COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT POLICY FOR
W.R. MCNEILL ELEMENTARY
Supporting Documents:
American Library Association’s Freedom to Read (
Library Bill of Rights (
School Library Bill of Rights (
Mission Statement:
The mission of this school library is to help students and staff become confident seekers and users of information, and to foster a love of reading by providing high-quality literature. Materials should reflect varied formats, levels, viewpoints, and needs. Materials are not chosen on the basis of personal opinion, but based upon their suitability for a school media center.
Statement of Purpose:
The purpose of this collection development plan is to provide an established set of rules and guidelines concerning materials selection, use of computers (particularly the Internet), procedures for reconsidering challenged materials, and donations. These guidelines are designed to reflect the needs and goals of the students, parents, staff, and the school as a whole.
Selection of Materials
- Responsibility – Although staff, students, parents or members of the community are welcome to suggest materials to add to the collection, the final responsibility of materials selection rests with the school library media specialist.
- Criteria and Tools for Selection – Materials selected for inclusion in the school media center’s collection must enhance and support the school’s curriculum and/or meet the personal/recreational needs of library patrons.
A. Materials chose must meet the following standards for high quality:
- educational significance
- physical format
- literary style
- accuracy and currency of information
- readability
- organization and presentation, including indexes, illustrations, maps, etc.
B. Materials must be suitable for the students in age and ability level, social and emotional development, learning styles, and subject area. Materials should also reflect a diverse and broad range of viewpoints, including a fair representation of both sides of controversial issues. Materials should encourage individual critical analysis and informed decision-making.
C. The following tools shall be used in selecting materials:
- reputable and professional selection aids such as Booklist, School Library Journal, MultiCultural Review, Horn Book, Junior Library Guild, Library Talk, and other sources as appropriate.
- when possible, examination of the item to be purchased.
- collaborate with and consider recommendations from faculty, administrators, students, parents, and community members.
D. Materials will be purchased in a variety of formats, including print, audiovisual (including DVD, Internet subscriptions, apps, audiobooks), maps, manipulatives, and other formats as deemed appropriate and necessary.
Electronic Information Policy
The Internet is an excellent way to provide a vast amount of information that could not be obtained within the walls of the school media center. Because information on the Internet comes from a variety of sources, both accurate and inaccurate, the school media center cannot guarantee the authenticity, currency or appropriateness of resources accessed on the Internet. Library users are encouraged to consult the school media specialist for assistance in evaluating and locating reputable and accurate Internet resources. Library users are also cautioned to use discretion when accessing the Internet, as communications on the Web may be neither secure nor private. Filters are installed on school media center computers, but objectionable materials can occasionally slip through. Students and staff sign district-wide Acceptable Use Policies at the beginning of each year. Acceptable Use guidelines are designed to protect the students, faculty, and school. The following guidelines are in place for acceptable Internet use within the school library media center:
Academic use must take precedence over recreational use.
General school rules of etiquette and good manners apply to communications over the Internet.
Materials that are obscene, offensive, threatening, harassing, and/or demeaning in nature are prohibited from being viewed or transmitted.
Commercial and illegal Internet activity is prohibited.
Downloading files and software without prior approval of the school media specialist is prohibited.
Consuming food or drink while using the computers is prohibited.
Anonymous communications and the exchange of personal information are not allowed.
Students must obtain permission from the library media specialist to access a computer.
Students must inform a faculty member if he/she is inappropriately contacted via the Internet or if he/she accidentally accesses an inappropriate site.
Violations of these guidelines will result in appropriate disciplinary action in accordance with the school’s behavior code. The school media specialist reserves the right to determine, in collaboration with the school’s faculty, administration, and/or board, what constitutes offensive material.
Gifts
Donations in both physical and monetary form are welcomed. Donations of materials will be evaluated according to the same standards as purchased materials. While donations are always appreciated, not all donations may be appropriate to our collection and will be accepted at the discretion of the school media specialist. Any materials donated that are not deemed suitable for the collection will be placed in the school’s library swap cart or donated to a more suitable organization. For suggestions concerning materials that the library needs, please contact the school media specialist.
Collection Maintenance
In order to serve the needs of the school, the library collection must remain up-to-date and in good physical condition. Maintaining a collection that is current, useful, and appropriate requires periodic weeding. The following guidelines are in place to assist the school media specialist in this task:
Appearance: old, brittle, tattered, or missing pages, audiovisual materials with missing components; poor printing; binding that is coming undone, etc.
Duplicates and Superfluous Items: unneeded duplicates; books that no longer fit into the curriculum; older editions; books with a low check-out rate.
Poor Content: out-of date; poorly written; inaccuracy; stereotypes are present; not age-appropriate for elementary school students.
Non-fiction items usually become out-of-date quicker than fiction items.
Reconsideration of Library Materials (Challenged Items)
While the school media specialist strives to select materials based on the principles detailed above, there may occasionally be an item whose appropriateness is challenged or questioned. There is an established procedure in place to handle such matters in order to assure that an impartial and fair decision is made. The following guidelines are in place for handling a challenged item:
When a complaint is made, an informal meeting will be held with the school media specialist, the complainant, and one other party. The school principal may be present.
If the matter is not resolved by this meeting, the complainant is encouraged to fill out a “Request for Reconsideration of Materials” form (this can be obtained from the school media specialist) and return the form to the school media specialist, who will review it along with the principal.
The principal and the school media specialist will appoint a committee to address the challenged item.
The committee will present its conclusions in written form to the school media specialist, the principal, and the school board. A letter explaining the decision will be sent to the complainant.
The final decision to retain or remove any challenged item rests with the school media specialist and the principal.
WORKS CITED
Groton Public Schools. (2002). Materials Selection Policy. Retrieved 26 October
2005 from
Harris, F.J. (2005). University Laboratory High School Collection Development
Policy. Retrieved 26 October 2005 from
Shockley. (2005). Crocker R-2 Acceptable Use Policy (AUP). Retrieved 28 October 2005 from
Spencer, R.M. (2005). Elements of a Good CDP. Retrieved 11 October 2005 from
Spencer, R.M. (2005). LME 502: Top Ten of a Good Collection Development
Policy. Retrieved 26 October 2005 from