collection management and development policy

Collection Management and Development Policy

Library Resource Center

Franklin at Alma Elementary School

Mesa Public Schools District

Mesa Public Schools Vision

The Library Resource Centers support the students and faculty of Mesa Public Schools by providing access to materials and information which develop imaginations, guide investigations, and generate ideas. We select, acquire, and organize resources to best serve our school communities as well as provide the tools to enrich and enhance each student’s achievement as a 21st century learner.

Franklin at Alma Mission Statement

Reading is the window to the world. Promote life-long reading and learning for both pleasure and for study. Providing Franklin instruction to foster competence and stimulate interest in reading,

viewing and using information. Supporting staff in learning strategies to meet the needs of the students. Provide a quality resource collection for students and educators. Student achievement as a 21st century learner.

“Hide not you talents. They for use were made. What’s a sundial in the shade.

Benjamin Franklin

Selection Criteria for Franklin at Alma

Mesa Public Schools District establishes the Media Resource Center and curriculum budgets for each school. The Franklin Resource Center Specialist, Parent Review Committee, Curriculum Specialist, Principal and Franklin Parent Organization shall establish a materials review for all instructional and library materials. The following policy was developed in 1978 by the Mesa Governing Board and a group called the Parents Unified for Traditional Education. The (FPO), or the Franklin Parent Organization approves all literature set purchases or any new additional

Franklin at Alma Nancy T. Sievert April 12, 2012

titles for all grade levels. The Franklin Parent Organization has an elected board of Directors, called the Parent Council. The Library Review Committee reviews all library books before they are processed. The District Governing Board Policy Manual on Collection Development is Section I, IIAC or http://www.lib.az.us/cdt/ for more information regarding district policy.

Selection Criteria for Library Media Materials

Appropriate for recommended grade levels

Library media materials should be accessible to students of varied abilities, and meet informational and interest needs of all students.

Pertinent to the curriculum and the objectives of the instructional program

Library media materials should be selected on the basis of assessed curricular needs. Materials should reflect the identified learning outcomes of the instructional program.

Accurate in terms of content

Library media materials should present facts in an objective manner. Authority of the author, organization, publisher /producer should be a consideration is selection. Materials concerning human development and family life should contain facts which are presented in a manner appropriate for an elementary school.

Reflective of the pluralistic nature of a global society

Library media materials should provide a global perspective and promote diversity as a positive attribute of our society. It is important to include materials by authors and illustrators of all cultures.

Free of bias and stereotype

Materials should reflect the basic humanity of all people and be free of stereotypes, caricatures, distorted dialect, and other offensive characteristics. Library materials concerning religious, social, and political content should inform rather than indoctrinate.

Appropriate format to effectively teach the curriculum

Library media materials should be available in variety of formats, e.g., print, non-print, electronic, multimedia, to meet the needs and learning style of the Franklin Back to Basic philosophy.


http://www.lib.az.us/cdt/

Recent copyright date as appropriate to the subject

Library media materials should be assessed for currency of the information as it relates to the content and purpose of the item.

Acceptable in literary style and technical quality

Literary quality, technical merit, physical arrangement, and aesthetic characteristics should be considered as integral components in the evaluation of all media formats.

Cost effective in terms of use

Library media materials should be evaluated for cost effectiveness in terms of accessibility, projected use, and durability.

Appropriate for students with special needs

Library media materials should be provided to meet curricular needs and the individual needs, interests, and learning styles of all students at all grade levels.

Implementing the Selection Policy

The objective of the selection policy is to increase the awareness of the role of the Library Resource Center Specialist in the leadership role in communicating to the educational community the purpose and scope of the selection policy. The responsibility for coordinating the selection of the library materials rests with the Resource Center Specialist who seeks faculty, student, and parent review, parent recommendations for purchase of library media materials. Favorable reviews from professional review journals and authoritative selection references should be used when developing library media collections. The major emphasis of collection development should be to provide materials which meet curricular needs. Communication with teachers for recommendations for purchase is an important part of the selection process. Suggestions from students and parents, is also an important process. Professional review journals are a good way of considering library materials such as Booklists, and the Library School Journal.

Selection of Print Materials

Books: Due to the high cost of materials, it is important to examine books with the following additional criteria in mind before purchasing:

Illustrations and layout Type style and text density Paper quality


Durability of binding Readability and interest levels Indexing

Paperbacks: Paperbacks are an inexpensive way to supplement the library media collection for duplication of titles, in-depth studies, special projects, and leisure reading. It is recommended that the first copy of a picture book be hardbacks.

Reference: Reference materials in both print and electronic formats provide comprehensive information in both general and subject-specific areas. Considerations for non-print, electronic resources and access to the internet resources will be provided through Mesa Public Schools approved websites.

Review Resources

Amazon. Com ALA Awards Barnes and Noble Booklist Bound to Stay Bound Caldecott Medal Home Page Children’s Book Reviews Children’s Books Coretta Scott King Award Home Educational Review Follett TITLEWAVE Goodreads Grand Canyon Book Award Horn Book Magazine Junior Library Guild Mackin Newberry Medal Home Page Vendor Catalogs

Core collection Tools Children’s Catalog Elementary School Library Collection


The school library media program is an integral part of the instructional process. As such the instructional process, the collection development is based upon the belief that all students, teacher, administrators, and support staff should have open access to all forms of information relevant to learning and teaching the curriculum. It is an ongoing process of identifying strengths and weaknesses of the library and the student needs. The following need to be researched: Assessment of the library collection through statistical analysis, selection and acquisition of materials, inventory process and weeding of the collection.

Weeding and Deselecting Policy

A good collection development plan must include weeding. The process of weeding is a key part of assessing the collection. It helps keep collections relevant, accurate and useful; and it facilitates more effective use of space in the library resource center. It can improve access and visibility for patrons giving the books the ability to breathe on the shelf.

Library materials should be weeded if they:

Are in poor physical condition Have not been circulated in the last five years (shelf-sitters or deadwood Are outdated in content, or unreliable for information Copyright date should be considered when books are 10 years or older Poor quality, ephemeral material or self-published, locally published materials that are

mediocre in content Are biased or portray stereotypes Are inappropriate for the grade level Duplicates Are not selected in accordance with general selection criteria Patron interest is low after examining circulation status Material type / format is obsolete

Rationale for weeding: deselecting is an important part of collection development so we can insure the best quality over quantity. Weeding gets rid of the materials that are in poor condition and multiple copies so the children can find the good stuff. Weeding should be done once a year by the Resource Center Specialist and should follow the MUSTIE guidelines and the suggestions by the ALA. Copyright dates of 10 years and older and last circulation date of 3 to 5 years depending on the area of the library should be considered when weeding. Reading the shelves is a good way in get to know your collection and physically inspect the collection.


Running the statistics from the Destiny and Titlewise computer programs and performing a yearly inventory is beneficial in making weeding decisions.

Mesa Public Schools Policy on Deselecting

Books may be weeded based on physical condition of material, out-of-date/inaccurate information or duplicate volumes. Books that have been removed from library shelves due to weeding may be offered to teachers at the school site for classroom libraries. They may also be given to other schools or donated to organizations. Remaining books can be sent to the textbook depository. A form is attached to complete the work request for pick up and labeled “Library Discards.” The Library Resource Center Specialist should maintain a consideration file for future purchases reflecting the schools needs based on weeding and wish lists by faculty and students. Reconsideration of Library materials or instructional materials need to consider both the citizen’s “right” to express a opinion and the principals of Intellectual Freedom. School Library Resource Center Specialist supports the right of students, parents, or legal guardians to reject the appropriateness of materials for themselves or their child/ward. The Citizen’s Request for Reconsideration of Instructional Materials form is used to notify the Department of Curriculum and Instruction of an objection to information resources available in the library resource center.

Mesa Public Schools Book Challenge Procedure

If a student, parent, or staff member objects to a book in your schools collection, it is best to listen and address the concerns. Before a book can be removed from the collection, the Governing Board procedure must be followed.

Policy: KLB and KLB-R

Form: Citizen’s Request for Reconsideration of Materials


Franklin Elementary Schools Challenge Procedure

Books or materials are to be reviewed by at least one member of the Library Parent Review Committee appointed by the elected parent representatives. Books or materials questioned by parents are sent to the principal after a second possible review. If the material in question is found to be objectionable, that material is returned to the distributor for a refund if possible or donated to another school library. The parent reviewing the material for consideration must fill out a form stating the objection or approval for placement in the library resource center.

As you review each book we ask that you keep in mind the following points:

1. The book will be used in a elementary school library, not a public library.2. The material should be appropriate for children between five and twelve years of age.3. Of particular concern is the manner in which the book addresses and treats the

following matters:a. Sexb. Profanityc. Violence


Franklin at Alma Deselecting/ Weeding Policy Form

I appreciate you bringing your concerns to my attention regarding the use of the ________________________________ book in the Franklin at Alma Library. Franklin at Alma has a Library Review Committee that reviews all books and materials considered for addition to the school library resource center. The books approved should be for an elementary school library and appropriate for children between five and twelve years of age. Of particular concern is the manner in which the book addresses and treats sensitive matters such as sex, profanity, and violence. This policy has been agreed to by all of Franklin at Alma’s parents.

If a book has been found objectionable after reading it in its entirety, we request that you also complete the provided review slip. It is important that you remember to provide specific references to page numbers so that the questionable material may be easily reviewed by others on the committee. The final recommendations are then prepared by the committee, our principal, and the resource center specialist.

Gifts and donations to the Franklin at Alma Library are appreciated. We also reserve the right to weed any books that are in poor condition, possess and old out dated copyright, generate low circulation, there are too many duplicates or are inappropriate for an elementary school library.

Sincerely,

Nancy T. Sievert

Resource Center Specialist


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