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Middle/High School Selection Policy For Media Materials |
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The school library media center has a vital place in the total
educational program. The school library media center exists to
provide materials, equipment and services for the students and faculty it
serves. Selection of various materials, therefore, becomes an
important, responsible task as stated in the SCHOOL LIBRARY BILL OF RIGHTS
FOR SCHOOL LIBRARY MEDIA CENTER PROGRAMS which the school upholds:
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The American Association of School Librarians reaffirms
its belief in the Library Bill of Rights of the American Library Association.
Media personnel are concerned with generating an understanding of American freedoms
through the development of informed and responsible citizens. To this end,
the American Association of School Librarians asserts that the responsibility
of the school library media center is:
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To provide a comprehensive collection of instructional materials selected in compliance with basic written selection principles, and to provide maximum accessibility to these materials.
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To provide materials that will support the curriculum, taking into consideration the individual's needs and the varied interests, abilities, social-economic back-grounds, and maturity levels of the students served.
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To provide materials for teachers
and students that will encourage growth in knowledge and that will develop literary,
cultural and aesthetic appreciation and ethical standards.
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To provide materials which reflect
the ideas and beliefs of religious, social, political, historical and ethnic groups
and their contribution to the American and world heritage and culture, thereby,
enabling students to develop an intellectual integrity in forming judgments.
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To provide a written statement,
approved by the local Board of Education, of the procedures for meeting the challenge
of censorship of materials in school library media centers.
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To provide qualified professional personnel to serve teachers and students.
The school library media center houses a collection of materials including books, newspaper, periodicals, filmstrips, slides, records, microfiche,
tapes, computer software and media kits that support and enrich the school's curriculum.
In addition, to supporting the ever-changing needs of the curriculum, the school library
media center staff recognizes the need to enhance and to effectualize each student's
recreational, developments, and extra-curricular interests and needs, as well.
Thus, materials are also selected based on the growth...physical, mental, emotional
and intellectual...of the individual child, encompassing his wide range of
reading abilities, interests, and maturity levels.
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Selection Criteria
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| Each item whether print or non-print is carefully evaluated within the framework of sound selection principles, using reliable reviewing sources and personal inspection of the materials whenever possible. The following standard selection tools are utilized:
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- BOOKLIST
- HORNBOOK
- BULLETIN FOR THE CENTER OF CHILDREN'S BOOKS
- SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL
- INTERNET REVIEW SOURCES, SUCH AS FOLLETT, BOUND TO STAY BOUND, BARNES AND NOBLE, AMAZON, ETC.
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RESPONSIBILITY FOR SELECTION
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The school library media specialists believe that selection is a continuous
and cooperative process involving all professional members of the school
staff teachers, school library media specialist-subject to the approval
of the Supervisor of Library Services and the school principal.
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GENERAL CRITERIA FOR MEDIA SELECTION
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The following are general guidelines used to evaluate the materials considered for inclusion into the media center's collection:
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1. The school library media center materials should be pertinent to the curriculum and contribute to the instructional objectives of the school's educational program.
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2. Materials should be relevant to today's world and represent artistic, historic and literary qualities.
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3. Nonfiction materials must give functional, appropriate, accurate and objective information.
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4. Fiction books must have positive qualities of plot, style, characterization and theme.
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5. All school library media center materials are related in content and vocabulary to the diverse high school student and geared to satisfy his informational, recreational and
cultural needs.
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6. Materials should lead to the development of responsible citizens.
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7. Materials should reflect the problems, aspirations, attitudes and ideals of society.
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8. Nonprint materials should be of good technical quality; have clear narration and images; synchronized sound and an aesthetically pleasing format appropriate to the information conveyed.
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9. Materials are purchased from recommendations in reviews and standard lists.
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10. Materials may be purchased from student, faculty or community recommendations.
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11. The school library media center shall have materials on hand that represent differing viewpoints on controversial subjects for information and research purposes.
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12. Materials sometimes considered unsuitable for adolescents may be denied a place in our collection. Specifically, materials of poor literary quality or unnecessary nudity, violence, vulgarity, profanity, or those extreme in academic utility and expense are felt to be unnecessary in our collection. The fact of sexual incidents or profanity appearing does not automatically disqualify media materials. Rather, the decision is made on the basis of whether the material presents life in its true proportions, whether the material is of literary value and whether circumstances are dealt with realistically.
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GIFTS
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| 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.
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Top
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Library Bill Of Rights |
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The American Library Association affirms that all libraries are forums for information and ideas, and that the following basic policies should guide their services.
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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.
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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.
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III. Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment.
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IV. Libraries should cooperate with all persons and groups concerned with resisting abridgment of free expression and free access to ideas.
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V. A person's right to use a library should not be denied or abridged because of origin, age, background, or views.
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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.
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Adopted June 18, 1948.
Amended February 2, 1961, and January 23, 1980,
by the ALA Council
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