Group+2+Collection+Policy

**Collection Policy for Library Materials**
 * I. Philosophy**

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A cornerstone of the education system is learning how to identify, locate, organize, and present needed information in a clear, concise, and persuasive manner. As technologies change, school library users need to develop skills to manage complex information formats. The school library program, as an integral part of the overall curriculum, provides opportunities for patrons to sharpen their reading skills, develop literary tastes, evaluate the legitimacy of information, and acquire the skills needed to utilize the libraries' resources. Each patron, therefore, should have access to an effective, integrated school library program that reflects the curriculum as well as the social and intellectual values of the school library community.======

The library will function as the information center of the school for integrated, interdisciplinary, inter-grade, and school-wide learning activities and materials for the purpose of implementing, enriching, and supporting the educational program of the individual schools and the district. Materials will serve both the breadth of the curriculum and the needs and interests of the faculty and students. The library will provide resources and learning activities that represent a diversity of experiences, opinions, and social and cultural perspectives by supporting the concept that intellectual freedom and access to information are prerequisite to effective and responsible citizenship in a democracy. In addition, the library has established the following objectives in order to serve our patrons:
 * II. Objectives**

A. The library will select materials that:
 * support the individual curricula of the school
 * support the educational enrichment needs of the students by including materials that amplify, expand upon, and go beyond the scope of the present educational curriculum.
 * offer remedial assistance to students. It will provide for low reading level, high interest level materials that spark interest among users.
 * assist students in making career choices.
 * assist students seeking information on institutions of higher learning including information on college applications, college essays, finances, and scholarship availability.
 * include fiction and non-fiction recreational reading for all students at all levels of reading development including works from a broad range of genres
 * will assist teachers with the implementation of their curriculum and individual needs

B. The library will provide access to information with:
 * systematic learning activities that develop cognitive strategies for selecting, retrieving, analyzing, evaluating, synthesizing, and creating information at all age levels and in all curriculum content areas.
 * a carefully selected and systematically organized collection of diverse learning resources representing a wide range of subjects, levels of difficulty, communication formats, and technological delivery systems. It will also provide access to information and materials outside the library media center and the school building through such mechanisms as inter-library loan, networking and other cooperative agreements, and online searching of databases.
 * learning experiences that encourage users to become discriminating consumers and skilled creators of information through introduction to the full range of communications media and the use of new and emerging information technologies such as the internet and 2.0 technologies.
 * leadership, instruction, and consulting assistance in the use of instructional and information technology to both students and staff.
 * resources and activities that contribute to lifelong learning while accommodating a wide range of differences in teaching and learning styles and in instructional methods, interests, and capacities.

It is recommended that the delegation of authority and assumption of responsibility be stated in a formal policy adopted by the Board of Education, the governing body of the school legally responsible for all matters concerning the operation of the school. Materials for the school library should be selected by a certified library media specialist in consultation with administration, faculty, and students. Final decisions on purchases should rest with the certified library media specialist in accordance with the formally adopted selection policy. This policy applies to all types of materials, both printed and non-printed, in the libraries' collections including, but not limited to, books, videotapes, DVDs, databases, e-books, and audio books.
 * III. Responsibility for Selection**

The following is a list of the criteria to be used in the evaluation and selection of library materials: (ALA Workbook for Selection Policy Writing)
 * IV. Sel​ection Criteria**
 * educational significance
 * contribution the subject matter makes to the curriculum and to the interests of the students
 * favorable reviews found in standard selection sources
 * favorable recommendations based on preview and examination of materials by professional personnel
 * reputation and significance of the author, producer, and publisher
 * validity,currency and appropriateness of material
 * contribution the material makes to breadth of representative viewpoints on controversial issues
 * high degree of potential user appeal
 * high artistic quality and/or literary style
 * quality and variety of format
 * value commensurate with cost and/or need
 * timeliness or permanence
 * integrity

A. Recommendations for purchase involve administrators, teachers, students, district personnel and community persons, as appropriate. Suggestions for purchase will be evaluated using the selection criteria, as outlined above.
 * V. Description of procedures, forms, and practices used in selection**

B. Gift materials/donations are gladly accepted, but will only be included in the collection if they support and are consistent with the general educational goals of the state and district, as well as meet the selection criteria as outlined above. Gifts that do not meet our selection criteria may be made available to classroom teachers, donated to the local library, or to a charitable organization.

C. Selection is an ongoing process that should include the removal of materials no longer appropriate and the replacement of lost and worn materials still of educational value. The weeding of outdated, damaged, and unused books will happen on a continuous basis. Before being discarded or donated, each item is reviewed by the appropriate staff member based upon professional judgment and knowledge of the collection and curriculum. Librarians may at times look to faculty members for their recommendations. Books and resources may be removed from the collection using the following criteria: (from Cumberland County College Library)
 * Superseded editions not containing unique information, data, or providing a historical reference not available in the most current edition.
 * Titles unused within a reasonable time period based on subject and scope of the work except for items considered classics or standard editions.
 * Duplicate titles unless a proven demand exists for multiple copies.
 * Materials which do not support and enhance the current curriculum and selection policy.
 * Items in poor condition that can not be salvaged using reasonable preservation efforts.

D. The school librarian will consult the following recommended resources when selecting materials for the library. Selection is not limited to their listings:


 * **Bibliographies**
 * //American Historical Fiction//
 * //Guide to Sources in Educational Media//
 * //Reference Books for School Libraries//
 * //Basic Book Collection for Elementary Grades//
 * **Current Reviewing Media**
 * //School Library Journal//
 * //Booklist//
 * //Horn Book//
 * //Library Media Connections//

E. Professional Collection


 * The library shall maintain a small professional collection of materials relating to the fields of education and instructional support. Examples include copies of national standards for various subject areas, instructional videos, teacher guides, etc.
 * This collection shall be housed in the back rooms of the library and may be accessed and checked out by the staff at any time.

School libraries are concerned with generating an understanding of the American freedoms and with the preservation of these freedoms through the development of informed and responsible citizens. To this end, the librarians of our district and the American Association of School Librarians reaffirms the **LIBRARY BILL OF RIGHTS** of the American Library Association and asserts that the responsibility of the school library is:
 * VI. Position statement on intellectual freedom and the importance of access to information.**
 * To provide materials that will enrich and support the curriculum, taking into consideration the varied interests, abilities, and the maturity level of the students served.
 * To provide materials that will stimulate growth in factual knowledge, literary appreciation, aesthetic values and ethical standards.
 * To provide a background of information which will enable pupils to make intelligent judgments in their daily life.
 * To provide materials on opposing sides of controversial issues so that young citizens may develop under guidance the practice of critical reading and thinking.
 * To place principle above personal opinion and reason above prejudice in the selection of materials of the highest quality in order to assure a comprehensive collection appropriate for the users of the library.

Two basic factors, truth and art, will be considered in the selection of books and library materials. The first is factual accuracy, authoritativeness, balance, and integrity. The second is the quality of stimulating presentation, imagination, vision, creativeness, style appropriate to the idea, vitality, and distinction. Materials for the school library shall be examined to select those in which the presentation and the subject matter are suitable for the grade level at which they are used. The materials will be considered in relation to both the curriculum and the personal interests of students and teachers. Books and materials meeting the above standards and principles will not be banned, but books and materials of obscene nature or those advocating the over-throwing of the United States government by force or revolution shall not be recommended for purchase.

Since opinions may differ in a democracy, the following procedures will be observed in recognizing those differences in an impartial and factual manner. Procedure for resource challenge:
 * VII. Procedure for Reconsideration of Materials**
 * An individual wishing to register criticism or complaints about the collection are urged to contact the LMS.
 * The LMS will explain the library's position and stance on the First Amendment and the ALA's position on Freedom of Speech. A written copy of the school's goals and objectives, the material selection policy statement, and the procedures for handling a complaint will be provided to the complainant.
 * The patron is welcome to explore the challenged material.
 * If requested a "reconsideration of a material form" will be provided to the patron.
 * The form should be completed within 2 weeks and returned to the LMS (Note: the item will remain in circulation during the challenge until a ruling is made).
 * The Principal will be notified of the request for a challenge (patron name will remain anonymous).
 * When form is returned to the LMS the Superintendent and Principal will be notified.
 * Reconsideration committee will meet within 10 days to evaluate the complaint (Committee consists of building administrator, teacher, LMS, a community member and a student).
 * Board will review the material and meet again within 10 days to rule on the challenged material.
 * Chairperson of the review committee presents results in writing to the Principal.
 * Principal conveys reports to the complainant, copying the Superintendent.
 * The complainant can appeal to the Superintendent and the School Board if he wishes.

Title of book: Author: Request initiated by: Home Phone: Address:_ Work Phone: Date: Location of material:
 * Request for Review of Instructional Material (form):**

1. To what in the material do you object? (Please be specific; cite pages or sections)

2. What do you feel might be the result of using this material?

3. For what age group would you recommend this material?

4. Is there anything good about this material?

5. Did you examine the entire resource? If not, what parts?

6. What do you believe is the theme of this material?

7. What would you like your school to do with this material? -Do not assign it to my child or allow them to check it out from the library. -Withdraw it from all students and remove it from the library shelves. -Other, please explain: 8. In its place, what material of equal educational value would you recommend?

Signature of Resident: Date:

Works Cited:

ALA Workbook for Selection Policy Writing

Cumberland County College 