Collection Development Policy

I. Library Program Philosophy

1. Vision Statement: The library will promote learning, literacy, and a lifelong love of reading by providing quality resources, support, and services to all patrons. 

2. Mission Statement:  The mission of our library is to provide instruction and support to all students, staff, and the entire school community by: 

   1. 1. Building a foundation of learning and literacy for students.  

      2. Providing instruction, learning strategies, and a quality of diverse resources to promote learning and literacy. 

      3. Collaborating as a school community to be engaged in the library program.

      4. Providing a safe, caring, and diverse environment for all learners to promote each individual’s growth and a love for reading.

      5. Promote intellectual freedom and protect the library's collection against censorship. 

3. Long-Term Goals: 

1. Students are knowledgeable about the world around them and are engaged in a diverse collection of resources to meet the needs and interests of all students. 

2. Students will be motivated independent learners/readers and have a love of reading. 

3. The library is a space where the school community feels safe to gather, share ideas, utilize resources responsibly, and learn from one another. 

II. Selection Criteria

Library materials will be selected by district librarians, staff, students, and administrators. All library materials will be selected in accordance with the following objectives:

1. Materials are socially, emotionally, and age appropriate as well as appropriate intellectual, interest, and reading levels for all students (ALA, 2018). 

2. Materials that will stimulate growth in factual knowledge, literary appreciation, aesthetic values and ethical standards (Chicago Public Schools, 2006).

3. Materials on opposing sides of controversial issues so that students may develop, under guidance, the practice of critical reading and thinking (Chicago Public Schools, 2006).

4. Materials represent the student population, as well as other religious, ethnic and cultural groups (Chicago Public Schools, 2006).

5. Materials support the school’s and district’s educational goals, curriculum, and policies, prioritizing the advancement of culturally responsive education (North Kansas City School, 2021).

6. Materials correlate with the library standards as well as the library’s philosophy. 

7. Materials should include a variety of resources in both digital and printed formats, as well as text with large fonts, Braille, and multiple languages for ELL learners (North Kansas City School, 2021).

8. The following general criteria will also be considered in selecting library materials: 

a. Nonfiction and reference information should be accurate and authoritative (Chicago Public Schools, 2006).

b. Material should have significance and be the most up-date.

c. Provide Informational or recreational interest to learners. 

d. Reputation and significance of the author, producer, editor and/or publisher(North Kansas City School, 2021).

e. Need to replace essential/required worn, damaged, or missing materials (North Kansas City School, 2021). 

9. The above-mentioned criteria will also apply to the acceptance of any gift of materials or to the selection of materials purchased with a monetary gift from an individual or group (Chicago Public Schools, 2006).

III. Selection Tools 

Materials will be selected by using a variety of tools to get reviews from reliable resources and professional

     organizations for both digital and printed resources. 

1. Selection tools will include, but not limited to Booklist, School Library Journal, Children’s Core Collection, Bound to Stay Bound, YALSA, and Children’s Library. 

2. Recommendations from National and state awards nominees, such as Show Me, Mark Twain, Truman, Gateway, and Dogwood Readers. 

3. Recommendations by AASL, MASL, as well as other notable organizations. 

4. Online collection development tools from strategic source library vendors (Chicago Public Schools, 2006).

5. Recommendations by faculty, administration, and students. 

IV. Weeding 

Library materials will need to be routinely inventoried and weeded through in order to determine which materials are damaged, outdated, no longer in circulation, or may no longer support the district's curriculum objectives. Digital materials will also be required to go through an annual weeding process. Therefore, any material meeting the following criteria may be removed from the collection, making room for new materials to be added.  

1. The material is outdated or factually incorrect (Lindbergh Schools, 2022).

2. A more thorough or more complete resource exists (Lindbergh Schools, 2022).

3. The resource no longer supports the district’s curriculum objectives (Lindbergh Schools, 2022).

4. The resource is not used by either staff or students (Lindbergh Schools, 2022).

5. The resource is not recommended by district librarians, teachers or administrators (Lindbergh Schools, 2022).

V. Bias & Diversity 

Inclusion and diversity are key values of the library and the library is committed to provide all individuals with equal opportunities and representation. The library’s mission includes providing a safe, caring, and diverse environment for all learners to promote each individual’s growth and a love for reading. The library will provide a diverse, inclusive, discoverable, and accessible collection of materials that encompass the experiences of those who have been historically marginalized and/or underrepresented (Washington University Libraries, 2023). Librarians will refrain from showing any bias in their collection of library materials based on their own personal background, beliefs or preferences. The library’s collection will promote intellectual freedom and provide a diverse collection of materials in a variety of formats containing various and diverse viewpoints. 

VI. Non-print Formats

Non-printed formats and resources should be accessible and meet the needs of students. All non-print formats should meet the following criteria:  

1. Materials are easily accessible and user friendly. 

2. Materials are age-appropriate and meet the needs of all students and types of learners. 

3. Proper equipment, resources, and materials are provided and students are knowledge of how to access and utilize responsibly. 

4. Materials include a variety of resources in physical and virtual formats including print and non-print such as electronic and multimedia. This also includes subscription databases and other online products, e-books, audiobooks, educational games, and other forms of emerging technologies (ALA, 2018). 

5. Online databases and resources will be available to students 24/7 and accessible through Chromebook devices provided by the district using student's Clever accounts. 

In addition all non-print formats must meet the required selection criteria and will be selected and reviewed by an accredited resource or professional organization. 

VII. Reconsideration Policy 

Students, their parents, residents and staff of the District shall be provided with the opportunity to challenge the quality and suitability of learning resources used in the District's educational programs (Blue Valley Schools, 2015). If a challenge is made, the following guidelines should be followed: 

• The person questioning the materials first must reach out to the staff member implementing the material to discuss concerns. If they feel the issue is not resolved, then a meeting will take place with the principal or administrator in charge. The board recognizes the right of individual parents/guardians to request that their children not have to read, view or listen to a specific instructional item, provided a written request is made to the appropriate building principal (Northwest R-1, 2001). However, no parent(s)/guardian(s) have the right to determine reading, viewing or listening matter for students other than their own child (Rockwood, 2022). All materials will be reconsidered and if necessary, removed from district media centers, classrooms, and libraries (Fox C-6, 2015). If a resolution is not found, then the person may choose to file a formal challenge. 

Filing a Formal Challenge

1. Complete a “Challenged Materials” form, which can be obtained from the school principal. 

2. The form must be completed by the individual and turned in to the principal within 14 days of receiving it. 

3. Once the “Challenged Materials” form has been received by the principal, it will be filed with the Superintendent. 

4. The “Challenged Materials'' form will then be referred to the Challenged Materials Committee for revaluation of the resource. The Superintendent will arrange for a Challenged Materials Committee reevaluation meeting within 30 days (Rockwood, 2022). 

*Access to challenged materials shall not be restricted during the reconsideration process (Rockwood, 2022). 

Challenged Materials Committee

The Challenged Materials Committee will consist of the following individuals: 

• Person who filed the “Challenged Materials” form 

• Teacher using the resource in question 

• One administrator from the building using the materials

• Two members of the school teaching staff within the school district 

• Two certified librarians from within the school district 

• One board member 

• Any other member that the superintendent deems necessary

• Superintendent of the school district

The superintendent will serve as the chairperson of the committee. As the chairperson, the superintendent is responsible for providing instructions to all committee members and making sure all responsibilities are carried out in accordance with the reconsideration process. All committee members will be presented with the challenged resource and directed to examine and review in order to determine a resolution. 

The Challenged Materials Committee will complete the following : 

1. Examine and/or read the challenged resource (Rockwood, 2022).

2. Determine professional acceptance by reading critical reviews of the resource (Rockwood, 2022). 

3. Read appropriate Intellectual Freedom documents (Blue Valley Schools, 2015).

4. Weigh values and faults against each other and form opinions based on the material as a whole (Northwest R-1, 2001). 

A. The committee must follow all instructions listed above prior to the meeting and voting process. Each member should make their judgement based on professional knowledge, reviews, and guidelines provided through district policies, standards, and providing all students equality and Intellectual Freedom. 

5. Meet together as a committee to discuss and vote if the challenged “materials should be retained without restriction; retained with restriction, or not retained” (Rockwood, 2022). 

A. Each member will be allowed one vote via secret ballot which will be given to the superintendent to count. The majority vote will make the final decision. However, in case of a tie, all board members will have to complete the Challenged Materials Committee process to make a finalized decision. 

6. Prepare a written report that states the decision, and rationale for the decision (Rockwood, 2022), based on the official vote.

7. The committee’s official vote will be the final decision on the challenged resource.

The written report, along with a letter outlining the appeal processes, shall be mailed to the person challenging the resource within five business days of the Challenged Materials Committee’s conclusion (Rockwood, 2022). 

The written report will be retained by all libraries within the district so that the challenged resource follows the decision made by the committee and is implemented within five business days of receiving the report. 

A Learning Resource(s) that has been removed may be considered for reinstatement at the discretion of the Board. The request for reinstatement needs to be directed to the Board President. The request for reinstatement should be in writing and detail the changes, if any, which have been made to the original resource(s). The Board shall decide to accept or deny the request for reinstatement. If accepted, the Board may direct the Superintendent to appoint a committee to review the reinstatement request before making their final determination (Blue Valley Schools, 2015).
 

A Learning Resource that has been retained after being the subject of the above procedures may not be challenged again for a period of two years after the date of the final decision reached under these procedures, unless (a) there is a change in the District curriculum which results in the Learning Resource being approved for use by students of a different grade level than those for whom it was originally approved, (b) the Learning Resource is otherwise approved for use by students of a different grade level than those for whom it was originally approved (Blue Valley Schools, 2015).

*Non-Printed Materials that are challenged will follow the exact same process as printed materials.  

To access a Challenged Materials form click on the following link: Challenged Materials Form 

VIII. Collection Evaluation 

Librarians will annually conduct inventory of the library collection, resources, and equipment. This includes digital and printed materials. Once a collection evaluation has been completed results will be given to the building administrator and possibly to district administration and school board if needed. Reports must be submitted to the building administrator no later than first Friday in March of each school year. In completing a collection evaluation librarians will conduct the following procedures: 

1. Run reports using Follett’s Titlewise Collection Analysis tool. 

2. Weed out library materials and identify strengths and weakness of the collection. 

3. Get feedback and discuss with staff and students regarding materials that are and are not utilized. 

References: 

American Library Association. (2018). Selection Criteria. Selection & Reconsideration Policy Toolkit for Public, School, & Academic Libraries. Retrieved July 18, 2023 from http://www.ala.org/tools/challengesupport/selectionpolicytoolkit/criteria 

Blue Valley Schools. (2015). Challenges to and reconsideration of learning resources. Retrieved July 3, 2023 from http://go.boarddocs.com/ks/usd229/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=B9Z5UB11E984

Chicago Public Schools. (2006). Chicago public schools policy manual: New collection development policy for school libraries. Retrieved July 17, 2023 from http://policy.cps.edu/download.aspx?ID=93

Fox C-6 School District. (2015). Instructional media centers/school libraries- selection and reconsideration of materials. Retrieved July 1, 2023 from https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/Policy/ ViewPolicy.aspx?S=245&revid=IPmJfPNPslshfAupjz0mx2EuA==&ptid=amIgTZiB9plushNjl6WXhfiOQ==&secid=qo79RxbUbdO3GjATNVIJ7Q==&PG=6&IRP=0&isPndg=false

Lindbergh Schools. (2022). Regulation IIAC-R1: Instructional media centers/school libraries-selection and reconsideration of materials. Retrieved July 18, 2023 from https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/Policy/ViewPolicy.aspx?S=432&revid=Ps57XspLyNAnloaWnjbajQ==&ptid=amIgTZiB9plushNjl6WXhfiOQ==&secid=qo79RxbUbdO3GjATNVIJ7Q==&PG=6&IRP=0&isPndg=false

North Kansas City School. (2021). 6.15 Regulation IIAC-R1: Instructional media centers/school libraries - selection and reconsideration of materials. Retrieved July 17, 2023 from https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/Policy/ViewPolicy.aspx?S=110&revid=ebheS2CcMv2WQIwF9jqb4Q==&ptid=amIgTZiB9plushNjl6WXhfiOQ==&PG=6 

Northwest R-1 School District. (2001). Reg 6241-challenged materials(form-6241). Retrieved July 1, 2023 from https://go.boarddocs.com/mo/nwr1/Board.nsf/Public?open&id=policies#

Rockwood School District. (2022). Challenged materials. Retrieved July 1, 2023 from https://go.boarddocs.com/mo/rsdpa/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C4FLR57C9E0

Washington University Libraries. (2023). Diversity, equity & inclusion. Washington University in St. Louis. Retrieved July 18, 2023 from https://library.wustl.edu/about/dei/