A look at an elementary school media center andstate park visitor center, and

how they help children learn about the world around them.

By Sara Adkins Fall 2011

Introduction to Library Media 6320

From Bookshelves to

Beehives

Magness Creek Elementary Media Center

Adkins, S., personal photograph, September 20, 2011

Located in Cabot, ArkansasKathy Skidmore, media specialistServes students from Kindergarten to

Fourth grade, teachers and staff, and parents

Has the same mission statement as the Cabot School District: “It’s About Kids!”

Magness Creek Elementary Media Center

Located in the center of the school buildingWhole group instruction conducted at tables

and carpet areaIndividual time and space given for browsing

shelves, accessing information from computers, listening to audio books, and reading books or magazine articles

Offers over 12,000 books (K. Skidmore, personal communication, September 22, 2011)

Teachers access DVD’s, books, magazine articles, and other teacher resources

Space and Materials

•Classes go to center for lessons with the media specialist•Students check out fiction and nonfiction books out once a week or more if needed for research project •Print media: books, encyclopedias, magazines•Technology: computers, audio books, smart board

Services

Adkins, S., personal photograph, September 20, 2011

Lake Dardanelle State Park

Visitor Center

Retrieved from http://menaar.com/Arkansas_State_%20parks/lake_dardanelle_state_park_arkansas_picture_htm

Located in Russellville, ArkansasSasha Bowles, park interpreterServes all visitors and all ages free of charge, school

groups, teacher professional development groups, Girl Scout troops, Boy Scout troops, and many others.

Mission statement:“The mission of Lake Dardanelle State Park is to promote tourism to the state of Arkansas and to provide opportunities for people to enrich their lives and increase their enjoyment and well being through outdoor recreation, and education in Arkansas’ rich natural, historical, and cultural resources”

Lake Dardanelle State Park Visitor Center

New facility next to Lake DardanelleVarious displays, aquariums, wet and dry

touch tables, beehive observation area, live reptiles and insects, and topographic relief map of Arkansas

Many programs on nature, animals, and Native Americans offered by park interpreters

Research room with over 100 books, articles, and videos about the Trail of Tears, history of Arkansas, and the history of Pope County

Art exhibit that features local artists’ photography or art work

Space, Materials, and Services

•Guided tours of the center with a park interpreter of the center•Interactive displays with live animals such as fish and reptiles, along with computer kiosks providing facts about the animals•Observation area overlooking Lake Dardanelle. Includes topographic map of Arkansas and a beehive observation area. •Research room with over 100 books, articles and videos about the Trail of Tears and history of Arkansas•Wet and dry touch tables with animal skins, antlers, live turtles, and other pieces of nature

Photos retrieved from http://www.menaar.com/Arkansas_State_%20Parks/la ke_dardanelle_state_park_in_arkansas_picture_gallery.htm)

Services

S. Bowles, personal communication, September 22, 2011

K. Skidmore, personal communication, September 22,

2011http://www.menaar.com/Arkansas_State_

%20Parks/la ke_dardanelle_state_park_in_arkansas_picture_gallery.htm

http://www.arkansasstateparks.com/lakedardanelle/

Bibliography