Library Policies, Philosophy, & Mission
Bryan ISD Library Services will Be Essential to students, staff and families by serving as the cornerstone of our school communities, empowering a love of reading, and providing the resources necessary to be lifelong learners.
Board Policy
Bryan ISD Libraries are bound by law to follow adopted board policies. Bryan ISD Board Policy states "For library selections, are integral to the instructional program, are appropriate for the reading levels and understanding of students, reflect the interests and needs of the students and faculty, are included because of their literary or artistic value and merit, and present information with the greatest degree of accuracy and clarity."
Library Philosophy
The Bryan ISD libraries are literacy and information centers where students, teachers, and staff members use 21st century resources to develop readers and researchers. Bryan ISD Library services will provide materials that support and enrich the curriculum of each school community. Library resources and titles will represent a wide range of perspectives on all issues and will support the social and emotional development of our students. Our collections will provide students with both a mirror to see themselves and a window to see the outside world as they develop a love of reading and become lifelong learners.
Objectives of the School Library Program
1. To provide access to library materials for the school community
2. To instill in students a love for reading and develop their skills in self-selecting personal reading materials
3. To build proficiency in accessing and using library research resources
4. To help students acquire independence when using print and digital media
5. To encourage patrons to respect physical, intellectual, and digital properties
6. To represent all student populations by providing a balanced collection of books and resources that include a diverse group of authors, illustrators, characters, genres, etc.
Library Selection Policy
The primary responsibility for selecting materials for Bryan ISD Libraries is that of the campus Library Media Specialist, under the supervision of the Library Program Coordinator and in conjunction with the campus principal. In the absence of a Library Media Specialist, the primary responsibility for selecting materials for the library is that of the Library Program Coordinator. Library Media Specialists and the Library Program Coordinator are encouraged and expected to gather and consider recommendations from school staff, students, administration, parents, and community members.
The number one criteria for materials selection is to provide for the patrons at each campus. Items should promote a love of reading, meet direct classroom learning needs, support the needs of teachers, or otherwise contribute to learning standards set forth in the TEKS.
Items purchased must conform to specific guidelines for purchase including, but not limited to age appropriateness, reading level, educational value, reliability/ authority of sources, cost effectiveness, sustainability, etc. The Library Program Coordinator and Library Media Specialists will use reviews, book lists, and suggestions from professional journals, industry leaders, professional conferences, publishers, authors, etc.
District Library Professionals will utilize professional resources from School Library Journal, Horn Book, Texas Library Association, American Library Association, etc.
Instructional Materials/Library Reconsideration (Book Challenges) Overview
District Policy EF (LOCAL) - INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES states "District professional staff shall endeavor to maintain a balanced collection representing various views when selecting instructional resources on controversial issues. Resources shall be chosen to clarify historical and contemporary forces by presenting and analyzing intergroup tension and conflict objectively, placing emphasis on recognizing and understanding social and economic problems."
Library Media Specialists work hard to provide a wide-ranged, balanced, appropriate collection for our students, but there is always a chance that someone will disagree with the selection of a book or instructional material. Bryan ISD has established a procedure for reconsideration of library and instructional materials to address concerns from the community. Click here to learn more about the formal reconsideration policy and procedures.
Per Board Policy: "Students' First Amendment rights are implicated by the removal of books from the shelves of a school library. A district shall not remove materials from a library for the purpose of denying students access to ideas with which the district disagrees. A district may remove materials because they are pervasively vulgar or based solely upon the educational suitability of the books in question. The major criterion for the final decision on challenged resources is the appropriateness of the resource for its intended educational use. [...] No challenged instructional resource shall be removed solely because of the ideas expressed therein."
More information on the Reconsideration Process can be found online in the Bryan ISD Board Policy Manual through the Texas Association of School Boards website: http://pol.tasb.org/Home/Index/225
Library De-Selection Policy
It is the responsibility of the Library Media Specialist to maintain a current, age-appropriate collection that is in good condition. When a book is no longer relevant or is damaged beyond repair, it needs to be removed from the library’s collection through a process called weeding.
Items to consider when weeding:
age of book
condition of book
relevance of book
historical circulation
number of copies
number of books on topic (if topic is necessary to maintain a balanced collection)
input from library assistant
Suggested methods to help with weeding: CREW (Continuous Review, Evaluation, and Weeding)