Library Media

The mission of the St. Mary's County Public Schools Library Media Program is to foster the development of effective and ethical use of information and ideas while advocating life-long reading and learning habits by providing instruction, resources, and services to our students, staff, and community.

SMCPS Media Google Site - Helpful links and resources for SMCPS students and parents.
Public Library Partnership - all students now have a virtual public library card. See this Google Site for information on how to login and access the St. Mary's County Library resources.
Online Databases - Database information is linked here, but can also be found on the SMCPS Library Media Google Site.
Destiny - eLibrary/book search for all school libraries across SMCPS.

Library Media Curriculum

SMCPS aligns their library media lessons with the following standards:

Our school librarians in St. Mary's County Public Schools tailor their lessons to meet the specific needs of their schools and students. As they develop their lessons, they use the following files as guides in their lesson planning.

SMCPS school librarians have access to an internal database of exemplar lessons, yearly planners and a Follett Destiny professional development guide to aid in the cataloging and purchasing of new materials for school libraries.

Digital Citizenship and Digital Literacy

SMCPS uses resources from Common Sense Media Lessons for digital citizenship and digital literacy. The lessons from Common Sense Media reinforce:

Healthy Habits: Promote balanced technology use, encouraging students to develop mindful and responsible digital habits.
Privacy and Safety: Educate students on protecting their personal information and staying safe online.
Digital Footprint and Digital Identity: Help students understand the impact of their online actions and how to manage their digital presence responsibly.
Relationships and Communication: Teach effective communication skills and how to build positive online relationships.
Cyberbullying: Equip students with strategies to recognize, prevent, and respond to cyberbullying.
Information and Media Literacy: Develop critical thinking skills to assess the credibility of online information and media sources.

Using these lesson plans, educators can address timely topics and prepare students in grades K-12 to take ownership of their digital lives.

Textbook and Resource Accountability

Resource Accountability

A laptop and some books stacked next to eachother

Media Center Books

If your child has a book checked out from the media center, this will also show on his or her Destiny account. Destiny is the software we use for book check out.

Media Center book check out follows the students throughout their time in SMCPS. If they lose a book or forget to return a book, it comes up in their Destiny account until the book is returned or until the fine is remedied. Most schools send out emails to students and parents/guardians periodically to let them know what is checked out and/or overdue.

Classroom Instruction

Consumables and Textbooks

Depending on your child’s teacher their consumable may stay in the classroom, be kept with the student and transported to and from class, or be kept at home. A consumable is treated the same as any other resource and is checked out to the student. However, this will not get returned at the end of the year. This stays with the student. If a student loses it, there is a replacement cost based on the cost of the book.

A textbook will have an SMCPS barcode. This is typically found on the top cover and is about 15 digits in length. This is checked out and is the responsibility of the student as well.

How Do I Know What Is On My Child's Account?

They can check Destiny, which is our library resource management system. If they log in they will be able to see what they have checked out in their name, just as you would from the public library.

To login to Destiny you would first go to the Destiny website for the school your child attends. SMCPS elibrary page

Once you have located on the school site, you will find LOGIN button.

Elementary students: Username is the student’s network ID (3 initials and last 4 digits of ID#). Password is the student’s ID#.

Middle and High School students: Username is the student’s network ID (3 initials and last 4 digits of ID#). Password is the student’s network password (what is used got Google).

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In This Section

Library Media

Library Media Curriculum

Digital Citizenship and Digital Literacy

Textbook and Resource Accountability

Resource Accountability

Media Center Books

Classroom Instruction

Consumables and Textbooks

How Do I Know What Is On My Child's Account?

Library Media Resources

Contact Information

Library Media

Instructional Programs