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ABC School Collection Development Policy
created by Marie Evans and Shannon Forbes
IST 661
2/24/2013
Alignment with library professional values
The library has a mission to provide the learning community with resources to support
curricular and educational needs as well as for personal enrichment. Additionally, the
library serves as an open, inviting space for learning, exploring, and engaging. The
librarian undertakes this mission, and recognizes the need for a collection that supports
this mission and learning objectives.
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The library is committed to fostering a collection that supports the exploration of
ideas, the broadening of viewpoints, and the diversity of interests in a variety of
different formats and reading levels.
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The library does not exclude materials because of the race, nationality, political
or religious views of its author.
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The library’s collection will be representative of opposing points of view, as well
as global perspectives, so that students can learn to think critically about
controversial issues, collect evidence to support their opinions, and responsibly
contribute to an exchange of ideas as an informed citizen of the world.
Purpose and goals of collection development
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The library will provide materials that will enrich and support the curriculum as
well as the diverse needs and interests of our students; materials will encourage
intellectual stimulation, curiosity, inquiry, the development of character, literary
appreciation, and academic excellence.
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The library’s materials will represent the diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds,
reading abilities, and curricular interests of our school community.
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The library’s collection will include materials in a variety of formats; materials will
support the breadth and the depth of the curriculum; materials will be reflective of
learning in the 21st-Century.
Criteria for selection of resources
In order to create, maintain, and provide a balanced collection of materials, it is the
responsibility of the school librarian to select materials which:
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Contribute to and support the Common Core curriculum
Are appropriate for the ages and the maturity levels of the students served
Appeal to a wide variety of user interests; are timely or considered classic parts
of the collection
Encourage a balance of both breadth and depth of the collection
Provide factual information that is accurate, current, reliable and authoritative
Provide users with both quality and variety of formats (print, audio book, e-book,
video, etc.)
Stimulate intellectual and social development as well as curiosity
Encourage global perspectives, and balanced points of view
Have high standards for artistic quality, literary style, content, presentation and/or
durability
More information regarding criteria that help support and maintain a balanced selection
can be found in the “selection process” section of this policy.
Policy for Selection of Controversial Material
The library upholds the principles of intellectual freedom that are inherent in the First
Amendment to the Constitution of the United States and are expressed in the American
Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights. In protecting intellectual freedom, the library
challenges censorship in striving to provide materials representative of many different
points of view and perspectives.
Integration of Digital Resources
Information resources that meet the selection criteria above will be considered
regardless of format (Lee, 2000). The library considers digital resources for which it
intentionally provides access to its users in the form of databases, e-books, audiobooks,
DVDs and electronic reference materials to be an integral part of its library collection.
Twenty-first century learners will learn how to use resources in a varieties of formats,
including digital resources, as part of becoming ethical and responsible users of
information.
Preferences for digital resources will be given to materials that provide multiple,
simultaneous access to users. Efforts will be made to provide digital resources for use
at school, in the school library, at home, or elsewhere, through remote access
logins. The library will provide access to digital resources through library computers,
and other Internet-enabled devices.
The library provides internet access that allows users to access the world wide web and
all the information contained within. See below for further guidelines on the use of the
Internet as a resource within the library.
Responsibility for Selection
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Regarding print materials, other physical formats, and digital resources in the
collection:
The sole responsibility for selection lies in the hands of the librarian. Materials selection
occurs routinely and decisions are made in cooperation with student, staff, faculty,
parents and administration input.
Regarding resources available on the Internet, excluding subscription
materials:
One of the expressed and understood roles of a librarian is to teach students digital
citizenship and evaluation of resources. Classroom teachers also have a responsibility
to teach their students how to evaluate resources. In keeping with this understanding,
and recognizing the vast nature of the Internet and the needs of today’s learners, it is
acknowledged that:
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All websites and non-subscription digital resources that are hosted on the library
website will be reviewed by the librarian.
The school and librarian do not take responsibility for online resources that
students access in the library via searching, due to the wide nature of the
Internet.
Part of the role of being a responsible student in the 21st century is being able to
evaluate and choose online and digital resources in alignment with need,
curriculum, and evaluation standards.
Selection process
Materials for the library collection that are chosen by the librarian go through an
evaluation before ordering. This is a multi-step evaluation. The librarian may use any
number of resources to evaluate, review, and choose materials. The types of resources
consulted and used to evaluate materials for selection include but are not limited to:
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Reputable review professional journals, such as BookList, School Library
Journal, Library Journal, Kirkus Reviews, Horn Book, and others
Recommendations and reviews made by professional organizations, such as the
American Association of School Libraries or the Young Adult Library Services
Association within the American Library Association
National and state awards lists (Newbery, Caldecott, Coretta Scott King, etc.)
Online professional collection development tools (for example, Follett’s Titlewave
service)
Recommendations by students, parents, staff, faculty, and administration
Materials will be ordered at specific times during the school year, as determined by the
requirements of budgetary funding. An annotated list of materials to be purchased will
be maintained by the librarian.
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Maintenance of collection
The process of weeding is necessary to maintain a relevant, current, appropriate, useful
collection. It must be undertaken regularly in order to keep a collection in a proper state.
Materials may be subject to weeding by several factors, listed below:
 Appearance:
Books: noticeably damaged, unreadable, no longer able to be mended
any other format materials: damaged or no longer usable
 Superfluous materials:
Materials which no longer fit the curricular needs, and/or have been
superseded by newer resources
 Content:
Materials that are dated, and/or contain inaccurate information
 Lack of use:
Materials which have not been circulated (or used, if non-circulating) for a
period of time. For fiction items, this is set at a 5 (five) year time period.
For all other materials, this is set at a 10 (ten) year period.
Any materials that are currently in the collection and determined to be eligible for
weeding according to these standards are subject to removal. Depending upon the
reason for removal, materials may be donated or relocated elsewhere. The decision
regarding relocation, donation, or physical is the responsibility of the librarian.
Regarding digital subscription resources such as databases or electronic references:
The evaluation of whether these materials should continue to be a subscription will be
based on the same criteria as outlined above. The librarian has discretion to discontinue
databases if they qualify using weeding criteria. Adding or replacing databases or other
electronic resources is at the discretion of the librarian based on the selection policy.
Challenged Materials Policy
I. Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and
enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be
excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their
creation.
II. Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on
current and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of
partisan or doctrinal disapproval.
(ALA Library Bill of Rights, 1998)
The board of education, school district administration, and librarians recognize that
despite care in selection, materials may be questioned or challenged by individuals in
the school community. Formal requests for the reconsideration of a particular material
must be submitted in writing, following the outlined procedure below.
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Upon request for reconsideration or upon complaint regarding material(s), the librarian
and/or principal shall provide a copy of the collection development policy to complainant
and explain, if requested. If complainant wishes to file a formal complaint:
1. Fill out a request for reconsideration form, in writing, and submit form to director
of library media services. Form must be submitted within two (2) weeks of
informal request. After the two (2) week period, the matter shall be considered
closed.
2. If/when the form is received, and completed in entirety, the director of library
media services shall notify the principal. The principal will form a committee to
review the complaint. The committee shall consist of at least five (5) members,
including the principal, librarian, at least two (2) teachers at the school, and one
parent representative. Additional members may include: the district library media
services director, teacher(s) from other schools within the district, or librarian(s)
from other schools within the district.
3. The committee will meet, review the written record of complaint and the material
in question, and issue a decision.
4. The complainant will be informed via writing of the decision of the committee.
5. A copy of the complaint will be maintained in library files.
The challenged material(s) will remain in circulation until the decision of the committee
has been made and review process is complete.
Bibliography
American Library Association. (1998). Workbook for selection policy writing. Retrieved
from
http://www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Section=dealing&Template=/ContentManagement/Co
ntentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=11173
Lee, H. (2000). What is a collection? Journal of the American Society for Information
Science, 51(12), 1106-1113.
Request for Reconsideration of Library Materials Form
The principles of intellectual freedom are inherent in the First Amendment to the
Constitution of the United States and are expressed in the Library Bill of Rights, adopted
by the Council of the American Library Association. According to Article III of the
American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights:
“Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to
provide information and enlightenment.” (ALA, 2013).
The school board of the ABC School District has delegated the responsibility for
selection and evaluation of library resources to the school librarian at each individual
school, and has established reconsideration procedures to address concerns about
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those resources. Completion of this form is the first step in those procedures. This form
must be received by the school principal within two weeks of an informal request for
reconsideration in order to be considered. If the principal has not received this form
within two weeks, the matter shall be considered closed. If you wish to request
reconsideration of school library resources, please return the completed form to the
Director of Library Media Services, ABC School Dist., Address, Town, Zip.
Name: ___________________________________
Date: ___________________
Address: ______________________________________________________________
City: ______________________ State:________
Zip: ____________________
Phone: ____________________ Email: ____________________________________
1. Indicate whether you are completing this form on behalf of:
Yourself____ Organization_____ Name of Organization:_________________________
2. Resource on which you are commenting:
____ Book ____ Textbook ____ Video ____ Display
____ Magazine ____ Library Program ____ Audio Recording
____ Newspaper ____ Electronic information/network (please specify)
____ Other ___________________________
Title _________________________________________________________________
Author/Producer ___________________________
Publisher ______________________
Other Information_______________________________________________________
3. Have you read or examined the entire resource? It is the expectation of the
reconsideration committee that you have reviewed the resource in its entirety before
submitting this form.
4. What concerns do you have about this resource? Please be specific: cite
pages/passages in books, URLs for a website, etc. (Use other side or additional pages
if necessary)
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What brought this resource to your attention?
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6. What do you feel might be the consequence of a student using this resource in a
learning context?
7. What would you like the school to do about this material? What action(s) do you
request the school undertake regarding this material?
8. Are there resource(s) you suggest to provide additional information and/or other
viewpoints on this topic?
Signature of Complainant ________________________________ Date ____________
For more information about the Library Bill of Rights and Intellectual Freedom visit:
http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill