21st Century Media Centers

The mission of FCS Media Services is to provide quality materials and learning experiences designed to equip students with the skills to adapt and thrive in a changing global environment. Our media centers are essential interactive collaborative learning environments and are ever evolving to provide equitable physical and virtual access to ideas, information, and learning tools for the entire school community. We provide students with opportunities to become both lifelong users of information and constructors of knowledge. We support the Georgia Standards of Excellence by developing collections that both support literacy instruction and a love of reading.

Not too long ago, libraries were places that housed resources, and librarians were those who checked out books and maintained book collections. Today so much information is digital, and resources can be accessed anytime, anywhere. Libraries have turned into media centers and are rapidly evolving into learning commons where new technologies are becoming available at such a fast rate many find it difficult to keep up. That is why these learning commons are quickly becoming the largest classrooms in the school building; they are vibrant community hubs where students learn to access the overabundance of information that technology makes available. Because students often find themselves in information overload, media specialists have morphed into information facilitators who help learners navigate the constantly evolving references that are available online, and they prepare students to become responsible digital citizens as they face constantly changing technology bursts.                            

Today’s students seek out the media center for a variety of reasons. In a safe, flexible space, students can access a professional information expert (Media Specialist) who can help tailor research topics and guide students toward quality, age-appropriate resources. They can collaborate, communicate, and share with their peers in an inviting atmosphere where curiosity is encouraged. They can access a variety of resources, both digital and physical. 

Our teachers seek out the media center as well. There they find a staff member who is an essential part of our instructional technology team. The role of the media specialist includes teaching information literacy skills, promoting reading, and integrating technology within the media program. Our media staff collaborates with teachers to prepare students for future careers that don’t even exist yet. As some services become obsolete and others evolve, our media staff serves as change agents, instructional coaches, and curriculum leaders to assist students in acquiring the necessary skills to become information literate, independent, life-long learners. 

Each school will have information about its media center on their school website. 

Digital Citizenship

At Forsyth County Schools, we recognize the valuable learning opportunities that technology offers in our classroom. It is essential for our students to use online resources responsibly. That is why we are collaborating with Neptune Navigate to offer monthly digital citizenship lessons to our students. Our goal is to instill respect in students' technology use to ensure a safe and thriving learning environment. 

Topics that will be covered this year include Cyberbullying, Privacy, Digital Footprint and Tech Laws. You can partner with us to equip students with the skills and mindset needed for responsible navigation of digital spaces by going here to Continue the Conversation for Parents: https://neptunenavigate.com/ctc/. This resource will help you support the discussions with your child that we started at school. Thank you for allowing us to partner with you as we work together to help your children be smart and stay safe online. 

"It is not enough to create rules and policy, we must teacher everyone to become responsible digital citizens in this new society."
-Dr. Mike Ribble

Policy IKBC - Harmful to Minors Board Appeals

In accordance with Forsyth County Schools Board Policy IKBC, the following materials have been challenged at the school level and appealed to the Board of Education.  The Board voted to uphold the school's decision that the material was not harmful to minors. 

Title	Author	Retention Date
Endlessly Ever After	Laurel            Snyder	04/18/23
The Handsome Girl &                      Her Beautiful Boy	B. T. Gottfred	5/10/23	*Parent Permission Required                    for student check-out.
Dime	E. R. Frank	6/20/2023	*Parent Permission Required                    for student check-out.
Perfect	Ellen Hopkins	6/20/2023	*Parent Permission Required                    for student check-out.
Tilt	Ellen Hopkins	6/20/2023	*Parent Permission Required                    for student check-out.
Oryx and Crake	Margaret         Atwood	6/20/2023	*Parent Permission Required                    for student check-out.