RULES OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
CHAPTER 0520-1-3
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR THE APPROVAL
OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS
0520-1-3-.07 LIBRARY INFORMATION CENTER, REQUIREMENT
F.
(1) School library information center.
All school library information centers shall serve as resources
for students, teachers and community members to strengthen student learning.
School library information specialists shall work closely with classroom
teachers to integrate both curricular concepts and information skills
that assist research and other learning activities. The collection and
the services of the library information center shall adequately support
the curricular priorities within the school.
School library information centers shall create an
environment that allows efficient access to both print and electronic
resources. Schools must be organized to allow the library program to
operate a flexible schedule that allows students and teachers to access
resources at the point of need.
School library information centers shall provide access
to parents and community members, so that the school library information
center serves as a community resource.
(2) Library Information Center Personnel
Schools including grades K-8 or any combination thereof shall
provide library information personnel as follows:
A school having a current average daily membership of 550
or more students shall have a full-time library information specialist with
endorsement as a library information specialist.
A school with a current average daily membership of
400 to 549 students shall have a half-time library information specialist
with endorsement as a library information specialist. During the time
that the library is open during regular school hours and the library information
specialist is not present, the principal shall designate staff member(s)
to provide supervision to the students in the library.
In a school with fewer than 400 students, the principal
or staff member designated by the principal, shall serve as a library information
coordinator. If the library information coordinator is not present during
the time that the library is open during regular school hours, the principal
shall designate staff member(s) to provide supervision to students
in the library.
When a library is open outside the regularly scheduled
school day and the library information specialist is not present, the
principal shall designate staff member(s) to provide supervision to
students in the library. School boards may develop policies regarding
the appropriate use and training of volunteers.
Schools including any high school grade shall provide library
information personnel as follows:
A school with a current average daily membership of more
than 300 but less than 1,500 students shall have a full-time library information
specialist with endorsement as a library information specialist.
A school with a current average daily membership of fewer
than 300 students shall have a half-time library information specialist.
During the time that the library is open during regular school hours
and the library information specialist is not present, the principal shall
designate staff member(s) to provide supervision to students in the library.
A school with a current average daily membership of 1500
or more students shall have two full-time library information specialists,
each with endorsement as a library information specialist.
When the library is open outside the regularly scheduled
school day and the library information specialist is not present, the principal
shall designate staff member(s) to provide supervision to the students
in the library. School boards may develop policies regarding the appropriate
use and training of volunteers.
(3) Library information center
collection.
Print Collection.
The collection shall average at least 12 items
per student in average daily membership. Pamphlets, textbooks, unbound periodicals,
out-of-date items, and items in poor physical condition shall neither be
counted nor reported in the total collection. The collection shall include
at least one set of encyclopedia copyrighted within the last 5 years.
In secondary schools, the collection shall also include an
unabridged dictionary, a local newspaper, and one daily newspaper presenting
news on both state and national levels.
Software Based Collection.
Individual CD-ROM discs may be counted as the number of eligible
hardbound units they replace. For example, one CD-ROM disc that contains
the equivalent of a twenty-volume set of encyclopedias or other reference
books may be counted as 20 units. A disc containing the complete works
of Shakespeare equivalent to three hardbound volumes may count as three
units. Such collections may count no more than 20% of the total collection.
Internet-Based Collection.
Internet-based collections and subscriptions may be counted provided
the following criteria are met:
Internet-based connections in the library information center are
sufficient to provide access to students at a ratio of a minimum of 100:1.
Internet-based materials count no more
than 20% of the collection or subscription requirement. Only full text
may count toward the collection total.
Internet-based materials may count up to 30% in schools
in which the library media specialist has received the Tennessee Electronic
Library training.