The library at Myrtle Grove Middle School saw many changes in the 2010-2011 school year due to budget cuts and a shifting student population. The library collection now contains fewer books per student than the state average, though the collection is newer on average. Circulation is down overall but particularly for 8th grade students. Efforts will be made next year to engage 8th graders more. Data shows a correlation between library program participation and higher reading test scores. The library implemented an eReader lending program and will expand access to informational texts and non-English materials. Despite budget and staffing losses, the library will continue its important role in supporting student achievement.

1. The 2010-11 school year was one of growth and change for
everyone at Myrtle Grove and the Media Center was no exception.
When our student population changed in 2010 as a result of
redistricting, we knew it was time to step up our game in order to
engage the Grove’s new students - which now includes a larger
group of reluctant and below grade level readers as well as a
significant number of ESL learners - while also addressing their
unique instructional needs. This coupled with a 65% reduction in
the library budget (we went from spending $12.47 to $5.66 per
student), resulted in the perfect storm of opportunity to explore
timely questions regarding effective, data driven practice and the
impact of the library program on student achievement – particularly
in a climate of economic turmoil. This report attempts to illustrate
the results of these efforts while also looking forward to what’s next
for the MGMS library and its students.
25 2000
20 1998
1996
15 MGMS MGMS
1998
23.41
1994
20.74
1996
10 NHCS
1993
NHCS
13.24
1992
5 NC NC
1990
0 Average
Books Per Age of
Myrtle Grove Middle School Library Annual Report 2011
Student Collection
The MGMS Library contains almost 10 fewer books per student than the average
school library collection in NC. However, our collection is 5 years newer. I attribute this to a)
a a reduction in funding coupled with b) aggressive weeding of old and outdated materials.
The Fix? Library funding in excess of the state average would need to be restored for the
next 5 years in order to bring these numbers up to the state average.
23,000
22,000
2007-8
6th Grade 21,000
28%
41% 20,000 2008-9
7th Grade
19,000
19,095
19,805
22,646
20,889
2009-10
8th Grade 18,000
31% 2010-11
17,000
Total Circs
It’s no surprise that circulation is down this year. With 200 fewer students than last year, the dip in
checkouts is easily accounted for. What is more revealing, however, is the decline in circulation by grade
th
level. By the time the students reach 8 grade, they check out (on average) 13% fewer books. The fix?
th
Next year I will make a concerted effort to target 8 grade teachers and students when promoting library
th
programs. I will also use library orientation at the beginning of the year as an opportunity to survey 8
grade students about what they see as the cause/solution of/to this issue.

2. 80
60 11%
Research
40 % of Collection
61
79% 10%
Checkout
47
44
20 % of Circulation
20
22
Circulation
5
0
Fiction Non Graphic
Fiction Novels
Given that so much of the content on the NC End of Grade test for reading consists of
informational text, I am concerned that non-fiction only accounts for 20% of our overall
circulation. Also, it is interesting to note that while graphic novels account for only 5% of our total
collection, they are circulated more than the entirety of our non-fiction collection. The fix? Next
year I will spend more time promoting non-fiction texts to both students and staff.
30
25
20
15
25
10 Checkouts
5 9
0
EOG Top 10% EOG Bottom
10%
370
365
Myrtle Grove Middle School Library Annual Report 2011
360 369 AVG EOG
Reading
355 Score
358
350
< 5 Circs > 50 Circs
Working with the Math Dept. Chair
and AIG Specialist, the library’s
“Family Literacy Night” evolved this 366
year to include a focus on cultivated 364
online resources geared towards
helping students be successful on the NC End of Grade 362
Tests. Using the online resource Symbaloo, a personal 360 Reading
learning environment was created for students who were
358 EOG
specifically targeted to attend this event based on 364
previous EOG scores and/or teacher recommendations. 356 363
360 361
Training, on how to navigate Symbaloo and the resources 354
each PLE contained, was provided to the families who Math
attended. As a result, attendance was up by 47% from 352 EOG
past years and as the data clearly shows, students who 350
attended this event, scored significantly higher on their Attendees Non Attendees
EOGs than those who didn’t.
.

3. Myrtle Grove was one of the first schools in the
country to pilot eReaders as part of their library
program! These customizable devices provided
us the opportunity to create a personalized
reading experience for students based on
individual social, emotional and academic needs,
while also allowing students the chance to
interact with the text in ways that are not
possible with traditional, school owned, print
materials. Our 30 Nooks quickly became a
mainstay of our instructional resources and a
favorite “school supply” among our gator
students! We can’t wait to implement a lending
program with our new Sony Pocket Edition
Readers.
“I like how I get to help
pick out the books for
the Nook. I don’t have
to read what everybody
else is, it’s like my Nook
has books on it that
are just for me. It
makes me want to read
more.” -7th Grade Gator
Myrtle Grove Middle School Library Annual Report 2011
Each year students have the opportunity to pay off library fines by donating
non-perishable food items . This program is heavily promoted, integrated into
the curriculum, and used as a conversation starter between kids and adults
about poverty, social justice and how the purpose of knowledge is to inspire
action.
100% of classes participated in the Food for Fines this year.
No matter how small, every class gave something.
84 boxes of food were donated to the Salvation Army.
55 student fines were paid.
21 homeless students at Myrtle Grove benefited from donations
given to our “back pack buddies” program.
9 teachers collaborated with me to help students discuss and discover
information related to poverty in our area.
2 school buses were needed to deliver our donation.
1 student was utterly shocked to learn that both peanut butter and
tuna fish are considered protein -we have the students sort the
food into food groups so that we can make a nutritious donation.
(Note: This number may actually be much larger).

4. The library led the way this year with a follow up to last
year’s Web2.Grove technology initative. This intensive
staff development program engages teachers in a
yearlong conversation about technology integration,
while also requiring them to share best practices and
reflect on how technology helps them do their job. The
Web2.Grove wiki has become the cornerstone of best
practices for teachers at the grove.
“Mrs. LaGarde is constantly looking for
ways to integrate technology into the
school day. If there is a new program or
some type of hardware that could help
improve instruction, Mrs. LaGarde is out
front pushing for its use in the school.” –-
Laurie Long, CRT
“Not everything that counts can be measured. Not everything that can be measured counts.” -Albert Einstein
Origami Yoda
Party w/ “Yoda
Soda” and a video
from the author!
QR Codes!
Weekly
Myrtle Grove Middle School Library Annual Report 2011
book wordle
contests! The Library
Gets a Facebook
Page!
Allan Wolf
comes to
visit! Costume parties
for book
releases!
Gators Read
Everywhere!!

5. Next year will be a challenging year. Budget cuts have eliminated long time Scan the
library clerk, Anne Card’s, position. This is a huge loss to our students and QR code
school family. How the library will continue to serve students in the ways to see a
that both they and their teachers have become accustomed to, is unknown. video on
What is known, however, is that the library will remain an essential part of “filter
the collaborative family of teachers, dedicated to the success of the students bubbles”
at Myrtle Grove. Current research on “filter bubbles” and content curation
illustrates a new imperative for librarians to lead the way in teaching both
students and staff how to think critically, not only about the information they
access on a daily basis, but also about the very search engines they trust to Scan the
locate it. Next year, I anticipate these, and other important issues, to QR code
dominate the conversations that take place in the library. With that in mind, to see a
my “to-do list” for next year is already a long one. Some of the projects I’d video on
like to tackle on behalf of our students include: why
content
To Do! curation is
important!
 Create “data walls” to share library stats w/students and
staff along w/more opportunities for participation.
 Create an author skype program as part of a
collaborative project with the Language Arts Dept.
 Promote non-fiction titles through student book trailers.
 Develop an eReader lending program.
 Apply for LSTA Grant w/a focus on graphic novels and
bilingual titles.
 Use 2010-11 EOG data to promote collaboration between
teachers/grade levels that are currently under
represented.
Myrtle Grove Middle School Library Annual Report 2011
One of the projects I’m most proud of this year is a student created book
trailer for the Anne Schraff novel, A Boy Called Twister. This book is unusual
because while it is nominated for the NC Young Adult Book award, it is an
obscure work of urban fiction designed to appeal to middle and high school
students who struggle to read. However, what really makes this project
special are the students who completed it. This group of African American
students, all 7th graders, struggle with reading and represent the change in
student population that Myrtle Grove was faced with this year. The high
quality of the product they completed and the shift in their thinking about
themselves as readers and creators of information, highlights, for me, the
important work being done in this library. While I am thrilled that the
quantitative data I collected confirms a positive relationship between reading
and academic success, those numbers only reaffirm what I already knew to Check out this student
be true about how school libraries impact students. I’m proud of the work made book trailer on
we’ve done this year. And I look forward to the work that lies ahead.
the library webpage!