Collection Development Policy

I.          Statement of Philosophy

Democratic society is predicated upon the free expression and exchange of ideas. This philosophy is consistent with the five learning goals established by the School Board of the Longview School District. Policy 2000 states that students will:

1. Read with comprehension, write effectively, and communicate successfully in a variety of ways and settings;

2. Know and apply the core concepts and principles of mathematics; social, physical, and life sciences; civics and history including different cultures and participation in representative government; geography; arts; health and fitness;

3. Think analytically, logically, and creatively, and to integrate different experiences and knowledge to form reasoned judgments and solve problems;

4. Understand the importance of work and finance and how performance, effort, and decisions directly affect future career and educational opportunities; and

5. Understand and be able to utilize technology for educational, personal and employment needs.

The library is a forum for the housing and expression of ideas from diverse viewpoints and provides users with equal access to those ideas through the careful selection of materials appropriate to the age and maturity level of the students.

II.        Selection Objectives

Achievement of the learning goals is facilitated when the teacher librarian develops and maintains a collection that:

• Equips staff and students with the highest quality resources needed to engage in rigorous inquiry and research

• Provides access to tools and technology that enable staff and students to create and publish knowledge

• Facilitates the love of reading and stories with fiction and nonfiction titles in a variety of formats for entertainment and personal enrichment

III.       Responsibility for Selection

Requests for materials can be made by building administration, staff, students, and parents. Materials are selected by a certificated teacher librarian who, using reason, professional judgment, and peer reviewed selection tools, selects high quality materials that support the curricular and personal enrichment goals of the school community.

IV.       Selection Criteria

Books, media, and audiobooks in Longview Middle School Libraries conform to the selection criteria outlined in Longview School Board Procedure 2020 are as follows:

• Present balanced but differing views of issues, controversial or otherwise, in order that students may develop critical analysis and informed decision-making skills

• Demonstrate consideration of appropriate format(s)

• Support an equitable access to learning and learning materials for all students; including the provision of appropriate high-quality accessible instructional materials to all students with disabilities who require them

• Are free of stereotyping and gender, race, class, and other forms of bias recognizing  that under certain circumstances biased materials may serve as appropriate resources to present contrasting and differing points of view, and biased materials may be employed in order to teach students about bias, stereotyping, and propaganda in historical or contemporary contexts.

Additional criteria include:

• Enrich and support the curriculum, taking into consideration the varied instructional needs, abilities, interests, and maturity levels of the students served.

• Stimulate student growth in conceptual thinking, factual knowledge, physical fitness and literary and ethical standards.

• Contribute to the development of an understanding of the ethnic, cultural, and occupational diversity of American life.

• Present objectively the concerns of and build upon the contributions, current and historical, of both sexes, and members of religious, ethnic and cultural groups.

• Provide models which may be used as a vehicle for the development of self-respect, ethnic pride and appreciation of cultural differences, based on respect for the worth, dignity, and personal values of every individual.

• Materials will be evaluated in their entirety and will not be excluded based on limited portions that do not reflect their content or context.

• Materials will meet quality standards in terms of content, format, and presentation

• Materials will reflect the cultures and concerns of our users

• Materials with high potential user appeal

• Materials that receive favorable reviews found in standard selection sources

• Rare or valuable items that are relevant to community or school history

• Holdings of nearby libraries are considered in determining whether or not to acquire high-cost/low-demand items

V.        Gifts

Gifts of books, media, or equipment will be accepted with the understanding that they must meet the same criteria used to evaluate library purchases. Gifts that do not meet the criteria for use in the library will be donated to a charity. Additions of gifts to the collection will be at the discretion of the teacher librarian.