Last updated: September 2025

The FIS libraries are welcoming, inviting places that serve all students and other community members in an environment that promotes and encourages communication and collaboration. The libraries play an integral role in the support and implementation of inquiry learning and personal learning opportunities by providing purposefully-designed spaces for instruction, study, research, exploration and creativity. The libraries offer a diverse, balanced and representative collection that provides for multiple viewpoints and interests, and supports the development of literacy and research skills.

The role of the librarians is to teach multiple literacies by collaborating with teachers on units of instruction, to organize and promote literacy projects, events and collections that engage the entire school community, and work with students in whole classes, small groups and as individual learners to promote the curricular and independent use of print and digital resources. 

The librarians maintain a well-balanced collection that contains varied levels of difficulty and in a variety of formats, with diversity of appeal, allowing for the presentation of different points of view. The librarians support the freedom of access to information, oppose censorship, and offer diverse points of view on controversial issues.

The libraries use the Dewey Decimal classification system, the Sears List of Subject Headings, 21st ed., and follow the cataloging guidelines provided in AACR2. Alliance Plus is used to create records when available, and Z30 sources are used when Alliance Plus doesn’t provide a record. Any changes to these records are decided upon by the librarian and made based on individual library needs. 

The librarian conducts regular evaluation of the collection, including collection mapping to determine alignment with curricular needs and create a balanced collection. Selection is an ongoing process that involves the removal (weeding) or replacement of aged, worn or lost materials, including those no longer needed, making room for newer, more appropriate items. Both objective (copyright date, low circulation) and subjective (physical condition, content) criteria are used during the weeding process. Out-of-print and valuable historical materials may be kept. Requests by a department to keep a potential discard in the collection are considered in light of obtaining replacements.

The ALA guidelines for weeding are used by the libraries, and books that are MUSTIE will be removed:

• Misleading and/or factually inaccurate

• Ugly (worn beyond mending or rebinding)

• Superseded by a new edition or a better source

• Trivial (of no discernible literary or scientific merit)

• Irrelevant to the needs and interests of the school

• Elsewhere (the material may be easily obtained by another source)   

All discards have barcodes removed and are stamped “WITHDRAWN” or “DISCARDED.” Discarded materials are offered to faculty for school and personal use, and then given to support school or community service projects. Those deemed not appropriate for reuse are disposed of. The age and circulation guidelines used for all the library collections come from recognized professional resources.

Each divisional library is allocated its own budget sufficient to function as a successful and exemplary school library. The budget supports both the physical and digital learning environments to meet the unique needs of each divisional library. The librarian manages the budget.

All library resources are managed with the Destiny circulation system. The catalog is available online. Divisional libraries also offer digital resources that are available on- and off-campus.

All students, faculty, staff, parents, and community members have a library account and privileges at FIS libraries. Borrowing materials between divisions is managed by the librarians. Check-out guidelines are flexible and based on divisional and student learning needs. Students are expected to be responsible for materials, mindful of shared community access and to adhere to loan periods.

More detailed information regarding Responsibility and Procedure, Selection Criteria, Classification and Cataloguing, Collection Maintenance, Challenged Resources, Circulation and Access and Staffing and Funding can be found in Library Guidelines.