the books and other materials on the shelf.  Great emphasis is placed on the Dewey Decimal System.  The students familiarize themselves with the     call numbers and the general shelf arrangement of the library media center materials.   They are taught to define the difference between fiction and nonfiction.  They experience practical exercises with the reference collection, realizing that the reference sources are meant to be referred to, not read all the way through.  Assignments include mini-projects in which they find information about people, places, and things.

Using an index, a table of contents, an appendix, a glossary, and a bibliography are important new skills.  All students continue to use dictionaries and are introduced to almanacs and atlases.

These students are encouraged to carefully select books with some help. Various forms of literature are introduced and favorite authors and their works are reviewed.  Discussion includes characters, plot, and setting of fiction.  They are asked to recall, summarize, extend and project the literature that the class samples and discusses.

MEDIA – Fourth Grade

All fourth grade students grasp the fact that the OPAC is an easily accessible index to the library media center.   The study of the Dewey Decimal System is reviewed and expanded.  Exercises in locating materials using the call numbers are used in class. 

Each student gets more experience using an encyclopedia for answering questions, for background information, and as a starting point for research.  The almanac, the atlas, and the thesaurus are also used in group research.  The internet is explored as an extension of the research projects.

Fourth grade students read widely.   These students are encouraged to carefully select books in all genres with some help. Various forms of literature are introduced and favorite authors and their works are reviewed.  Discussion includes characters, plot, and setting of fiction.  They are asked to recall, summarize, extend and project the literature that the class samples and discusses.