POTTSVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT SELECTION PROCEDURES FOR MEDIA CENTER PHILOSOPHY
The essential function of the school library media center is to provide books, periodicals, audio-visual and other resource materials that are necessary to implement the educational programs of the school.  The materials are selected from all forms of media available for interest, vocabulary, maturity, and ability levels of all students within the school district.
 
The selection of books and materials shall be guided by the principles expressed in the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights.  Library media personnel are concerned with generating understanding citizens. To this end, the responsibility of the school library media center is: 
1. To provide a comprehensive collection of instructional materials selected in compliance with basic written selection principles and to provide maximum accessibility to these materials.
2. To provide materials that will support the curriculum, taking into consideration the individual’s needs, the varied interests, abilities, socioeconomic backgrounds, and maturity levels of the students served.
3. To provide materials for teachers and students that will encourage growth in knowledge and that will develop literacy, cultural and aesthetic appreciation’ and ethical standards.
4. To provide materials, which reflect the ideas and beliefs of religious, social, political, historical, and ethnic groups and their contribution to the American and world heritage and culture, thereby enabling students to develop intellectual integrity in forming judgments?
5. To provide a written statement, approved by the local board of education of the procedure for meeting the challenge of censorship of materials in the school library media centers.
6. To provide qualified professional personnel to serve teachers and students.
  RESPONSIBILITY FOR SELECTION
The legal responsibility for all instructional materials rests with the school district’s governing board of education.  A selection committee composed of administrators, library media professionals, teachers, students, and parents are involved in the selection process.  The responsibility for the final selection shall be delegated to the professionally trained library media personnel who know the curriculum, the students, and the philosophy of the school system. 
CRITERIA FOR SELECTION OF MATERIAL
Criteria for the selection of materials are determined by the needs of the individual school based on knowledge of the curriculum and the individual needs of the students. Materials are examined and selection is determined from recommendations in selections aids upon the basis of presentation, scope of subject matter, and interest level.  “Reputable, unbiased, professionally prepared selection aids shall be consulted as guides.” 1 No one source need determine final selection, and the critical opinions of reviewers shall be checked against each other.
1 Consult lists of current selection aids available from American Association of School Librarians, 50 East Huron, Chicago, IL 60611
 Print and non-print materials, including periodicals, are considered on the basis of:
 
1. Authority – determined by the author’s qualifications and sources of information used in preparation of the materials.
2. Scope – determined by adequacy of coverage in relation to the subject presented, accomplishment of author’s purpose, and appropriateness for school.
3. Reliability – determined by accuracy.
4. Treatment – determined by noting the author’s purpose (reference, recreation, etc.)
5. Readability – determined by noting suitability for grade and interest levels, appropriate print and vocabulary and illustrations.
6. Subject interest – determined by the skill of presentation in relation to grade and interest level.
7. Format – determined by examination of cover, print, page make-up, size, binding, illustration and other visual presentations.
8. Special features – determined by examination for appropriate indexes, bibliographies, outlines, etc.
9. Potential uses – consideration of the following:
 a. Meet curricular needs.
b. Provide curriculum enrichment.
c. Meet general reference needs.
d. Provide additional factual information.
e. Promote social and emotional development.
f. Provide inspirational value.
g. Serve reluctant readers.
h. Serve mature readers.
i. Provide for recreational reading.
j. Develop aesthetic taste.
  WEEDING Weeding is as important as book selection in providing accuracy of information.  Continuous and systematic weeding and discarding of obsolete or worn-out materials is encouraged.  The criteria for weeding and discarding materials are the same as selecting and evaluating new materials.
  Other considerations for weeding are:
 1. Poor content.
2. Outdated information.
3. Non-circulation materials.
4. Inappropriate reading levels.
5. Outdated textbooks and supplemental readers.
DUPLICATES There will be duplicate copies of materials if there is a definite need for them.  It is usually more important to provide a variety of materials rather than several copies of one item.  When there are several sections of a grade, multiple copies of standard titles may be essential.  These titles are usually those that do not date rapidly.  Examples:  books on birds, insects, trees and games.
REVIEW OF SELECTION POLICY
An advisory committee appointed by the appropriate library media professional will review the selection policy annually.
CHALLENGED MATERIAL
I. Most difficulties can and should be resolved at the building level.  Issues can usually be resolved through informal inquiry and discussion with principals, teachers, and library media specialists.
 
II. If the issue is not resolved through an informal inquiry, the complainant should be requested to make the complaint in writing.
 
III. The following procedure shall then be followed:
     A.  The complainant shall complete a Request for Reconsideration form and submit it to the building principal     
     B.  Challenged material will not be removed.
     C.  When the complaint is received, the advisory committee will meet to re-evaluate the material in question.  
          1. This committee shall consist of representative(s) from:  
               a. Building level administrator.
               b. A teacher from the area in question.
               c. Parent representatives.
               d. Student representatives when appropriate.
               e. Building library media specialist.  
 
          2. As a fact-finding committee, within three weeks of the receipt of the written complaint, the committee will meet and:  
              a. Receive copies of the challenged material.
              b. Read and/or examine the material.
              c. Check general acceptance of the materials by reading reviews.
              d. Weigh values and faults against each other, but the opinions shall be based on the material as a whole.  Passages or                          parts should not be pulled out of context.
              e. Call in consultant(s) to review materials in particular subject areas if needed.
              f. Discuss and prepare a report, presenting both majority and minority opinions.  Send copies of the report to
                   1)  complainant
                   2) superintendent
                   3) principal of the school involved.
               g. The decision of the advisory committee is binding for the individual school.
      D. Guiding Principles
           1. Any resident or employee of the school district may raise objection to learning resources used in a school’s educational   program, despite the fact that the individuals selecting such resources were duly qualified to make the selection, followed  proper procedure, and observed the criteria for selecting learning resources.  
           2. The principal should review the selection and objection rules with the teaching staff at least annually.  The staff should be  reminded that the right to object to learning resources is one granted by policies enacted by the Board of Trustees.  
           3.  No parent has the right to determine reading, viewing, or listening matters for students other than his or her own children.              
4. Pottsville School District supports the Library Bill of Rights, adopted by the American Library Association.  (A copy of the                   
 Library Bill of Rights is attached to this policy. 
​ When learning resources are challenged, the principles of the freedom to
               read/listen/view must be defended as well.  
           5. Access to challenged material shall not be restricted during the reconsideration process.  
           6. The major criterion for the final decision is the appropriateness of the material for its intended educational use.  
           7. A decision to sustain a challenge shall not necessarily be interpreted as a judgment of irresponsibility by the professionals
​               involved in the original selection and/or use of the material.  
 Date Adopted: February 17, 2011
Last Revised:

LIBRARY BILL OF RIGHTS
The American Library Association affirms that all libraries are forums for information and ideas, and that the following basic policies should guide their services.
 
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.
III. Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment.
IV. Libraries should cooperate with all persons and groups concerned with resisting abridgment of free expression and free access to ideas.
V. A person’s right to use the library should not be denied or abridged because of origin, age, background, or views.
VI. Libraries which make exhibit spaces and meeting rooms available to the public they serve should make such facilities available on an equitable basis, regardless of the beliefs or affiliations of individuals or groups regarding their use.
 
Adopted June 18, 1948
Amended February 2, 1961, and January 23, 1980,
Inclusion of “age” reaffirmed January 23, 1996,
By the ALA Council 

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PATRON’S REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION OF LIBRARY MEDIA MATERIALS

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