Policies and Procedures

Library Media Center Guidelines and Procedures

Vision Statement: To ensure that all students and staff are effective users of ideas and information and to prepare students to become global citizens in an ever changing technology-based world.

Mission Statement:  The mission of the Rogers Park library is to provide equitable access to information, ideas and resources, to develop strong readers, create independent researchers, and to support classroom curriculum.  This is done through the maintenance of a diverse and rich collection of materials that provide supplemental materials for classroom instruction and recreational reading materials on topics of interest to the students of our learning community.

In my role as librarian teacher, I will

·  Promote information literacy by using organized and appropriate lessons that support the Common Core Curriculum and ASD adopted curriculum

·  Integrate lessons/activities into the curriculum to ensure the acquisition of knowledge and skills will be relevant to students

·  Provide a climate where students feel welcome and where each member of the school community is able to explore, question and find a path to becoming a life-long learner

In my role as reading advocate, I will

·  Emphasize the value of the written word by exposing students to a variety of authors and genres

·  Provide reading selection that will interest and inspire students as well as     encourage students to ask questions

·  Extend reading opportunities into the arts and sciences

In my role as information manager, I will

·  Ensure that materials, resources and technology are available to all members of the school community

·  Actively work to provide rich and diverse materials for all members of the school community

·  Provide and maintain the highest quality facility be developing collections, weeding appropriately, ensuring materials are in good condition and technology is working properly.  Administering the budget with the needs of the community as the foremost criteria for decision making

Policies and Procedures

Student Check Out

Students have the opportunity to check out materials each week during their library class and during open check out. The current schedule for open check out is Monday through Friday from 9:05-9:30am.  Kindergarten and first grade students are allowed one book at a time, but may exchange for another book during open check out any day.  Second and third grade students are allowed two books at a time, and fourth through sixth grade students start with two books and will be allowed more with a consistent record of returns.  A student can return a book at any time.

Overdue Books

Kindergarten and first grade students are given reminders of overdue books each week.  Students in grades two through six will get oral reminders.  Overdue notices will go out at least once per quarter, and electronic reminders are sent to parents/guardians if an email address is on file.

Lost or Damaged Books

If a student has lost or damaged library materials, the item(s) needs to be taken care of by the end of the school year.  This can be done in one of three ways:

1.    Pay for lost/damaged items.  If the price of the lost/damaged item is not on the overdue notice, please contact the librarian

2.   Replace the lost/damaged item(s).  This is the preferred method. It is recommended that families check either Title Wave Book Store on Northern Lights Boulevard or order the item(s) through Amazon to get the best price. 

3.   If replacing the lost/damaged item is a hardship, please communicate with the librarian to create a plan for the student to “work” off the fine during recess. Please contact the librarian at least three weeks before the end of the year to discuss and create the plan/timeline to work off the lost/damaged item(s).

Collection Maintenance

Rogers Park library’s collection is evaluated annually in order to ensure students and staff have access to current, relevant and diverse information.  Circulation reports and classroom curriculum will be used to determine how the collection is being used, and how it should change for our patron’s needs.  Materials will be continuously assessed for their physical condition and their use.

Purchasing

Materials for the library will be based on grade-level curriculum and the age/condition of the existing collection.  These needs are given first consideration in the selection of materials.  Student and staff requests and recommendations are another consideration in selection of materials.  Prospective materials are evaluated using journal and website reviews from sources such as School Library Journal, Kirkus Reviews, and Good Read Reviews before they are purchased.

Weeding

The library’s collection will continually be evaluated in accordance with the curriculum changes, new material formats, interests and needs of users, and condition.  Weeding is essential to maintain a relevant collection.  Materials will be removed from the collection when materials:

1.    Are in poor physical condition

2.   Have not been checked out in three years

3.   Contain inaccurate or obsolete information

4.   Are no longer needed to support curriculum or student/faculty interests

Intellectual Freedom

Intellectual freedom is the right of every individual to both seek and receive information from all points of view without restriction.  It provides for free access to al expressions of ideas through which any and all sides of a question, a cause or movement may be explored.

Challenged Materials

Any community member, within the Anchorage School District, may challenge library materials used in the district’s school’s library program on the basis of appropriateness. Challenged materials should first be brought to the attention of the school's librarian or principal and tried to be resolved informally. If a person wishes to file a formal challenge, a copy of the district’s Controversial Issues Policy and Materials Reconsideration Form  will be provided to the individual by the librarian or building administrator. They will also be provided with a link to ASD's  Controversial Concerns Request website so they can learn and take the appropriate steps needed to complete the process. Once the school has received the Materials Reconsideration Form, the administrator will appoint a reconsideration committee. The committee shall review the challenged material and judge whether it conforms to the principles of selection outlined in the district’s BP 6161.1 Selection and Evaluation of Instruction Materials Policy. 

If the challenge has not been resolved at the school level, within 10 days of receiving the Materials Reconsideration Form, the challenge will then be submitted to the Senior Director of Teaching and Learning. The director shall assign three teachers from the challenged content area and three administrators from the grade span in question to review the concern. This committee will review the concern and make a decision regarding the appropriateness of the issue.

The individual or individuals who are challenging the issue(s) may appeal this decision to the Deputy Superintendent or his/her designee. The Deputy Superintendent will review the issue and information with the Senior Directors within Academic Services to make a decision. The complainant is advised to consider and accept the Superintendent or designee’s decision as final.  However, if the complainant finds the Superintendent or designee’s decision unsatisfactory, he/she may request that the matter be placed on the agenda of a regular School Board meeting. 

For more in-depth information on controversial materials, please review AR 6163.1(a) Libraries/Media Centers and AR 6144 (a) Controversial Issues which will be reviewed and possibly adapted to better support, BP 6163.1 LIBRARIES/MEDIA CENTERS and BP 6144 CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES.

First Amendment and Censorship

In accordance with The First Amendment and Censorship, it states that individuals are allowed to speak, publish, read and view what they wish…

Library Bill of Rights

Library Bill of Rights The American Library Association affirms that all libraries are forums for information and ideas and that the following basic policies should guide their services. 

1.    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. 

2.    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. 

3.    Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment. 

4.    Libraries should cooperate with all persons and groups concerned with resisting abridgment of free expression and free access to ideas. 

5.    A person’s right to use a library should not be denied or abridged because of origin, age, background, or views. 

6.    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.

A more general Anchorage School District Library Collection Development policy can be found here.