Automation and Media Processing Center
GENERAL POLICY STATEMENT

Automation and Media Processing Center

The Baltimore County Public Schools is responsible creating equitable access to an organized collection of information resources to support the K-12 Essential Curriculum and reading interests of students. The cataloging and processing of instructional materials supports the systemic goals to:

The guiding principles are:

• Information is organized in a systematic method using the Dewey Classification System the and Sear's Subject Headings.
• students, faculty, and parents can easily locate information.
• purchasing of resources is based on present inventories and needs.
• the school community has equal access to information resources.
• The Automation and Media Processing Center provides services to assist library media specialists with organizing library media and school instructional materials collections.

The Automation and Media Processing Center and school library media specialists create organized and accessible collections by applying the following operating guidelines for the cataloging and processing of library books and instructional media:

Library Books

Library books must be ordered from vendors that provide complete cataloging and processing services. The average amount time to catalog and process one item is 20 minutes...time that library media specialists should be spent teaching information literacy skills, collaborating with teachers as instructional partners, and working with student and staff with technology literacy and services. The cost vendors charge to catalog one item ranges from 50-75 cents. This cost is well worth it and the service frees one to engaged more readily in promoting the use of the library media resources and facility.

All library vendors have on file Baltimore County Public Schools' Cataloging and Processing Specifications. This is a systemic standard that will superseded any individual school request. It is important that all library collections in BCPS are cataloged and processed using the same standard to ensure accessible and organized collections and functioning automation systems that import MARC records effectively.

Instructional Media

Instructional media ordered through the catalog process is cataloged and processed by the Automation and Media Processing Center before delivery to the schools. MARC records are sent to the schools via the Internet or on disk for importing into the school automation system. The following is a list of items that are handled by the Automation and Media Processing Center:

Paperback Books

• Paperbacks should be fully processed and cataloged as is with hardback books. You will not be able to circulate these materials using the automated system if they are not handled in this manner.
  
• It is recommended that paperbacks be interfiled with the collection or placed on shelves in a paperback section. Shelve paperbacks where they will meet he needs of the users.
  
• Cataloged paperback book inventories must be reported on any collection statistical reports.

Cataloging and Processing Services

Most library vendors provide cataloging processing services that library media specialists are required to use when ordering library books; however, when the service is not available, the Automation and Media Processing Center will handle requests for cataloging and processing of these items. Follow these steps to request the service:

Call Carla Weber (4208) to make arrangements. Complete the Request for Cataloging and Processing Services form. Stamp all materials with the school name. Place the uncataloged materials and the form in a box. Label the box and send it to the Media Processing Center. Send items between January 1 and June 30 for timely service. (July through December the center is cataloging and processing all instructional materials ordered in the spring by schools.)