CD+Policy

**June 2010**
 * Library Media Center Collection Policy**
 * Belton High School Freshman Center **

**A.** **Objective** The library media center will support and enrich the Belton School District's curricular program. Library media specialists are responsible for selecting current, and interesting materials that will meet the learning needs of the students. Materials in the collection must appeal to the diverse interests, learning styles, and points of view of all of our students. (New Canaan Public Schools Materials Selection Guidelines)

**B.** **Definition of Materials** Educational Materials both print and nonprint that are used by students and teachers in the educational environment. (Iola-Scandinavia District Selection Policy)

**C.** **Criteria For Selection** The school’s professional library staff has primary responsibility for selecting library materials inaccordance with the school’s curriculum and instructional program. The selection process may include consultation with school administrators, other teachers, students and parents, and staff.

The following criteria shall be used in selecting school library materials: 1. Materials should support the school’s and the District’s educational goals, including the advancement of student literacy. 2. Materials should be selected to support, enrich and extend the school’s curriculum and to encourage and support all types of reading, listening, or viewing. 3. Consideration should be given to diverse user interests, abilities, backgrounds, cultures, languages, and maturity levels. Materials intended for student use should be appropriate for the subject area and for the age of the intended audience. 4. Materials should represent different viewpoints on controversial issues so that students learn to explore all sides of a topic and make informed decisions. 5. The value of a book should be weighed by its entire contents, not just important phrases or passages. (Chicago Public Schools Policy Manual)

**D.** **Selection Tools** The following are resources that may be used to assist in the selection process: 1. Reviews in professional, reputable journals. 2. National and state awards. 3. Professional selection bibliographies. 4. Online collection development tools. 5. Recommendations by faculty, administration, students or parents. (Chicago Public Schools Policy Manual)

**E.** **Criteria for Library donations**

a) Donated materials should be new or barely used in good to excellent condition. b) Reference materials should be no more than five years old; science, medical, computer, and other resources in areas in which information quickly becomes outdated should be no more than three years old. c) Fiction books should be copyrighted no more than eight years ago with the exception of books by wellknown children’s authors and classics. d) Nonfiction books should contain current information, no books with outdated or incorrect information will be accepted. f) Materials that generally are not appropriate for library use will not be accepted. (Chicago Public Schools Policy Manual)

**F.** **Weeding** The librarian will remove materials that have misleading or outdated information, that have poor appearance, that have newer editions published, that do not support the school's curriculum or that have not circulated for over five years. This process will be done yearly. The purpose of weeding is to maintain an up to date collection, that appeals to the majority of our school population. (Iola-Scandinavia District Selection Policy)

**G.** **Procedures for Requesting Reconsideration of Library Materials**

Those with questions or concerns regarding the appropriateness of library materials will be directed to the school Library Media Specialist. If the complainant still has concerns after discussing the issue with the Media Specialist, he/she may request a meeting the building principal of that school. If they are still not satisfied, the complainant may contact the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction through a formal written complaint. If the issue remains unresolved thirty days after the formal complaint is filed, the petitioner may forward his/her concern to the Superintendent of Schools.

After receiving a formal request, the Superintendent shall gather a Faculty Review Committee to review the complaint, and render a decision about the appropriateness of the book in question.

No restrictions will be placed on the use of challenged materials until the review process has been completed.

Assistant Superintendent Two building principals (including the principal of the building concerned) Two Librarians within the school district Two faculty members from the school involved
 * The Faculty Review Committee should consist of:**

Click on the link to review and/or print the request for removal of library materials. [|REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION OF LIBRARY MATERIALS.docx] (New Canaan Public Schools Materials Selection Guidelines)


 * Works Cited **

Chicago Public Schools, Chicago, Illinois: “Chicago Public Schools Policy Manual: New Collection Development Policy for School Libraries” []

District Selection Policy” Iola-Scandinavia Middle/High School Library []

"NCHS Library Materials Select..." //Google Docs - Online Documents, Spreadsheets, Presentations, Surveys, File Storage and More//. New Canaan High School Library, New Canaan Connecticut, Oct. 1990. Web. 29 June 2010. @http://docs.google.com/View?id=dfnffrfz_137dbx3q9dm