SD #67 Middle School Library
Collection Development Policy
Revised 2011 by Sandham, Caruso, Colquhoun, and Baker
This document provides guidelines in the selection and acquisition of materials
for the school library that aid in library management, planning, and accountability.
The purpose of the policy is to have a well-balanced and systematically
developed collection.
SD #67 Middle School Libraries offer a variety of educational resources in both
English and French, for students in Grades 6 through 8. The purpose of the
school library collection is to provide current and relevant information that
supports a wide variety of reading levels and learning styles. The collection offers
a range of formats to enhance the curriculum, and allows students to become
lifelong learners.
The following guidelines are used when selecting items for the library. Whenever
possible items are also selected based on: scholarly journal reviews, top ALA
lists, ministry resource guidelines, and recommendations from teacher-librarians,
teachers, and students.
Reference Items
Reference materials are selected to provide a wide range of general knowledge
to support students in the initial research process.
Non-Fiction Items
Our non-fiction resources are intended to provide students with a variety of
materials that support the BC curricula as well as student interest. Items selected
are non-biased, accurate, and relevant to support inquiry-based research and
information literacy.
Fiction Items
Fiction items are selected based on reading level, student interest, pop culture,
media, conduct of life and social responsibility. The library fiction collection is a
transition collection, offering reading material that range from elementary to high
school reading levels. There is an extensive selection of novels, graphic novels,
and picture books to support literacy.
To meet the needs of various reading maturity levels, a portion of the collection is
suited for mature readers. These books offer students insight into high school
issues, peer pressure, drug abuse, family/peer relationships, and social
responsibility. They may also contain sexual content, violence or course
language. Mature readers often relate to these sensitive topics and become more
aware of how to resolve them. The majority of these titles are also found at the
public and high school libraries. These books have a label indicating upper grade
interest and/or mature content.
French Resources
In the French Immersion schools, many of the French resources have been
selected at a lower language level to support the late immersion program.
Whenever possible, materials have been selected to support curriculum, interest
levels, and second language development.
De-selection Policy
Any items that are deselected or weeded from the library collection follow the
following guidelines:
 The item is removed based on physical appearance; it is damaged, highly
worn, or stained.
 The item is removed based on content; it no longer supports the collection
development policy, learning community or curriculum goals.
 The item is removed following the challenged material procedures.
Challenged Items
Whenever an item is challenged by a school community member, the following
procedures take place:
1. The person must review the collection policy and then fill out the
Challenged Item Form and submit it to the Teacher-Librarian
2. A committee of students, parents, teachers, teacher-librarians, and
administrators will review the item and respond within 30 days to the
complaint.
3. If the item is found to be unsuitable for the collection, it will be removed
from all district middle school libraries.