CD+Policy

Collection Development Policy
To truly have a collection development policy of my own, I've decided to write one for a fictitious school district, Shelbyton School District.

Statement of Policy
The purpose of the school library media center is to provide developmentally appropriate instructional materials and recreational materials so that each student has the potential to develop to the best of his or her ability, mentally exploring the widest possible opportunities. The collection should support the curriculum in all disciplines as well as provide a common body of knowledge. //(Westwood Elementary)//

Confidentiality
Individually identifiable library records will be confidential as required by law. Individually identifiable library records of persons other than students will not be released to any person other than the person identified in the record or to district employees who need to know the information to perform their duties for the district. However, these records may be released upon written request by the person identified in the record or in response to a court order upon a finding that the disclosure is necessary to protect the public safety or to prosecute a crime. As used in this policy, a "library record" is any document, record or other method of storing information retained, received or generated by a library that identifies a person or persons as having requested, used or borrowed library material and all other records identifying the names of library users. The term "library record" does not include nonidentifying material that may be retained for the purpose of studying or evaluating the circulation of library material in general. (//Waynesville R-VI School District//)

Objectives of Selection

 * 1) To make available print and non-print materials that will implement and enrich the curriculum in all areas
 * 2) To develop a life-long appreciation for reading, listening, and viewing
 * 3) To provide opportunities for personal interests and recreational reading of students
 * 4) To contribute to the development of the social, intellectual, and spiritual values of the students
 * 5) To provide materials on opposing sides of controversial issues so that patrons may develop the practice of critical analysis
 * 6) 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 of educational materials //(Iola-Scandinavia Middle School/ High School Library)//

Responsibility for Selection
The school library media specialists believe that selection is a continuous and cooperative process involving all professional members of the school administration, library media specialist, faculty, and students. Final decision rests with the librarians. (//Harford Middle/High School// and //Iola-Scandinavia Middle School/ High School Library//)

Criteria for Selection
The following criteria shall be used in selecting school library materials:
 * 1) Materials should support the school’s and the District’s educational goals and policies, including the advancement of student literacy.
 * 2) Materials should be selected to support, enrich and extend the school’s curriculum and to encourage informational, educational and recreational reading, viewing and/or listening.
 * 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, social development, ability levels, special needs, and learning styles of students served by the collection.
 * 4) Materials should represent various viewpoints on controversial issues so that students learn to explore, analyze and make intelligent judgments.
 * 5) In order to assure __quality__ selection the following additional factors will be weighed as they apply:
 * Educational significance and/or contribution to the curriculum
 * Informational or recreational interest
 * Accuracy and currency of information
 * Contribution to the variety in viewpoints offered on controversial issues
 * Quality and variety of format
 * Reputation and significance of the author, producer, editor and/or publisher
 * Favorable Reviews
 * Degree of potential user appeal
 * Readability levels
 * Need for duplicate copies of extensively used materials
 * Need to replace essential/required worn, damaged, or missing materials
 * Value commensurate with cost and/or need. (//Chicago Public Schools//)

Procedures for Selection
The following are resources that may be used to assist in the selection process:
 * 1) Reviews in professional, reputable sources such as Booklist, School Library Journal, Kirkus Reviews, Horn Book, Bulletin for the Center for Children’s Books, Voice of Youth Advocates, AASA Science Books and Films, and American Film & Video Association.
 * 2) National and state awards such as Caldecott, Newbery, Coretta Scott King, Missouri Building Block Picture Book Award, Show Me Award, Mark Twain Award, Truman Reader Award, Gateway Readers Award, Mildred L. Batchelder, NCTE Award for Poetry for Children, Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award, Schneider Family Book Award, Michael Printz, and Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction.
 * 3) Professional selection bibliographies such as The Best in Children’s Books, Elementary School Library Collection, School Library Catalog, Basic Book Collection for Elementary Grades, Children and Books, Subject Guide to Children's Books in Print, Books for the Teen Age, and Best Books for Young Teen Readers.
 * 4) Online collection development tools such as Follett’s Titlewave and Baker & Taylor’s School Selection.
 * 5) Recommendations by faculty, administration, students or parents. (//Chicago Public Schools//)

Weeding is essential to maintaining a relevant, attractive collection. Professional library staff should periodically review the collection to determine which materials should be removed or replaced. Materials to consider for weeding include items that are in poor physical condition or have been superseded by more current information, and those containing subject matter no longer needed to support the curriculum; receiving little use; providing wrong, inaccurate or dated information; or encouraging stereotypes or biases. Weeding decisions should be made by the school’s professional library staff, who may consult with school administrators. (//Chicago Public Schools//)
 * Weeding:**

Repairs are made when materials, which are still current, can be restored adequately to keep them in circulation. Lost or damaged materials are replaced when the items are still vital to the curriculum and educational needs of students. (//Kelliher Public School//)
 * Repairing and Replacing:**

Items, whether print or non-print, which are presented as gifts to the school library media center must meet the same standards as those materials purchased before the gift item will be added to the collection. (//Harford County Middle/High School//)
 * Gifts:**

Intellectual Access
The library media program serves as a point of access to information and ideas for students as they acquire critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Students and educators served by the library media program should have access to resources and services free of constraints resulting from artificial barriers. Students will have access to library media selected and available in accordance with district policy and library media guidelines. (//Waynesville R-VI School District//)

Reconsideration of Materials
Community members may occasionally disagree with some materials in the library media center despite the quality of the selection process. Community members have a right to ask that materials be reconsidered. The review of questioned materials will be treated courteously and calmly, and as an important routine action. Every effort will be made to consider objections, keeping in mind the best interests of the students, the school, the curriculum, and the community.

Complainants must reside in the District and have children in attendance at one of the District’s schools.

In the event of a complaint, the following procedures are to be followed: > The committee shall consist of:
 * 1) The complaint should first be addressed to the Library Media Specialist either verbally or in writing. The Library Media Specialist will then review the material. The Library Media Specialist will keep a written log including the name of complainant, title of the material, date and nature of the complaint and summary of conversations between the parties. Reporting the complaint to the building principal on the same day the complaint is received.
 * 2) If the complainant is not satisfied with the aforementioned explanations, s/he will meet with the building principal.
 * 3) If the issue is not resolved satisfactorily for the complainant, requests for reconsideration of library materials are to be made in writing using the form included at the bottom of this policy. The form must be returned to the school office within two weeks. If the Library Media Specialist or principal does not receive a completed and signed form within two weeks, he or she may consider the matter to be resolved.
 * 4) The principal and Library Media Specialist shall be notified immediately upon receipt of the complaint form.
 * 5) Requests will be submitted to a committee appointed by the Superintendent of Schools.
 * Principal
 * Superintendent
 * Library Media Specialist
 * Classroom teacher from the department the material most relates to
 * Parent
 * Student
 * 1) Materials may be removed from circulation or remain in circulation while under consideration at the discretion of the Library Media Specialist/committee.
 * 2) The committee will read the material in question, read reviews from established professional selection tools, and make a judgment based on its total effect rather than the presence of words, phrases, or other isolated instances, which might by themselves be objectionable. The written decision of the committee will be sent to the complainant within 30 days of receipt of the complaint.
 * 3) If either the person making the complaint or the Library Media Specialist is not satisfied with the decision made by the committee, it may be appealed to the Superintendent of Schools, who may forward the appeal to the Board of Education. The Board’s decision shall be final. (//Avon Grove School District//, //Chicago Public Schools//, //Iola-Scandinavia Middle School/ High School Library,// and //Kelliher Public Schoo//l//)//

Instruction for Reconsideration Committee
The committee should review the Library Bill of Rights quoted in the Collection Development Policy and base decisions on its principles. Read all materials completely, including the full text of the challenged material and available reviews. Checking for acceptance of the material at other schools, in the state or nation, will help determine overall suitability. Passages or parts should not be taken out of context. Weigh the values and faults carefully and base an opinion of the material as a whole. The final decision, presenting all opinions within the committee, will be presented to the person filing the complaint once all discussion has been completed and a judgment concerning the material has been made. (//Kelliher Public School//)

Library Bill of Rights
Amended February 2, 1961, and January 23, 1980, by the ALA Council (//Harford County Public School//) ||
 * 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 which 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. ||
 * Adopted June 18, 1948.

Requests for Reconsideration of Library Materials
Date Form Issued: Date Form Returned: This form must be returned to the appropriate school’s office within two (2) weeks of its issue.

**Request for Reconsideration of Library Materials**

Initiated by (name): Please circle one: Parent Teacher Employee Student Phone: Cell Phone: Address: e-mail: Group affiliation (if any):

Material in question (please circle one): book periodical other If other, please specify Title: Author: Copyright date: When material was obtained, used, viewed:

Please respond to the following questions.

If you need more space, please attach additional pages. Did you read/hear/view the entire work?

If not, what part did you read/hear/view?

Specifically what part of the information did you find objectionable? Please cite pages, frames, etc.

Have you read the Shelbyton School District's Collection Development's Policy?

What professional reviews of the work have your read? Please list sources and include copies of reviews.

What do you believe is the theme or purpose of the work?

What value do you find in the work?

How would students be affected by exposure to this work?

For what age group(s) would you recommend this material?

What material of equal value would you recommend to convey a similar picture or perspective?

What do you suggest the school do about this material?

The undersigned agrees to attend any necessary meetings in the evaluation process.

Signature: Date: This form must be returned to the appropriate school’s office within two (2) weeks of its issue. (//Avon Grove School District//)

Sources: > @http://www.hcps.org/librarymedia/selection.html (There are two sections, Elementary and Middle/High School) > [] > @http://images.pcmac.org/SiSFiles/Schools/MN/KelliherPublicSchool/KelliherPublicSchool/Uploads/Forms/Collection%20Policy.pdf > @http://policy.msbanet.org/waynesville/showpolicy.php?file=IIAC-C.1C > @http://www.wcs.edu/wes/Media/collection.htm > []
 * Avon Grove School District, West Grove, PA: "Selection Policy for School Library Materials"@http://www.avongrove.org/district/images/pdfs/policies/109AR%20Selection%20Policy%20for%20School%20Library%20Materials.pdf
 * Chicago Public Schools, Chicago, Illinois: “Chicago Public Schools Policy Manual: New Collection Development Policy for School Libraries”[]
 * Harford County Public Schools, Bel Air, MD: "Materials Selection Policy"
 * Iola-Scandinavia Middle School/ High School Library, Iola, WI: "District Selection Policy”
 * Kelliher Public School, Kelliher, MN: "Collection Development Policy"
 * Waynesville R-VI School District, Waynesville, MO: "Instructional Media Centers/School Libraries"
 * Westwood Elementary School, Fairview, TN: "Westwood Elementary School Library Collection Development Policy"
 * Workbook for Selection Policy Writing – American Library Association

"It does not matter how many books you may have, but whether they are good or not." - Lucius Annaeus Seneca (3 B.C.-65 A.D.), //Epistolae Morale//