Thank you for your interest in requesting a program in the University Libraries Instructional Materials Center, located on the Lower Level of the Belk Library and Information Commons on the campus of Appalachian State University in Boone, NC. We are pleased to provide programs for school and community groups, in addition to groups associated with campus.
Keep in mind, while the IMC is open for use by the community–including teachers, youth, and families–our primary purpose is to serve App State students. Accordingly, their needs will have to be considered when prioritizing our time, space, faculty, and staff resources.
The first step in planning a program in the IMC is to fill out and submit this form at least three weeks in advance. This lead time will allow us to reserve an appropriate meeting space and ensure IMC staff are able to adequately prepare a lesson or presentation. You can expect a response to your request within two business days to discuss programming options appropriate for your group.
Unfortunately we are unable to provide programming for “drop-in” group visits. The IMC also cannot offer programming for other groups that may be meeting on campus, such as summer camps or conferences not associated with youth literature or K-12 education.
Here are some additional guidelines to keep in mind while planning your visit:
All Program Visitors
- Visits to the IMC are covered by the University Libraries Special Events Policies and Procedures.
- Please see the general University Library Policies website for additional information.
- We encourage visits for programs from school and community groups, subject to our availability. As a courtesy to the university’s enrolled students, programs cannot be scheduled during:
- the first week of a semester
- two weeks before final exams in the spring and fall semesters
- the week of final exams in the spring and fall semesters
- days/times the library is closed.
- See the library hours/calendar for open hours.
School Group Programs (Field Trips)
- The maximum number of people in a group who can be safely accommodated for programming in the IMC at one time is 30. The ratio of youth to adults may not exceed 15:1.
- Adults must supervise youths accompanying them at all times, and are responsible for monitoring their behavior and attending to their physical needs. If someone causes a disruption, they will be asked to leave.
- The IMC can provide basic supplies for activities, such as crayons for coloring or access to games/kits already in the collection. However, our budget does not allow for program-specific expenditures (for example, specialized book collections or large-scale art projects).
- Typical programming for a school group visit includes activities such as standards-based fiction and non-fiction read-alouds, concept demonstrations, and small-group extension activities.
Educator Programs (professional learning)
- The number of educators we can accommodate varies depending on the programming requested and seating capacity in instructional spaces.
- Typical programming for an educator group visit could include activities such as a tour of relevant areas of the IMC, use of curriculum-related resources, and exploration of Makerspace capabilities.
Community Programs (parents/caregivers & children)
- The maximum number of people in a group who can be safely accommodated for programming in the IMC at once is 30.
- Adults must supervise the youths accompanying them at all times, and are responsible for monitoring their behavior and attending to their physical needs. If someone causes a disruption, they will be asked to leave.
- The IMC can provide basic supplies for activities, such as crayons for coloring or access to games/kits already in the collection. However, our budget does not allow for program-specific expenditures (for example, specialized book collections or large-scale art projects).
- Typical programming for a community group visit includes activities such as a tour of relevant areas of the IMC, stories and crafts, and signing up for a community borrower account. Community borrower cards are available for visitors who are at least 16 years of age.