Horizon Elementary School

Meet Our Library Staff

Learn About Our Media Center

The Horizon Media Center is the hub and heart of our school. Our program encourages students to be daily readers and lifelong learners. Whether they are reading for information or pleasure, we motivate children to develop a love of reading and learning. We promote literature and teach our students information literacy skills. By collaborating with teachers, our library media program becomes an extension of the classroom. We provide a large collection of high-interest books, a variety of learning materials, and access to 21st century technology tools to further enhance student achievement.
- The Horizon Elementary School Library Media Center is operated for the benefit of all students. We strive to support learning, develop information skills, and promote literature.
- Collaborative Teaching is at the heart of the HRZN Media Center. Our Media Specialist, Ms. Walden collaborates with teachers to extend and enhance what students are learning in the classroom.
- Flexible scheduling is used for all classes. Teachers sign-up for class story time sessions and collaborative teaching time for classroom lessons in all subjects.
- The media center is open daily for students to visit individually or in small groups for research, book check-out, centers, and more!
The Media Center is open daily from 7:45 A.M. - 2:20 P.M.

Alabama’s School Library Media Plan for the 21st Century Learner expresses the mission of Alabama’s library media programs as supporting the school’s instructional program to improve student learning and student achievement.This mission is accomplished by:

Ensuring learners will be able to independently inquire, think critically, and gain, create, and share knowledge.
Providing the real and virtual access to appropriate, high-quality resources and services during and outside the school day.
Participating in curriculum development and design of learning activities.

2025-2026 Library Statistics

Explore the Highlights from Our 2025-2026 School Year!

13,498

Total Books in our Library

27,456

Number of Books Checked Out

434

Number of New Books Added to Our Library

Welcome to the Horizon Media Center!

The Horizon Media Center is the heart of our school—a place where students discover, create, collaborate, and develop a lifelong love of learning. Beyond providing access to books and resources, our media center serves as a gathering place for our school community through engaging programs, special events, and meaningful learning experiences.

Each year, our media center hosts fundraising initiatives that help us continually grow and enhance the opportunities available to our students. Our two primary fundraisers, the Birthday Book Club and Scholastic Book Fairs, provide essential support for purchasing new books, expanding library technology, creating innovative reading experiences, and offering hands-on learning opportunities that inspire curiosity and creativity.

We believe that a strong library program is built through community support and involvement. The Horizon Media Center welcomes parent volunteers who would like to share their time and talents. Volunteers assist with special events and programs, as well as everyday tasks such as shelving books, preparing materials, and helping keep our media center running smoothly.

If you are interested in becoming a library volunteer, please contact Ms. Walden, Library Media Specialist. We would love for you to be part of the Horizon Media Center family!

Scholastic Book Fairs - Our Media Center hosts two book fairs every school year, one in the fall and one in the spring! Students love visiting our themed book fairs and purchasing exciting new reads! This is our biggest library fund raiser!
Birthday Book Club - Sign up at the beginning of the year to join the Birthday Book Club. Members will receive a NEW book to KEEP, a treat from Jeremiah's Italian Ice, a birthday bookmark, and other goodies while also supporting the Horizon Library!
Book Release Parties - The Horizon Library hosts four book release parties throughout the year to celebrate when new books come out! We support a local bookstore in Madison and students go home with their own copy on the day of its release!
Author Visits - Horizon invites authors to visit our students and share their stories! We loved getting to meet author and songwriter, Carter Hamric. He wrote "Big Ole Day at the Beach" and several other engaging stories that invite readers to sing-along!