Group+1+Collection+Policy

__Selection Policy for Library Materials__

School Board Policy states that materials for the school library are to be selected by the Library Media Specialist, in consultation with, administration, faculty and students. Final decisions, in regards to acquisitions, are to be made by the Library Media Specialist in accordance with the School Board’s Selection Policy Objective.
 * I. Responsibility: **

The Main objective of the School Board’s Selection Policy is to implement, enrich, and support the educational program of the individual schools and the district. Another objective of the Collection Policy is to offer a wide variety of literature that will meet all reading levels, the needs and interests of students and faculty, and represent differing [or various] social, intellectual, and spiritual points of views. These Policy objectives should be considered when acquiring any print or non-print material for the school library.
 * II. Objectives of the Selection Policy: **

The library media center strives to provide a collection of materials that will enrich the curriculum and meet the needs of the students and faculty served.
 * III. Mission of the School Library: **

The process of selecting materials for the library is continuous. The following criteria are a part of the selection process and apply to all library materials: electronic, print, and nonprint. 1. Materials should meet the needs of the individual school based on the knowledge of the curriculum, on the district and school philosophies, and on requests from administrators, teachers, and students. 2. The materials will be considered in relation to both supporting and enriching the curriculum and the personal interests of students and teachers. 3. Materials for the school library should be examined to select those in which the presentation and the subject matter are suitable for the grade level at which they are used. Other factors to consider are, “…emotional development, ability level, learning styles, and social development of students for whom materials are selected.” (School District of Philadelphia) 4. The librarian’s selections will be supported by professional selection aids/tools. Some of which include, but are not limited to: //Booklist, School Library Journal, VOYA, Horn Book Magazine, Library Media Connection, Book Links, and School Library Monthly//. 5. When selecting materials the librarian should consider the opinions and requests of administrators, faculty, students, and other appropriate individuals involved with the school district. 6. “Additional purchase suggestions come from interlibrary loan, visits to book exhibits, and state examination centers, examination of bookstore stock, publishers’ samples seen at conferences, and texts and courses of study approved for use within the School District.” (Butler Area School District) 7. Library materials will be current and up-to-date. 8. When selecting materials levels of difficulty, with a diversity of appeal, and the presentation of different points of view should be considered. Materials should include opposing sides of controversial issues, so that young citizens may develop, under guidance, the practice of critical reading and thinking. 9. When selecting a material the librarian will consider the literary merit. This includes, but is not limited to, factual accuracy, authoritativeness, balance, and integrity. 10. Other points to consider in the selection process include, but are not limited to: a. quality of stimulating presentation, imagination, vision, creativeness, style appropriate to the idea, vitality, distinction b. superior format c. construction that is well-crafted, durable, manageable, and attractive (Groton Public Schools) d. readability and age-appropriateness (Groton Public Schools) e. student and teacher interest f. aesthetic value/high artistic quality
 * IV.** **Selection Criteria**

Gifts presented to the library are accepted. The library staff cannot evaluate the monetary value of any gift for income tax purposes (Jewish Day School Library Seattle).Gifts are to be evaluated with the same criteria mentioned above in the “Selection Criteria”. Once an item is accepted it becomes the property of the library and school district. It is the discretion of the librarian as to when gifts are added to the collection and/or disposed of appropriately.
 * V.** **Gifts**

The same criteria will be applied when weeding materials as when selecting materials. All materials must support and enrich the curriculum. Due to changes, material may no longer support the curriculum and will be weeded accordingly. When weeding materials the library media specialist will ensure the collection is current, useful for its intended purpose, supports the educational goals of the school and curriculum, and meets various ability levels and learning styles.The American Library Association recommends that 3% - 5% of the collection (print and nonbook) be weeded annually. (Hawaii Policy, 5). All discarded materials will be stamped accordingly, and all school information will be blacked out. Any materials that are discarded from the collection will be returned to the vendor if credit can be obtained, otherwise the materials will be donated to faculty members. If materials are damaged beyond repair they will be destroyed. The final decision concerning the removal or replacement of resources rests with the library media specialist (Urban school library).
 * VI. Weeding/Disposal**

The library’s philosophy is based on the Library Bill of Rights of the American Library Association. The principles of intellectual freedom expressed in the Library Bill of Rights follows the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States. The principles of intellectual freedom will be defended in the event of library materials which are questioned. Below states the Library Bill of Rights of the American Library Association:
 * VII. __Intellectual Freedom__ **

The American Library Association affirms that all libraries are forums for information and ideas, and that the following basic policies should guide their services. I. Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation. II. Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval. III. Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment. IV. Libraries should cooperate with all persons and groups concerned with resisting abridgment of free expression and free access to ideas. V. A person’s right to use a library should not be denied or abridged because of origin, age, background, or views. VI. Libraries that make exhibit spaces and meeting rooms available to the public they serve should make such facilities available on an equitable basis, regardless of the beliefs or affiliations of individuals or groups requesting their use.
 * __Library Bill of Rights __ (www.ala.org) **

**__VIII. Procedure for Complaints__:** 1. Complaints regarding library materials shall be brought to the school library media specialist. 2. The complaint shall be heard and an attempt at resolution will be made informally by explanation of the school selection policy, selection criteria and statement of intellectual freedom (Bishop 46, Workbook). 3. If the complaint cannot be resolved informally, the complainant will be given a copy of the selection policy including the selection criteria and procedure for complaints along with a request for reconsideration of library materials form (found in Appendix A) which should be returned to the library media specialist. The library media specialist will then inform the building principal of the nature of the complaint (Bishop 46, Workbook). 4. When the request for reconsideration of library materials form has been received by the library media specialist and the building principal has been informed of the nature of the complaint a reconsideration committee will be formed. The library material which is being reconsidered will continue to be available for circulation during the time it is being reviewed(Bishop 46, Workbook). 5. The reconsideration committee will consist of five members a principal, the library media specialist, a teacher from the subject area, a member of the community and a student. The committee will meet within two weeks of receiving the request for reconsideration of library materials form (Bishop 46, Workbook). 6. The reconsideration committee shall appoint a chairperson; review the complaint on the request for reconsideration of library materials form and the library material itself. Every effort will be made to ensure that the reconsideration process will take place in a timely manner. The following Instructions to Reconsideration Committee shall be available to assist the reconsideration committee reach a decision (Bishop 46, Workbook).

__**Instructions to Reconsideration Committee**__ Bear in mind the principles of the Library Bill of Rights as given above and base your decision on these broad principles rather than on defense of individual materials. Freedom of inquiry is vital to education in a democracy. Study thoroughly all materials referred to you and read available reviews. The general acceptance of the materials should be checked by consulting standard evaluation aids and local holdings in other schools. Passages or parts should not be pulled out of context. The values and faults should be weighed against each other and the opinions based on the materials as a whole. Your report, presenting both majority and minority opinions, will be presented by the building principal to the complainant at the conclusion of your discussion of the questioned material. (Workbook)

7. Once the reconsideration committee has reached a decision to remove or retain the material, the chairperson of the will prepare a report which shall be submitted to the building principal (Bishop 46, Workbook ). 8. The building principal shall notify the complainant of the outcome of the report and that the decision made by the reconsideration committee may be appealed to the superintendent of schools and the school board (Bishop 47, Workbook). 9. The building principal shall submit a copy of the reconsideration committee’s report to the superintendent of schools and take the necessary action as decided in the report (Bishop 47, Workbook).

__Request for Reconsideration of Library Materials Form__: Name of Person Initiating Request: Date of Request: Address: City/ State/ Zip: Phone: Type of Material (Book, Magazine, Video): Title of Material: Author/Producer: Publisher/ Distributor: Copyright Date: 1.) Are you representing an organization in this request for reconsideration? If so, please include the name of the organization. (Bishop 48) 2.) Are you aware of the school library’s selection policy, selection criteria and reconsideration policy? (Bishop 48) 3.) Have you examined the entire piece of library material? (Workbook) 4.) What concerns you about the material? (Please use other side or additional pages if necessary) (Workbook) 5.) Can you recommend other materials that could serve similar educational purposes? (Bishop 48)
 * Appendix A:**

It is our belief that by following the philosophies of both the school district, and the schools, and by using the preceding policies and principles as guidelines, our school libraries will be better able to fulfill their commitment of interpreting and making more meaningful the "Democratic Way of Life" as part of our American Heritage.

Bishop, Kay. __The Collection Program in Schools: Concepts, Practices, and Information Sources__. 4th ed. Westport, Conn.: Libraries Unlimited, 2007. Butler Area School District. “//Library Media Materials Selection”.// Butler, PA//.// 17 September 2001. Web. 7 April 2010. Department of Education State of Hawaii. "//Materials Selection Policy for School Libraries".// Hawaii. Web. 12 April 2010. Groton Public Schools. //“Library Materials Selection.”// Groton, CT. 8 March 1999. Web. 7 April 2010. School District of Philadelphia. //“Selection Policy for School Library Materials”.// Philadelphia, PA. February 2002. Web. 7 April 2010. The Jewish Day School Library. "//Collection Development Policy//". Seattle, Washington. January 10 1990. Web. 15 April 2010. Urban School Library. "Collection Development Policy". San Fransico, CA. Web. 15 April 2010. “Workbook for Selection Policy Writing.”
 * Works Cited:**