Process for Selection and Removal of Library Materials
Purpose
The purpose of the collection development process is to describe how materials are selected to support the Merrimack Valley School District’s educational philosophy, the district’s mission and curriculum, as well as the Merrimack Valley Middle and High Library’s mission statements. Internet resources are not subject to this policy, as those open online resources are subject to the school’s Computer Acceptable Use Policy.
Intellectual Freedom and Censorship Issues
Merrimack Valley School district believes in the rights of intellectual freedom, curiosity and access to information. As such, we adhere to the American Library Association’s Bill of Rights, Freedom to Read and Freedom to View statements.
Parameters of the Collection
Library resources are print and/or non-print materials acquired through purchase, donation/gift, or award and used in the education of the student. Examples may include but are not limited to:
nonfiction books
fiction books
magazines
newspapers
electronic equipment
DVDs
electronic databases
e-books
audiobooks
Criteria for Selection
The library media specialist is responsible for the selection of library materials and strives to select a wide range of materials in a variety of formats. Selected materials will support the mission and curriculum of the Merrimack Valley School District; represent diverse points of view; provide a global perspective; stimulate critical thinking skills; and meet the interests, abilities, learning styles, and information needs of the learning community. Materials will also strive to represent the diversity of ethnic, religious, political, and cultural values held in a pluralistic society and will attempt to illustrate accomplishments and contributions of various types of individuals and groups to our national heritage and to the world. Library materials provide information to help students make intelligent decisions in daily life and to accept the responsibility of helping to understand and improve their community and the greater society.
Criteria which may be used when selecting library materials include:
contribution the subject matter makes to the curriculum and interests of the students
popularity and recreational value
favorable reviews found in reputable selection sources
reputation of the author, artist, composer, publisher, and producer
currency
literary value
artistic value
value commensurate with cost and/or need
format
appropriateness for the age and emotional development of the intended audience
contribution the material makes to the breadth of representative viewpoints on controversial issues
scope of coverage, arrangement, and overall value to the collection
Selection Aids
The following sources may be consulted in the selection of materials, but selection is not limited by these sources.
Professional review sources such as School Library Journal, Kirkus, and Booklist
Follett’s Titlewave Database
Professional educational and library publications
Lists of award winning materials such as Alex, Edwards, Morris, Printz, Coretta Scott King, YALSA, and Flume.
Recommendations from students, teachers, administrators, parents, and other members of the learning community will be taken into consideration. Criteria for selection of library materials will be applied to recommendations.
Acquisition Processes
Assess curricular needs.
Establish priorities for purchasing new materials.
Evaluate the current collection offerings.
Consult reputable selection aids to locate high quality materials.
Materials should be considered as a whole and selected for their strengths.
Solicit recommendations from students, teachers, and other members of the learning community.
Work within an established budget.
Complete a purchase order and submit to the school purchasing personnel.
Remove outdated materials from the library collection periodically but no less than every three years.
Donations
Donations made to the school will be evaluated using the criteria for selection to see if they are appropriate for inclusion in library or classroom collections. Materials may be incorporated into the collection and/or classrooms or used in other ways at the discretion of the library media specialist and teachers.
Processes for Removal of Library Materials
In order to increase usage, improve reliability of information and quality of service, and to create more available space, the collection must be weeded periodically. Materials may be withdrawn from the collection at the discretion of the library media specialist if they:
Are worn, damaged or in poor physical condition
Have not circulated after five consecutive years of nonuse
Contain content which is outdated or no longer accurate
Are intellectually dishonest or intentionally hurtful
No longer support the mission or curriculum of the school
Duplicate information which is no longer needed
Are superseded by new or revised information
Are not selected in accordance with general selection criteria
Discarded materials will be donated, sold, recycled, or destroyed at the discretion of the library media specialist based on available options.