The Paul F. Gilligan III Media Center is proud to offer its students in grades 6 through 12 the right to obtain developmentally-appropriate materials, curated by a certificated and professionally-trained school library media specialist. The collection is a combination of print and digital materials. 

Listed below are the core principals that guide the library media specialist when curating the collection:

1. Recognize Diversity of Viewpoints

   • Recognize that library material should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all students and should present diverse points of view in the collection as a whole.

2. Acknowledge Non-Discrimination in Removal

   • Acknowledge that library material shall not be removed from a school library because of the origin, background, or views of the library material or those contributing to its creation.

3. Recognize Importance of Voluntary Inquiry

   • Recognize the importance of school libraries as centers for voluntary inquiry and the dissemination of information and ideas.

4. Promote Intellectual Freedom

   • Promote the free expression and free access to ideas by students by prohibiting the censorship of library material.

5. Acknowledge Role of School Library Media Specialists

   • Acknowledge that a school library media specialist is professionally trained to curate and develop the school library collection that provides students with access to the widest array of developmentally appropriate library material available to schools.

6. Establish Procedure and Selection Criteria

   • Establish a procedure for a school library staff member to review library material within a school library on an ongoing basis, which shall include, but not be limited to: the library material’s relevance; the condition of the library material; the availability of duplicates; the availability of more recent developmentally appropriate material; and the continued demand for the library material.

The Media Center staff welcomes recommendations from the staff, students and community. Recommendations may be emailed to Mrs. Amanda Tagmire (atagmire@htsd.us). Please see the Donations page for guidelines on donations. Please note, we are limited on the amount of donations we can accept.

The following guidelines are in place and will be followed should a community member wish to challenge a book in the Media Center.

Process:

• Recognize that Definition of Challenged Material: Only includes books, magazines, digital materials, and software not part of the core curriculum.

• Removal Process: Requests must be submitted in writing to the school Principal, who then initiates a review process. The "Request for Reconsideration" form attached below must be utilized and filled out completely.

• Committee Review: A review committee examines the material, focusing on educational, artistic, or scientific merit, and makes recommendations to the Board of Education.

• Appeals: Final decisions may be appealed to the Commissioner of Education.

• Protection: The policy generally requires that materials remain in circulation during the review, and it provides immunity for staff acting in good faith.

• One-Year Limit: Challenged items cannot be challenged again for at least one year.