Effective School Library Programs Impact Student Achievement
JCPS School Library Media Coordinators (SLMC) promote reading as a foundational skill of learning and create a foundation for lifelong learning with a focus on student achievement. Effective school library media programs support the teaching and learning community through data-driven collaboration, literacy, integration of instructional technology and information skills with the total curriculum, resources, staff development, and assessment.
Strong school libraries build strong students and numerous state studies confirm that school librarians support student achievement. Studies also indicate that reading scores improve when spending for school libraries increases, student achievement tends to be significantly higher for schools that have full-time certified school librarians who regularly collaborate with classroom teachers, and also for school libraries with support staff and flexible scheduling in the library.
JCPS Goal
Johnston County Public Schools supports a district-wide culture where all instructional staff analyze student data, reflect on their practice, collaborate with their peers, and incorporate best-practice teaching strategies to ensure high levels of learning and increased student achievement for all students. By the end of the 2023-24 school year 100% of Johnston County Public Schools will earn a school letter grade of A, B, or C.
JCPS School Library Media Services Goal
Johnston County Public Schools’ Media Services knows that the school library media center is the heart of the school and must be an active, encouraging, and engaging learning environment with a focus on literacy. Our school library media coordinators teach, model, and facilitate critical thinking, creativity, communication, and collaboration skills which are essential for career and college readiness. In support of student achievement and the district goal, JCPS media coordinators will:
Lead in the school library media program and school to support student success and advocate for an effective media program.
Provide appropriate resources, services, and instruction for learners of all stages of development and diverse interests.
Build a learning environment that facilitates access to resources and addresses the learning needs of all members of the school community.
Develop and maintain a library collection that supports teaching and learning as well as recreational reading.
Serve, promote, and facilitate inquiry-based instruction and the effective use of information, digital age tools, and technology.
StudentAccess - Public Library Partnership
Johnston County Affiliated Libraries have partnered with Johnston County Public Schools to expand students’ and teachers' access to educational resources through an innovative program known as StudentAccess.
Resources include eBooks, audiobooks, streaming videos, NCLIVE online databases, language learning program, standardized test prep tools, career exploration tools, and more!
Students and teachers at Johnston County Public Schools may use their full PowerSchool ID number as a library card.
In addition to accessing electronic resources and library databases, users may also borrow up to ten print or audiobooks - at one time with no overdue fees - from the public libraries located in Benson, Four Oaks, Kenly, Princeton, Selma, or Smithfield. Library computers may also be used.
When logging into online library resources or your library account, use your full PowerSchool number as your library card number. Some online resources also require a PIN or Password. In these cases, use the last four digits of your PowerSchool number as the PIN/Password.
To learn more about these teaching and learning resources, visit the public library’s StudentAccess page at https://www.pljcs.org/studentaccess.
Note: Data is imported/updated twice a year in StudentAccess (the second week in September and the second week in January). Any parent or guardian who wishes for his/her/their student to not have access to these resources may request an opt out form from the school library media coordinator and return it, completed and signed, back to the school library media coordinator (if opting out, form is required annually).
NCWiseOwl - NCDPI Resources
NCDPI Databases (NCWiseOwl):
NCWiseOwl (North Carolina Online Windows for Learning) is a resource provided to all North Carolina students and educators through funding from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.
NCWiseOwl provides high-quality resources (EBSCO, Britannica School) such as research database interfaces, subject-based reference centers, publication finder, and encyclopedias. Within these resources, users can access sources such as encyclopedia articles, eBooks, magazines, journals, news, books, biographies, primary source documents, reviews, images, and videos.
Accessing NCWiseOwl Resources - Update for the 2022 - 2023 School Year
Previously, NCWiseOwl resources were accessed through the NCWiseOwl website. Britannica and EBSCO resources are now available to educators and students via NCEdCloud, as the former NCWiseOwl website has been phased out. Students will access these resources directly through NCEdCloud via ClassLink (students and educators will need to input their NCEdCloud (PowerSchool) username and password once for each resource in the folder).
Also, there is an orange NCWiseOwl folder in ClassLink (students and educators will need to input their NCEdCloud (PowerSchool) username and password once for each resource in the folder).
For more information about these resources and how to use them, please visit the NCWiseOwl Toolkit by clicking HERE.
Battle of the Books
Battle of the Books is a trivia-style book competition for students in grades 4-12. The North Carolina School Library Media Association (NCSLMA) sponsors Battle of the Books for elementary, middle, and high school competitions.
Students at participating schools read books from a list established by the state Battle of the Books committees and then compete in quiz-bowl-style tournaments to test their knowledge of these books.
Battle of the Books involvement is contingent on participating schools meeting the following criteria:
Coach -
Either an 076 licensed Media Coordinator OR Certified Staff Member serving as the school's BOB coach
Current member of NCSLMA
Fills out compliance form by deadline (December)
Library -
Designated space on the site of the school (only exception, some Early and Middle colleges operate differently).
Cataloged collection
Open and staffed at least 20 hours weekly by a certified school Library Media Coordinator or other certified staff serving in the role of Media Coordinator.
