School Library Selection Criteria
(In conjunction with the American Library Association and the American Association of School Libraries)
Support and enrich the curriculum and/or students’ personal interests in learning and leisure reading
Meet high standards in literacy, artistic, and aesthetic quality, technical aspects, and physical format
Be appropriate for the subject area and for the age, emotional development, ability level, learning styles, and social, emotional, and intellectual development of the students for whom the materials are selected
Incorporate accurate and authentic factual content from authoritative sources
Earn favorable reviews and/or favorable recommendations based on preview and examination of materials by professional personnel
Earn high awards given by prestigious national and state level affiliations
Exhibit a high degree of potential user appeal and interest
Represent differing viewpoints on controversial issues (or content within fiction)
Provide a global perspective and promote diversity by including authors, illustrators of all cultures
Include a variety of resources in physical and virtual formats including print and non-print such as electronic and multimedia (including Digital Maine Library databases and other online products; e-books, educational games, and other forms of emerging technology)
Demonstrate physical format, appearance, and durability suitable to their intended use
Other; last in series, updated content within non-fiction collection, high interest per student and teacher requests and recommendations
“The goal of all reading instruction is to help students become competent consumers of a wide variety of texts in diverse forms so that they can achieve independence, find meaning, and use literacy for lifelong learning, empowerment, and enjoyment.”
“When choosing texts, teachers must consider the following: Various texts provide multiple opportunities for students to read broadly, widely, and deeply, including: texts that are diverse, intersectional, and multicultural, whose authors and purposes appeal to the range of human experience, creating opportunities for readers to see themselves with clarity, others with insight, and worlds of possibility; and texts in diverse forms, which may include words, images, objects, sounds, and symbols that convey messages.”
Maine School Library Standards
Highly Effective Collections are “comprehensive, diverse, and up-to-date collection in multiple formats built collaboratively based on district collection development policy and the library mission” and “digital and print collections are organized in response to student and school staff interests and needs.”