Library Collection Development

This procedure guides Teacher-Librarians, as well as, informs the community about the process for selecting, acquiring, evaluating and maintaining library materials. The objective of each school library media program is to implement, support and enrich the educational program of the district.

To best meet the unique needs of each school, the district will strive to create a library collection based upon an assessment of student and staff needs. This will be accomplished by:

1. Providing resource materials, both curricular and personal for students and faculty;
2.  Providing materials that meet the interest, vocabulary, maturity and ability levels of all students;
3.  Acquiring materials that build strong cultural identify for students of diversity.
4.  Fostering reading as a lifelong activity through pleasurable exposure to printed and digital materials; and
5.  Including materials in the collection because of their academic, literary and/or artistic value and merit.

Library Materials and Electronic Resources

Library materials or digital services are those items accessible through the library media center program which provide support for an area of the curriculum, information for independent study, or resources for enrichment and recreational interest. Electronic resources include access to electronic documents, databases and websites.

Suggestions for Acquisition

Suggestions for acquisition or electronic resources may originate from students, parents, community members and teachers. Library/media staff will weigh requests, evaluate materials and select those which fulfill the needs of the instructional program. Teacher-Librarians in each school determine additional selections for their school sites.

Selection

1. Sources for the selection of materials include, but are not limited to:
   • Vendor catalogs, American Historical Fiction, Basic Book Collection for Elementary Grades, the Best in Children’s books, Children and Books, Children’s Catalog, Elementary School Library Collection, European Historical Fiction and Biography, Guide to Sources in Educational Media, Junior High School Catalog Reference Books For School Libraries, Subject Guide To Children’s Books in Print, Subject Index to Books for Intermediate Grades, Subject Index to Books for Primary Grades, and Westinghouse Learning Directory.
   • Current review journals:
     • AASA Science Books and Films
     • American Film & Video Association Evaluations
     • Kirkus Reviews
     • Media and Methods
     • School Library Journal
     • Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
     • Horn Book
     • KLIATT
     • VOYA
     • Booklist
2. All items selected for placement in the school library will:
   • Support and be consistent with the general educational goals of the State of Washington, the district, and the aims and objectives of individual schools and specific courses;
   • Support and be consistent with school library media and information literacy standards established by the American Association of School Librarians as well as content area standards established by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction of the State of Washington;
   • Meet high standards of quality in factual content and presentation;
   • Contain appropriate subject matter for the age, social/emotional development, ability level, learning styles, and cultural diversity of the students for whom they are selected;
   • Serve the intended purpose, in both physical format and appearance for library materials;
   • Help students gain an awareness of our pluralistic society;
   • Motivate students and staff to examine their own duties, responsibilities, rights, and privileges as participating citizens in our society, and to make informed judgments in their daily lives;
   • Withstand scrutiny based on their strengths rather than rejected for their weakness; and
   • Clarify historical and contemporary forces by presenting and analyzing intergroup tension and conflict objectively, placing emphasis on recognizing and understanding social and economic problems.

Gifts/Donations

Materials donated to the school library shall be accepted or declined in accordance with the criteria applied to the purchase of materials and district policy.

Collection Assessment

De-selection (weeding) of outdated and damaged materials is a natural part of the library’s life cycle and maintenance of the quality and integrity of the collection. The Teacher-Librarian will evaluate the library collection on a continuing basis in order to assure that the collection meets the mission statement and goals of the district.

Considerations for De-Selection

1.  Currency – The subject matter is out of date or no longer relevant to the instructional program;
2.  Physical Condition – Item is worn, soiled, missing pages, antiquated in appearance or unattractive;
3.  Not circulating for a reasonable amount of time;
4.  Superseded by newer editions;
5.  Perpetuates cultural, ethnic, or sexual stereotypes;
6.  Inappropriate reading level; or
7.  Unneeded duplication of materials.

Request for Reconsideration of Library Media Materials

When a concern is expressed about library resources, the Teacher-Librarian will consider both the citizen’s right to express an opinion and the principles of intellectual freedom.

Informal Reconsideration

Persons wishing to make a complaint regarding library resources will be asked to direct their complaint to the Teacher-Librarian. The Teacher-Librarian shall attempt to resolve the issue informally by:

1. Discussing the request with the complainant and listening carefully to the concerns expressed;
2. Explaining why the material was selected, and how its inclusion in the collection was guided by the district collection development policy/procedure; and
3. Share review sources for the item in question
4. If the informal process does not resolve the matter, the complainant may submit a formal request for reconsideration of Library resources. Library materials in question will remain in the collection until the process is completed and a final decision is made.

Formal Reconsideration

The building principal will be informed whenever a citizen asks for a Request for Reconsideration of Library/Media Materials form.

The Request for Reconsideration of Materials form, together with a copy of the challenged materials process shall be furnished to the complainant by the principal.

The formal process shall follow the process required by Board Procedure 2015SP for a written challenge, with the understanding that the criteria and rationale for reconsideration of library materials differs from classroom/district adopted materials. When reviewing a challenge to library materials, pursuant to 2015SP, the ad hoc review committee will:

1. Examine the Request for Reconsideration form.
2. Read and evaluate the book/material in question.
3. Study thoroughly all materials referred and read available reviews. The general acceptance of the materials should be checked by consulting standard evaluation aids and holdings in other schools.
4. Discuss the book/material in the context of the educational program and the audience for which it was selected.
5. Consider the entire work, rather than extracting passages or parts. Weighing the values and faults against each other and weighing the conflicting opinions based on the materials as a whole.
6. Base the final decision upon the appropriateness of the material for its intended educational use.

The decision of the ad hoc review committee may be appealed by a concerned party to the Board, by submitting a written request to the office of the superintendent. The purpose of the Board’s review shall be to determine whether the committee applied the appropriate criteria and followed the proper process.

The Superintendent or his or her designee will notify the concerned parties of the findings of the Board’s review.

If the correct criteria and process were followed by the ad hoc review committee, the decision of the committee stands. If it is determined they were not followed, the Board will determine the outcome of the challenge.

The decision regarding challenged materials will not be subject to reconsideration for a minimum of three years, unless there is a substantive change of circumstances as determined by the Superintendent or his or her designee.

Superintendent Procedure

• 2015SP.A – Instructional Materials Complaint

Policy Cross References

• 2021 – Library Media Centers

Revisions

• October 29, 2014

Adopted by the Board

• December 2011