Media Center Information

  • Media Specialist:  Jenny Stark
    Media Clerk:  Rhonda Honea
    Phone:  (678) 745-2300
    Fax:  (678) 745-2348
    E-Mail Ms. Stark

Welcome!

  • The mission of the North Gwinnett Middle School media program is to pursue excellence in all areas by encouraging reading for pleasure as well as for information acquisition; building responsible creators and consumers of information; providing collaborative, inquiry-driven learning experiences; and creating a welcoming environment designed to encourage exploration and discovery.
Expand All

  • General Information

    MEDIA CENTER HOURS

    Monday, Wednesday, Thursday: 8:45 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

    Tuesdays & Fridays: 8:55 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

     

    CHECKOUT

    • Students may check out five items at a time. Books are loaned for three weeks. Students may place items on hold in the media center.
    • We encourage students to return books within the three week check-out period as a courtesy to other students who may be waiting to utilize those items. Overdue fines will not be charged; however, students will be expected to pay fines for lost books. Hardbacks are $20.00. Paperbacks are $10.00.

  • Book Fair

    Spring Book Fair
    The Book Fair will be here March 27-31! Thank you for supporting our Media Center by shopping the Book Fair! 

  • Reading Clubs and Activities

    It has been decided that the Gwinnett County Readers Rally event for February 2021 be postponed until 2022. As disappointing as this news might be for avid participants of our annual event, the safety and concern for all students, coaches, and volunteers was the committee’s main priority. The book lists for this school year will remain the same at all levels for the 2022 event. We encourage our 6th, 7th, and 8th grade Readers Rally members to participate next year.

  • Summer Reading

    NGMS Required Summer Reading 

    All students should read this summer in preparation for next school year. Students do NOT need to submit a formal written assignment as part of the summer reading program; however, students must fully read their selected books and be prepared to use knowledge from those books in their Language Arts classes for an activity in the fall. 

    Rising 6th Grade

    Incoming 6th grade students should read 500 minutes from any books that they self-select. All students who complete the 500-minute summer reading challenge, The Great Bulldog Reading Adventure, will receive a special treat in August. 

    How to Log Your Reading:

    If you attended one of our four cluster schools (Roberts, Suwanee, Riverside, Level Creek), you will log reading through your elementary school Beanstack site (linked below). If you attended another elementary school, you will print and record your reading on the linked reading log. The summer reading challenge The Great Bulldog Reading Adventure will be published on Beanstack by May 26th and will close on July 28th.  

    Roberts Elementary School 

    Suwanee Elementary School

    Riverside Elementary School

    Level Creek Elementary School

    Printable Reading Log (for all other elementary schools)

    Reminders for Beanstack: 

    Username: Student ID number

    Password: 4-digit birth month and day (ex. Feb. 8 is 0208)

    After logging in, click the red Log Reading button in the top left corner of Beanstack and scroll down to select “Log Minutes.”

    Rising 7th Grade

    Incoming 7th grade students should read TWO fiction books. These books should be selected from either the realistic fiction or historical fiction genres. Books will be discussed in class in August. Optional: Complete a graphic organizer to help you remember your book. You may use either the Notice & Note organizer or the Window Notes organizer. 

    What is realistic fiction? What is historical fiction?

    Realistic fiction is a genre consisting of stories that could have occurred to people or animals in a believable setting. Historical fiction is a literary genre in which the plot takes place in a setting located in the past. Need a suggestion? Click on the links below. 

    Favorite 7th Grade Realistic Fiction Novels 

    Favorite 7th Grade Historical Fiction Novels 

    Rising 8th Grade

    Incoming 8th grade students should read TWO books from any genre. Students should focus on their own reading interests to make their selections.  Click the link below to see some of the most-loved 8th grade books in the media center. 

    Optional: 8th grade has memoir, realistic fiction, and dystopian fiction reading units if you would like to choose books from those genres to best prepare for the new school year.

    Most-Loved 8th Grade Books

  • Research Assistance

    SCRIBLE RESEARCH TOOL

    Scrible can assist you in many areas of research:

    • Citations for all resources including websites, databases, encyclopedias, books, and more.
    • Export citations into a clean Works Cited page
    • Annotate websites and other digital content with notes, comments, and interactions with other students
    • Take notes on resources that are saved and tied to original resource

    Scrible 101 Tutorial: Visit the Media Center eClass page for a FULL TUTORIAL on using Scrible.com. Note: You must use your student Google account to for Scrible.

    ONLINE RESEARCH LIBRARY

    The Online Research Library is a collection of 50+ databases designed for student exploration and research. Sample databases include ABC-CLIO, Britannica Online School Edition, ScienceFLIX, Biography in Context, and more! To access:

    • From home: Log in to your student portal. Select "Online Research Library" from the list of apps on the right.
    • From school: Double-click the "Online Research Library" icon on your desktop.

    Additional information about the Online Research Library is located on the Media Center eClass page.

  • Copyright Q & A

    COPYRIGHT RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS

    Copyright is the exclusive legal right to reproduce, publish, sell, or distribute the matter and form of something (such as a literary, musical, or artistic work). Source: Merriam Webster

    Copyright and fair use should always be considered when creating or consuming information.

    U.S. Copyright Office: Explore frequently asked questions related to copyright and fair use.

    Copyright for Kids: Interactive website to help you navigate tricky copyright questions.

  • Helpful Parent Information

    Welcome! Thank you for visiting the Media Center page. Below is helpful information for you to reference as you assist your child at NGMS.

    How can I help my child become a better reader?

    1. Encourage your child to find books that interest him/her. Ask Mrs. Stark or a librarian at the public library for help matching books and interests!
    2. Set aside 20 minutes per day for your child to read for pleasure. Let them read any item of their choice during this time.
    3. Engage with your child about what he/she is reading. Read together or ask questions about the characters!
    4. Make reading a highlight of the day. Reading should never feel like a chore or a task to be completed.
    5. Read with your student! Look for the Article of the Week in the parent newsletter each week.  

    Volunteer Opportunities

    Parent volunteers make a difference in the Media Center. Volunteer responsibilities include assisting with check-out/check-in, shelving books, helping with special projects or displays, staffing the bi-annual book fairs. Volunteers are needed on a regular or one-time basis. Contact Mrs. Stark at for more information.