In this assignment I explored different scenarios that would test how I would respond in situations that required ethically responsible behavior. I learned to apply copyright rules to real life situations, involving administration, staff and the community. Through the assignment, I was able to reflect on the importance of a detailed and thorough collection policy that would guide future decisions and actions.
Scenarios
Scenario 1: A school board member removes books from a high school library because a citizen said the books contain offensive language. Neither the citizen nor the board member has read the books in question.
Response: Acknowledge and respectfully listen to the board member’s concern. Inform the board member of the reconsideration policy, its process and timeline. Provide the board member with copies of the collection development policy, reconsideration policy and if the board member wishes, a reconsideration form. Explain that the reconsideration form must be fully completed, signed and submitted and that the materials will stay available to students and faculty during the reconsideration process.
Keep dated notes of the conversation available for possible future needs.
Read over the books in question and create an overview of books including the author, title, summary and the reasons it met criteria for selection. Inform the principal and library director of the situation and provide a copy of the overview for each book challenged.
If the reconsideration form is submitted, begin the reconsideration process. The reconsideration policy says to convene a committee made up of the librarian, members of the administration, teachers, content specialists, a community member, a member of the school board and a parent. When the evaluation begins meet with the committee to distribute and review the books in question, the collection development policy, the reconsideration policy including the ALA’s Freedom to Read statement, the Library Bill of Rights and First Amendment. State that the members of the committee must base decision on policy not personal beliefs and that the book should be evaluated as a whole not just on a specific passage or phrase.
After the meeting, write a report detailing the outcome of the committee’s deliberation; include the majority and minority opinions. Present the administration with the committee’s recommendation for the challenged materials. After a final decision is reached, inform the citizen that made the formal request.
This process will make sure that formal complaints are handled objectively and consistently. Those that form challenges feel heard and understood and the process also makes sure that librarians do all they can to avoid censorship in order to provide the school with the best collection possible.
Scenario 2: The assistant principal, whose hobby is antiques, has requested that you purchase 15 books on various types of antiques and antique collecting.
Before meeting with the assistant principal, review the items the assistant principal has requested. Also, review data from the previously conducted needs assessment and look up items that pertain to antiquing in the collection. Determine if there is a need to add titles that pertain to antiques based on the overall needs of the school library. If there is, select the items that will benefit a variety of library users.
Meet with the assistant principal to discuss the requested books. Courteously review the collection development policy that outlines the goals of the collection, the criteria necessary for selection and any budgeting limitations.
Discuss the information collected earlier by evaluating the collection. Explain which items will be ordered and the rationale. Offer to find other titles requested by the assistant principal through resource sharing and interlibrary loans.
This approach both fulfills the assistant principal’s informational needs and allows the librarian to select materials that meet the collection development policy standards.