Policies

The mission of our school library program is to ensure that students and staff are effective users of ideas and information. Classes, groups and individuals are encouraged to use the library. We will work together to insure that the library program contributes fully to our educational programs.

The school library will be open at scheduled times. All students are entitled to borrow books from the library.

The student’s teacher and the librarian determine the number and type of books checked out. A student who does not return library materials is not allowed to borrow more until items are returned or paid for. Library books that are damaged, lost, or destroyed are to be paid for by the student who has signed them out. The librarian and current catalog price determine the cost.

Collection Development Policy:

All materials purchased for the school's media center will be evaluated on the following criteria: appropriateness for intended audience, age and relevance of the material, contribution of material to multicultural awareness and diversity including on controversial issues, importance to the field of knowledge, and support of the curriculum.When choosing books, many sources are referenced for these purchases.

Ms. Mawn follows numerous Facebook groups for librarians including Future Ready Librarians, The School Librarian’s Workshop and the American Library Association Think Tank.

Also, the library subscribes to School Library Journal and Ms. Mawn reads their monthly reviews of books.

Ms. Mawn welcomes requests from students, staff and parents, and will take requests into consideration when purchasing new materials.

If a book has mature situations, it is often cataloged as a YA (young adult) book. The YA books are marked with stickers on the spines; the stickers are to inform, not to restrict.

All donated materials will be subject to the same evaluation criteria.

The media center follows the American Library Association in promoting intellectual freedom.

Weeding Policy:

MUSTIE is an easily remembered acronym for six negative factors that frequently ruin a book's usefulness and mark it for weeding:

M = Misleading (and/or factually inaccurate)

U = Ugly (worn and beyond mending or rebinding)

S = Superseded (by a truly new edition or by a much better book on the subject)

T = Trivial (of no discernible literary or scientific merit)

I = Irrelevant to the needs and interests of your community

E = The material may be obtained expeditiously Elsewhere through interlibrary loan or reciprocal borrowing.

In all cases, weeding decisions ultimately depend upon the professional judgments of Ms. Mawn, who is responsible for the selection of materials in response to the needs of the students and staff.