Dwight Morrow High School Media Center

Materials Selection Policy

Picture of Dwight Morrow

Objective

The main objective of the library media center's selection procedure is to support living literacy across the curriculum on the DMAE campus. Educational materials will be provided on various skill levels and formats with a diversity of appeal to assist reading comprehension, develop critical thinking, supplement classroom instruction, and meet the needs of independent learners.

Responsibility for Selection

The DMAE Library Media Specialist, Douglas Walden, is responsible for coordinating and recommending the selection and purchase of library media materials.

Criteria

Mr. Walden, aided by professional library publications and colleagues, will use the following criteria for selecting materials for the DMAE Library Media Center:

  1. Materials integral to the instructional program.
  2. Materials appropriate for the reading level and understanding of students in the school.
  3. Materials reflecting the interests and needs of the students and faculty served by the media center.
  4. Materials warranting inclusion in the collection because of their literary and/or artistic value and merit.
  5. Materials presenting information with the greatest degree of accuracy and clarity possible.
  6. Materials representing a fair and unbiased presentation of information. In controversial areas, the media specialist, in cooperation with the faculty, should select materials representing as many shades of opinion as possible, in order that varying viewpoints are available to students.

Procedures

Materials for the library media center are selected by Mr. Walden with due regard to suggestions from the faculty, parents, and students. Professionally recognized reviewing periodicals, standard catalogs, and other selection aids renowned for their objectivity and wide experience are used by the media specialist to guide him in his selection. The actual resource will be examined whenever possible. Selection and reevaluation (weeding) is an ongoing process that includes removal of materials no longer appropriate and replacement of lost and worn materials still of educational value.

Special Areas

Gift materials shall be judged by the selection criteria and shall be accepted or rejected by those criteria.

Students will be responsible for items circulated from the library. If materials are lost or destroyed, students are responsible for replacing or paying the existing price of the item.

Reference materials, archaic volumes, and other expensive items will not be circulated. Professional collections are primarily sanctioned for faculty but available on short-loan to students. Controversial titles and similar items will be located in the Special Collection, which will require permission for check-out.

Policies on Controversial Materials

The DMAE Library Media Center supports the quintessential democratic principle of intellectual freedom. The principles of intellectual freedom are inherent in the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States…

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances". –The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

…and are expressed in the Library Bill of Rights, adopted by the Council of the American Library Association. ALA Library Bill of Rights

Reconsideration of Challenged Materials

The library media specialist receiving a complaint regarding a library material shall try to resolve the issue informally. If the questioner wishes to file a formal challenge, the following guidelines and procedures must be followed:

  1. No parent has the right to determine reading, viewing, or listening matter for students other than his or her own children. If an objection arises concerning a selection, a hearing will commence to decide appropriate action.
  2. Access to challenged material shall not be restricted during the reconsideration process. The item in question may be requisitioned to the Special Collection during this process at the discretion of Mr. Walden. The library media specialist will make all efforts to defend the principles of freedom of information, the students' right to access of materials, and the professional responsibility and integrity of the school faculty.
  3. The objector must fill-out a written complaint following the guidelines of the ALA's Intellectual Freedom Committee's Request for Reconsideration Form.Reconsideration Form
  4. A reconsideration committee consisting of the curriculum director, the principal, the library media specialist, at least one teacher, a student leader, and a PTO representative will be assigned to examine the material in question.
  5. No duly selected materials whose appropriateness is challenged shall be removed from the school except upon the recommendation of a reconsideration committee, with the concurrence of the Superintendent or, upon the Superintendent's recommendation, the concurrence of the Board of Education, or upon formal action of the Board of Education when a recommendation of a reconsideration committee is appealed to it.
  6. Pending the outcome of the request for reconsideration, however, access to questioned materials can be denied to the student (or students) of the parental guardians making the complaint, if they so desire.
  7. The principal shall notify complainant of the decision and send a formal report and recommendation to the Superintendent. In answering the complainant, the principal shall explain the book selection system, give the guidelines used for selection, and cite authorities used in reaching decisions. If the committee decides to keep the work that caused the complaint, the complainant shall be given an explanation. If the complaint is valid, the principal will acknowledge it and make recommended changes.
  8. If the complainant is still not satisfied, he or she may ask the Superintendent to present an appeal to the Board of Education, which shall make a final determination of the issue. The Board of Education may seek assistance from outside organizations such as the American Library Association, the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, etc., in making its determination.
  9. A decision to sustain a challenge shall not necessarily be interpreted as a judgment of irresponsibility by the professionals involved in the original selection and/or use of the material.

Adapted from Workbook for Selection Policy Writing. Revised October, 1998. American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom. Selection Policy Writing