Media Center

Welcome to the Andrew Jackson Middle School Media Center!

The mission of the Andrew Jackson Middle School Media Center is to serve every student with excellence through developing the habits of critical thinking, active learning, skillful research and creative problem solving.  Our Media Center also strives to provide materials that will instill a love of reading and learning into the lives of our students. 

Open Letter to Parents
Destiny Library Catalogue

  • Mrs. Ellen M. Genet, Media Specialist

    Master of Library Science, Syracuse University - School of Information Science & Technology

    Bachelor of Science - Communications/Media Arts, State University of New York

  • Media Center Hours:

    9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (M-Th)

    9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (F)

    *Hours are subject to change due to meetings, testing, or school functions.

    Note:  Closed 5th Period every day

What's Happening in the AJMS Media Center?

August:

  • Library/Media Center orientation with ELA classes

  • “Find Your Next Favorite Book” - new book displays and interest: sports, humor, graphic novels, careers, & middle school preparedness

September:

  • "Florida & The American Revolution" - Mel Fisher Pop-Up Museum gallery walk and activities with U.S. History classes

  • "National Literacy Month" book-talks in classrooms

  • "Celebrate Freedom Week" book display & JOTV presentations

  • "Hispanic-Heritage Month" (9/15-10/15) - book display, JOTV, & Spanish class checkouts

  • Lunchtime Chess & Checkers Club

October:

  • "National Color Day" (22nd) & "National Fine Art Day" (25th)

    • Research Lesson with Art Classes on famous painters and their unique paint colors! (20th-21st)

  • "Red Ribbon Week: Live is a Puzzle, Solve it Drug-Free" (23rd-31st)

    • book displays about drugs

    • bookmark-making station themed around anti-drug messages

    • Jigsaw puzzles

    • Rubics Cube solving contest

  • "National Bullying Prevention Month"

    • book displays about friendship, kindness, bullying, etc.

    • bookmark-making station themed around anti-bullying messages

    • JOTV presentations

  • October 29th: After School Workshop for Faculty & Staff on Library/Research Apps on LaunchPad (optional) - snacks provided!

  • Continued:  "Hispanic-Heritage Month" (9/15-10/15) - book display, JOTV, & Spanish class checkouts

  • Lunchtime Chess & Checkers Club

November:

  • SSYRA Kickoff! - Participation signup & JOTV book trailers

  • "National STEM/STEAM Day" (8th) - Lunchtime activities (coordinated w/Mr. Gallimore)

  • "National Career Development Month" - Ms. Burk's classes in media center learning career research database and career books checkout

  • "National Novel Writing Month" / "National Life Writing Month"

    • Writing Challenge! (Details TBA)

  • Lunchtime Chess & Checkers Club

  • "National Family Literacy Day" (Nov 1st) - Parent evening session on LaunchPad Apps useful for students & to help them with schoolwork (tentative)

December:

  • “Book Reflection Snowflake”

    • students write a review or what they learned from a book this semester on a snowflake!

  • "Bingo's Birthday" - Lunchtime Bingo Bash

  • "National Read a New Book Month"

    • silent reading party with cozy seating and lighting (and maybe cocoa)

  • SSYRA Gingerbread Cookie Character decorating!

  • Lunchtime Chess & Checkers Club

January:

  • "Celebrate Literacy Week Florida!" (26th-30th)

    • Scripps Spelling Bee

    • Get Caught Reading

    • The Masked Reader contests on JOTV

    • JOTV Book-to-Movie Match Trivia contest

    • Lunchtime Reading Retreat on The Patio

    • Drop Everything and Read - last 15 minutes of ELA/ILA classes

    • SSYRA "Book it, Bake it!" Bake a cake and decorate it based on a book!

      Bring the decorated cake to the media center Monday morning, January 27th. Teachers will vote on their favorite. Come back to the media center (during lunch or 7th period) to eat cake!

    • Community Literacy Night (29th) - TBD

February:

  • Speed Dating/Blind Date with a Book (Feb 13th)

  • "Black History Month"

    • Lunchtime bookmark making with a favorite quote from a book by a Black author

    • book display featuring fiction and nonfiction by Black authors

  • “Library Love Wall” - students post heart-shaped sticky notes with why they love the library or a book they discovered there

  • Lunchtime Chess & Checkers Club

March:

  • "National Reading Month"

    • Online Follett Book Fair: March into Reading! (March 1st-31st)

    • Student book recommendations and reviews in Follett Destiny

  • "Women’s History Month"

    • Scavenger Hunt: find a woman author, musician, scientist, and leader.

  • "Music in Our Schools Month"

    • Featured books about music and musicians

    • Students create a “soundtrack” for a favorite book (TBD)

  • Lunchtime Chess & Checkers Club

April:

  • "National Poetry Month"

    • "Beat Cafe" poetry readings

    • “Poet Tree”: students add leaves with favorite poems or original work.

  • "National School Library Month"

    • SSYRA celebration @ Madison Middle School (Date TBA)

  • "Math Awareness Month"

    • Math-themed books display

    • JOTV “Book of the Week: Math Edition”

May:

  • "Mental Health Awareness Month"

    • Calming Coloring in the media center during lunches

  • "Teacher Appreciation Month"

    • "Thank you" notes & bookmark-making for teachers

  • All Books are due no later than May 15, 2026

  • Media Center Inventory (18th-28th)

Activities in the Media Center!