Media Center

Check Out My Latest Book Reviews

I've posted more book reviews that might interest you.  Just double-click on the page to the left:  "What is Mrs. Schmidt Reading?" Then scroll down to my latest recommendations.   Happy Reading!

Internet Fun with CVL

Cobb Virtual Library is full of great, safe sites for games, satisfying your curiosity, or learning something new.  Just go to Murdock's web page and find CVL under Quick Links.  After clicking on it, choose Elementary.  You'll then be asked for passwords to indicate that you're a CCSD student.  Unfortunately, I'm not allowed to post the passwords on my blog, but you can email me.  Use the Contact Mrs. Schmidt link on the left side of the Media Center blog.  I'll be glad to share the passwords with you.

Try Grolier Online Kids  for starters:

*Click on Grolier MultiMedia, then Quizzes and Games.

*Click on Atlas for interactive maps, distance calculators, and pictures of the U.S. and countries around the world.

*See what's cool and new in the Feature Showcase.

*Check out Today Is and amaze your family with little-known facts about history.

*Click on News Now for current events.

Try one of these everyday and you'll be one of the smartest Murdock Mustangs!

What is Mrs. Schmidt Reading?

I plan to read LOTS of books this summer and will tell you a little bit about each of them.  Maybe you'll want to try one!  Why not keep a list of your books, too?  It will be fun to talk about everybody's favorites when we come back to school!  Just click on "What is Mrs. Schmidt Reading?" under Pages on the left for my latest recommendations.  HAPPY READING!

Birthday Books Added to Collection

Eighty-seven Murdock students celebrated their birthdays by donating books to Murdock's library!  A new book of their choosing with a special book plate in the front is now available for all students to check out and enjoy.  Thanks to our library friends for their lasting birthday gift to the library!   Watch for some fun changes to the Birthday Book Celebrations next year!

Important Media Center Dates

FRIDAY, MAY 1ST:  Last day for student check-out.                         

WEDNESDAY, MAY 6TH:  All students' library books due back.

Please return books by May 6th so we can begin inventory and packing up to prepare for new carpeting during the summer.  Thanks for your help with this huge project!

Books Fly Off the Shelves!

 Murdock students are readers!  Over 37,000 books have been checked out of the library!    We hope students will continue to enjoy reading this summer.  Keep an eye out for our Summer Reading Challenge.        

CRCT Reviews in the Media Center

 1st through 5th Graders will find themselves thinking hard to answer the challenge questions related to research and language arts knowledge.  We know they know it...now it's their turn to show us!  They love using the Beyond Question remotes to record their answers and we can see immediately where further help is needed.   Their reward for getting 100% on a question?   A "happy dance" by their classroom teacher!

Kindergarteners will have some fun with the Big Bug Pop-up Book!

Book Fair a Great Success!

Thanks to the Murdock community for your generous support of our Spring Book Fair!  We love our book fairs because of the excitment they generate about reading, the opportunity for families to enjoy books together, and of course, for the financial support they afford the Media Center.   We are very fortunate to have wonderful volunteers who work tirelessly to create a fun atmosphere, decorate, re-stock, help children with purchases, count change (in baggies, socks, and cute little purses) and try their best to make everyone happy!  We couldn't do it without you!       

Media Centers Facing Budget Cuts Again!

Governor Perdue is in favor of removing library expenditure controls that protect media center funds.  This is NOT a good thing for Georgia's library media centers.

Our legislators may not remember that school library media centers were already cut by 50% over 6 years ago with the promise of the cut being a "temporary measure."   We have yet to recover that loss and will now feel the effects of another “temporary” cut.   Perhaps Georgia legislators don't realize that Media Center budgets are already stretched as we attempt to provide the necessary  books, audiovisual materials, and online resources that support the changing curriculum.  Our monies also purchase books that excite and encourage young readers.  How will we create avid readers and life-long learners without current books and materials?

There's no doubt that education budgets will be cut and media centers will have to share the pain. However, taking our funds to use elsewhere as if our purpose has less value will negatively impact every student in Georgia.  There is a reason the expenditure controls were put in place and they should remain.

HB 278 is the bill that will remove library expenditure controls.   It has passed out of subcommittee and was approved by a full House vote.  Now it’s up to the Senate.  If you would like to contact Murdock's Senator in regard to HB 278, please write to State Senator Judson Hill (R-32) @ judson.hill@senate.ga.gov    

The Senate Appropriations Education Subcommittee members are as follows:
Sen. Dan Moody (R), Chair - Alpharetta; dan.moody@senate.ga.gov
Sen. Horacena Tate (D), Vice Chair - Atlanta; horacena.tate@senate.ga.gov
Sen. John Bulloch (R) - Ochlocknee; john.bulloch@senate.ga.gov
Sen. Jack Murphy (R) - Cumming; jack.murphy@senate.ga.gov
Sen. Tommie Williams (R), Senate President Pro Tempore - Lyons; tommie@tommiewilliams.com

Library Day at the State Capitol

Thursday, February 26th was Library Day at the Capitol.  I attended the morning meeting along with about 200 school and community librarians from around the state.  A presentation by the Georgia Library Association cited well-known research that school media centers positively impact test scores.  Pam Smith from the Department of Education referred to the school library as "the hub of the school."  How wonderful to hear those encouraging remarks in the company of colleagues who are all striving to offer excellent library services at their schools!   Unfortunately, the "glow" was short-lived.  Senator Jack Hill, Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, presented a rather alarming chart that clearly highlighted the downturn in state revenues that can't help but impact education, media centers included. 

Two bills of particular concern are currently in committee.  HB 278 seeks to remove expenditure controls that require that state media center funds be used only for media centers.  The 2nd bill states that media center paraprofessionals don't necessarily need to be assigned to the media center.  Obviously, we can't maintain a current print collection or provide internet resources without funding.  Nor can we provide instruction, collaboration, and adminstration of the media program for an entire student body and faculty without the help of knowledgable paraprofessionals. 

CCSD has always recognized the value of school media center programs.  Our community offers wonderful support, too.   So, no matter the outcome of the bills, our goal is to continue to offer the materials and programs that Murdock students currently rely on and enjoy!