The MVMS LMC is a buzzing center of activity. It is heavily used by the school population for both research and recreational uses. The LMC is on a flexible schedule, meaning that all users have access to it throughout each day from 7:30-3:00. The teachers sign up to use the library with their classes in order for students to learn and practice information literacy skills as they conduct research, create projects, and select reading materials.  The library is staffed by a certified, full-time library media specialist and a full-time assistant.

The library has approximately 10,000 holdings of materials, including books, reference sets, magazines, videos, audio books on CD and Playaways (iPod-like devices). The library has an automated catalog/circulation system hosted by Atriuum Book Systems.  The "card" catalog is on-line and available any time from any computer to see library materials and much more information. The library subscribes to Grolier Online Encyclopedia and Gale/Cengage MS Reference collection which contains over 100 e-books, as well as a few other databases ScienceFlix, Gale- Viewpoints in Context, and e-book resources Sora , Follett, & Gale. All of these resources are available through this library website. Passwords are required and may also be found on this website.

The LMC has a Chromecart with 12 Chromebooks available as loaners and students have access to a copier as well.  To print, student may share documents with library staff. The library has a reading area, curated displays of books, old magazines and newspapers for cutting/projects, a student supply center, and school supplies for students in need (notebooks, binders, poster board, etc.). We also have a Makerspace with supplies for students to think, explore, and create. Students are invited to participate in reading programs, book swaps, Book Fairs, Maker Challenges and other fun events that occur throughout the school year. 

To support the educational needs of the MVMS students and staff to meet curriculum requirements.

To provide on-line resources that supplement the library's print collection for both research and recreational purposes.

To provide access to the library's subscription databases.

To convey information regarding the library's resources, programs and policies.

Borrowing:

• Students may borrow FOUR books at a time.  

• The borrowing period is 4 weeks (20 school days).

• No late fees will be charged, though students will not be able to borrow additional books until all overdue books are returned. 

• Items may be renewed at any time before the due date.

• Students are encouraged to reserve material that is currently circulating.  A notice is emailed to the patron when it becomes available.

Overdues/Lost Materials:

• Overdue notices will be emailed to patrons every 4-5 weeks to remind students to take care of their library account.

• At the end of the trimester a letter goes home to those parents of students with overdue materials.  The letter, approved by the principal, states that the material needs to be returned or payment made (the price is given) and asks parents to help students find/return items.  

• If the material is not returned or paid for by the next trimester, the material is marked “Lost” and the letter sent home is an Invoice for replacement costs.

• Students who do not take care of the issue will have no further borrowing privileges.

• If payment is made for a lost book and it is later found, which often happens, the payment is reimbursed, minus any late fine.  

• Those students who have necessitated that we send a letter home are now limited to a one book checkout for the next  trimester.  This is because the time involved is extensive/expensive - repeated notices, checking the shelves to be sure prior to the letter going home, creating, addressing and mailing the letters, updating the computer account, follow-up to process of money and/or re-purchasing and reprocessing the material.  Students will have the postage for letter mailing(s) added to their account and must pay prior to further borrowing.

• If payment is a hardship, we encourage students to donate a book(s) of similar value to the lost items(s) from their home collection that is in good condition and would be an asset to the middle school library.

Our primary goal is the return of library materials so resources are available for everyone and to establish student responsibility for their library materials. 

Feel free to contact Mrs. Searah if you have any questions on this policy or a particular student account.

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

1. Assess curricular needs.

2. Establish priorities for purchasing new materials.

3. Evaluate the current collection offerings. 

4. Consult reputable selection aids to locate high quality materials.

5. Materials should be considered as a whole and selected for their strengths.

6. Solicit recommendations from students, teachers, and other members of the learning community.

7. Work within an established budget.

8. Complete a purchase order and submit to the school purchasing personnel.

9. 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.