Our school library is available to staff and students during normal school hours. One main goal of our library is to promote a love of reading and provide resources to support the school curriculum while incorporating Information and Technology Literacy (ITL) standards. Students and staff are encouraged to make use of the library, including the use of traditional materials and online content. We support teaching, learning, and researching in a welcoming environment. Our ultimate goal is to be the hub of the school, a place with exceptional resources, where everyone is welcome, and a positive learning experience for all school community members. We want to help keep student achievement at the highest level.
Students are welcome in the library throughout the day. They may come check out books immediately before and after school as well at lunch time, study hall, and any other time their classroom teacher permits. Students who want to work in the library are welcome during lunch recess and any time they have a pass from their study hall or classroom teacher. Students using the library are expected to be responsible, safe, and kind. Students who are not making good choices in the library will be sent back to their classroom.
While there is no definite book checkout limit for students, we urge students to limit the books they checkout to a number they can handle. The loan period for books is three weeks. Email notifications will be sent to students informing them of any overdue books. Students are responsible for the materials they check out. The library has the right to limit the materials students check out as needed. The library does not maintain records of student checkout history.
When a student has either lost or damaged library materials, the item(s) needs to be taken care of before the end of the school year. This can be done in 1 of 2 ways:
Pay for lost or damaged item(s). (this is the preferred method). If the price of the lost/damaged item(s) is not on the overdue notice please contact the librarian.
Replace lost or damaged item(s) Before purchasing a replacement, please discuss the specific book requirements with the library media specialist.
Selection of materials for the library shall be based upon information value as a whole and not in part. Specific incidents of controversial content shall not automatically disqualify materials from library collections. Nor shall materials be deemed inappropriate for age groups based on the identities of the characters or authors.
The following criteria will be considered in selecting library materials. Some criteria
may not apply in each situation and not all criteria need to be met in order to acquire and incorporate library materials. Materials should:
support and enrich the curriculum and/or students’ personal interests and learning;
meet high standards in literary, artistic, and aesthetic quality; technical aspects; and physical format;
be relevant for the subject area, age, and developmental level of the students for whom the materials are selected;
incorporate accurate, authentic, and up-to-date content from authoritative sources;
earn favorable reviews in professional library publications;
exhibit potential user appeal and interest;
represent differing viewpoints;
provide a global perspective and promote cultural diversity and reflect the pluralistic nature of American society by including materials from authors and illustrators of all cultures and identities;
include a variety of resources in physical and virtual formats including print, electronic, multimedia, and emerging technologies in accordance with technology software selection as per 7540.03 - Student Technology Acceptable Use and Safety Policy;
demonstrate physical format, appearance, and durability suitable for their intended use;
balance cost with need.
Selection is an ongoing process that should include removing materials that are no longer accurate, relevant, used, or needed (weeding); adding materials; and replacing lost and worn materials that still have educational value. Library materials will be weeded when:
They are in poor physical condition
They have low circulation statistics
They have become outdated, are no longer relevant, or contain inaccurate information
They have become outdated because of the graphic design or photography contained within the material
They are of poor quality
Are no longer needed to support the curriculum or student or faculty interests
When materials are weeded from the library collection they will be donated or discarded. The final decision as to what library materials will be discarded is up to the discretion of the library media specialist.
Any resident of the District, any parent/guardian of a child enrolled in the District, or any employee who raises objection to books in the school library which can not be satisfied by conference at the building level shall be given the opportunity to complete a request for reconsideration of library books form. This form is available from the building principal.
The complainant is required to complete and submit the reconsideration form to the building principal within seven business days. If a completed reconsideration form is not submitted within seven business days, the matter is considered closed.
The work in question will remain on library shelves and in circulation until a formal decision is made and after all appeals have been resolved.
The Reconsideration Committee will be appointed by the Superintendent and consist of, at a minimum, a teacher, a building level administrator, a Library Media Specialist, a reading specialist or language arts teacher, and member(s) of the community. The Superintendent will appoint a chairperson. The Reconsideration Committee should schedule a formal reconsideration meeting within 14 school days after the principal receives the written request for reconsideration. The principal should notify the superintendent as to this schedule.
The complainant may make an initial verbal presentation about the book under reconsideration or may choose to share the written form. The complainant is asked to provide sources for quotes used during this presentation. The complainant may not participate in or observe the committee’s deliberations unless invited to do so by the committee chair.
The committee's written decision (including a minority report if needed) shall be presented to the complainant and the superintendent of schools within five school days after the decision is made. If the complainant is not satisfied with the decision by the Resolution Committee, a written appeal can be made within seven business days to the School Board of Education. This request should be delivered to the superintendent of school.
The procedures for an appeal to the Board of Education will be as follows.
An appeal of the decision made by the Reconsideration Committee must be made in writing to the superintendent within seven business days of the reconsideration committee decision.
If a written appeal is not submitted within seven business days, the matter is considered closed.
A decision on the complaint will be made at the next regular meeting or special meeting within 30 days of the written request to the superintendent.
The board reserves the right to use outside expertise if necessary to help in its decision making.
The chairperson for the Reconsideration Committee will present the committee's decision to the board.
The complainant or designee will present the petitioner’s position.
The board decision will be final, and the superintendent will implement the decision.
Decisions on reconsidered books will stand for five years before new requests for reconsideration of those items will be entertained.
Mr. Chad Lehman - Library Media Specialist
Mr. Lehman has been the library media specialist at Bayside since 2016. Prior to coming to Bayside, he was a library media specialist at elementary schools in West Allis and Oconomowoc and also spent eight years as a third grade teacher. He has a Masters Degree in Educational Technology from Cardinal Stritch University and obtained his library certification from UW-Milwaukee. When it comes to reading, a majority of what he reads is online content, magazines, and sports biographies.
Mrs. Stacey Houck - Library Assistant
Mrs. Houck joined the Bayside library staff in 2017. Before coming to Bayside, she spent eighteen years as a high school English teacher in Janesville and Grafton. She has always had a love of literature and books, yet it has been at Bayside where she has discovered her love for all things that have to do with libraries and library work. She is always eager to engage in a conversation about books with students and receive student book recommendations to add to her ever growing to-be-read list.
Mrs. Michelle Karaffa - Library Assistant
Mrs. Karaffa joined the Bayside library staff in February 2020. After working in a district's food service for 4.5 years, she decided to put her lifetime love of books to use helping students with their educational pursuits as a library assistant. However, her dedication to the district started long before that, as an active member of the PTO while her two daughters attended Stormonth Elementary and Bayside Middle Schools. Outside of the library, she enjoys cooking, gardening, nature walks, audiobooks, volunteering in the community and planning fun family trips.