In Pasco County Schools we believe that literacy is the key to unlock the big hopes and dreams of our students. School library media centers and classroom libraries play a critical role in supporting the mission and vision of Pasco County Schools. It is our aim to provide libraries that include materials that build knowledge, support state standards, are age/grade appropriate and engaging and relevant to students.
Beanstack Resources
Beanstack helps to grow the reading culture in our schools and engages students in some friendly competition as well! Please encourage your child to read for pleasure and log their reading!
R.A.C.E. to Read is back!
Pasco County Schools is excited to host the 2nd annual R.A.C.E. to Read Pasco! district-wide, Pre-K-12 reading challenge for the 2024-2025 school year. All students and staff are invited to participate. We collectively read over 30 million minutes last school year! The new challenge is to collectively read 35 million minutes from August 12, 2024 – May 16, 2025. Minutes will be logged via Beanstack, and celebrations will be school based.
We encourage you to Read Across the County Every Day!!
Logging minutes is easy!
- Click on the Beanstack app on myPascoConnect dashboard.
- Click "Log Reading" button, choose a date on the calendar.
- Enter book title or click barcode scanner icon.
- Enter minutes read or start timer. Then click "Log Reading"!
- Access this video for more information.
SORA
Students in Pasco County Schools have access to free eBooks and audiobooks! This content is provided as optional, self-selected reading material for students and families to enjoy. The Sora app can be accessed from students' myPascoConnect dashboard.
You may also access additional information about reading a free Sora eBook or listing to an audiobook in Sora's help center.
https://help.soraapp.com/en-us/categories/reading-listening.htm
** Please note that students who have "Limited Access" or "No Access" designated for Library Media Center Usage will not be able to access Beanstack or Sora.
Collection Development Procedure
Effective July 1, 2022, each book newly made available to students through a school library media center or included in a recommended or assigned school or grade level reading list must be selected and approved by a District employee who holds a valid educational media specialist certificate, regardless of whether the book is purchased, donated or otherwise made available to students.
The District's Library Media Specialists will endeavor to stay informed about appropriate new publications, using multiple sources, such as discussions with colleagues, attendance at conferences, and reading a variety of periodicals and book reviews. The Library Media Specialists will also receive and consider suggestions or requests brought forward by other faculty, students and parents.
Potential new books for the school library media center and reading lists will be evaluated to determine if they would be suitable for student needs and whether they would be appropriate for the intended grade level and age group. In considering possible new acquisitions, the Library Media Specialists will consult reputable, professionally recognized reviewing periodicals and school community stakeholders. The Library Media Specialist will also assess the level of student interest in the subject(s) presented and the ability of students to comprehend the material. Books that are selected must be free of pornography and material prohibited under F.S. 847.012.
The goal of the selection process is for the school's library media center and reading list collections to be based on reader interest, the support of State standards and aligned curriculum, and the academic needs of students and faculty.
After evaluation, the Library Media Specialists will inform principals of those books that have been evaluated and are approved for inclusion in the collections.
Periodically, books will be removed from the collection or discontinued, based on their poor physical condition, low rate of recent circulation, non-alignment to State standards, out-of-date content, or status following a parent's or community member's objection.