HIDOE Library Policies

Copyright and Fair Use:

The Board of Education adopted Policy 900-2, Copyright, to ensure that Department of Education employees, volunteers, and students are made aware of and comply with copyright and fair use law. Information available on the federal copyright website.

Library Material Selection Policy:

The primary objective of the school library media program is to implement, enrich and support the educational program of the school. In the area of materials selection, school library media programs provide a wide range of materials on various levels of difficulty, with consideration for diversity and different points of view. These materials are also in digital formats, non-book formats, and online. Therefore, School Library Media Programs should:

  1. Provide materials that will enrich and support the curriculum by collaborating with instructional stakeholders and relevant data, taking into consideration the varied interests, abilities, learning needs, learning styles and maturity levels of the students served.

  2. Provide materials for teachers and students based on their needs that encourage growth in knowledge, and that helps to develop literary, cultural and aesthetic appreciation and ethical standards.

  3. Provide materials which reflect the broad ideas and beliefs of religious, social, political, historical, and ethnic groups and their contribution to the local, national and world heritages and cultures, thereby enabling students to develop intellectual integrity in forming sound judgments.

  4. Provide a variety of print, non-print, digital and online formats to support needs-based student learning.

  5. Place principle above personal opinion and reason above prejudice in selection of materials of the highest quality in order to ensure a comprehensive collection appropriate for the users of the school library.

Controversial Issues Policy 101-13:

Student discussion of issues which generate opposing points of view shall be considered a normal part of the learning process in every area of the school program. The depth of the discussion shall be determined by the maturity of the students. Teachers shall refer students to resources reflecting multiple and diverse points of view. Discussions, including contributions made by the teacher or resource person, shall be maintained on an objective, factual basis. Stress shall be placed on learning how to make judgments based on facts. View the policy.

Chapter 57: HRS 8-57-1:

Restitution for Lost and Damaged Books, Equipment, Supplies, and Outstanding Financial Obligations

The Department is responsible for providing students with appropriate instructional materials. When students do not return the loaned materials and resources, other students are deprived of these materials and the department is expected to purchase replacement copies. Chapter 57 requires that students be responsible for paying required fees and for restitution of school property that is lost through their negligence. It further allows consequences for students who do not make restitution or pay required fees. Schools have had varying degrees of success in collecting money from students for lost books, equipment, supplies, and outstanding financial obligations. While this Chapter allows schools to restrict students from participating in athletics and co-curricular activities if they have outstanding financial obligations, the following guidelines are provided to aid schools in applying these restrictions with consistency. Statewide application of these guidelines will ensure that students are treated with fairness and equity when it is found that they are responsible for the loss, destruction, breakage, or damage of school books, equipment, and supplies, including library and assigned textbooks; digital devices and non-payment of fees.

Source: https://www.hawaiipublicschools.org/BeyondTheClassroom/LibraryServices/Pages/home.aspx