Selection Responsibility
Teacher/Staff
To best support curriculum and educational goals, the teachers and staff of the Shullsburg school district are a vital part of library collection development as they are the local experts in their fields of study. Teachers and staff members who have material recommendations are encouraged to fill out the Teacher/Staff Library Material Recommendation form which can be requested from the Shullsburg school librarian, or found via the online Google form.
Student/Parent
Suggestions from students and parents are a vital part of the development of the library collection. Student interests are always taken into consideration as a way to help ensure that the library collection has broad appeal and encourages student reading and use. A Student/Parent Recommendation Form can be obtained by request from the Shullsburg School librarian or the school office or via the online Google form.
Professional Reviews and Recommendations
The Shullsburg school librarian has the responsibility to make the final purchasing decisions on all library material recommendations offered by students, parents, and Shullsburg school staff, under the direction and supervision of the school administration. Materials selected will be carefully vetted and various quality review materials will be consulted before purchasing. Professional review materials that will be consulted include, but are not limited to,
Weeding, also known as deselection, is an important part of keeping a library collection healthy and current. The removal of items from the collection allows for more space for newer and more useful materials as well as maintaining a neat and orderly library space. In order for an item from the Shullsburg School library to be considered for removal from the collection, it must fit one or more of the following criteria,
Reconsideration of Materials and Materials Challenges and Complaints
When a concern is expressed about instructional materials or library media resources, the librarian needs to consider both the citizen’s right to express their opinion and the principles of Intellectual Freedom. It is one of the jobs of the librarian to support the rights of student, parents/legal guardians or community members to disagree with the appropriateness of materials for themselves or a child/ward in their custody.
All challenges/complaints will be recorded by the Shullsburg School librarian for reference purposes and shared with school administration. Those wishing to formally challenge materials must fill out the Request for Reconsideration of Materials form available in the school library, school office, or via the district website. Only once the form is completed and submitted will the material be considered for removal.
Procedure for Reconsideration
The circulation records of the library are confidential regardless of the source of inquiry. Should an item be requested by a Shullsburg teacher/staff member while checked out by a student, the librarian will contact the patron who has the item checked out and retrieve the requested item. Students may place holds on checked out items via the school library catalog but items will not be recalled via student request.
Teacher/Staff
To best support curriculum and educational goals, the teachers and staff of the Shullsburg school district are a vital part of library collection development as they are the local experts in their fields of study. Teachers and staff members who have material recommendations are encouraged to fill out the Teacher/Staff Library Material Recommendation form which can be requested from the Shullsburg school librarian, or found via the online Google form.
Student/Parent
Suggestions from students and parents are a vital part of the development of the library collection. Student interests are always taken into consideration as a way to help ensure that the library collection has broad appeal and encourages student reading and use. A Student/Parent Recommendation Form can be obtained by request from the Shullsburg School librarian or the school office or via the online Google form.
Professional Reviews and Recommendations
The Shullsburg school librarian has the responsibility to make the final purchasing decisions on all library material recommendations offered by students, parents, and Shullsburg school staff, under the direction and supervision of the school administration. Materials selected will be carefully vetted and various quality review materials will be consulted before purchasing. Professional review materials that will be consulted include, but are not limited to,
- Various professional publications, print and electronic, (eg. School Library Journal, The Hornbook, etc.)
- Various book award listings (eg. Caldecott, Newberry, etc.)
- Collection development tools such as those offered by Follet
- Appropriate for recommended levels
- Library media materials should be accessible to students of varied abilities as well as meet the informational and interest needs of said students. Other factors to take into account include cultural background and level of student development.
- 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 programs they support.
- Accurate in terms of content
- Library media materials will present facts in an objective manner and the authority of the author/organization/publisher/producer should be considered in the selection.
- Reflective of the pluralist nature of a global society
- Library media materials should provide a global perspective and promote diversity as a positive in our society. It is important to include materials by authors and illustrators of many cultures and backgrounds to give students an appreciation and better understanding of the lives of others.
- Free of bias and stereotype
- Library media materials must reflect the humanity of all people and be free of stereotypes, caricatures and bias of all kinds. Materials concerning religious, social, and political content is to inform students, not force them to lean one way or another.
- Representative of differing viewpoint on controversial topics
- Students have a right and the school has a responsibility to provide current, high quality information on both sides of a controversial issue. A variety of resources will allow students to exercise their critical thinking and problem solving skills.
- Appropriate or best fit format to effectively teach in conjunction with the curriculum and staff goals/objectives
- Library media materials should be available in a variety of formats, depending on how the material can be best used by the students and/or staff of the Shullsburg School District
- Current and timely in terms of publication and information offered
- Library media materials should be assessed for currency of information as it relates to the content and purpose of said item.
- Cost effective in terms of use and maintenance
- Library media materials should be evaluated for cost effectiveness in terms of accessibility, projected use, ease of use, and durability.
- Appropriate and accessible for students with special needs
- Library media materials should be provided to meet the curricular and individual needs, interests, and learning styles of all students at all levels or to fit these students’ needs as closely as possible.
Weeding, also known as deselection, is an important part of keeping a library collection healthy and current. The removal of items from the collection allows for more space for newer and more useful materials as well as maintaining a neat and orderly library space. In order for an item from the Shullsburg School library to be considered for removal from the collection, it must fit one or more of the following criteria,
- Is in poor physical condition to the extent that said item can no longer be repaired by the librarian
- Is a duplicate copy of an item that is not overly popular or influential in its field
- Has not circulated in the last five years
- Is in conflict with this document’s selection criteria
- Is outdated in content, use, or accuracy and is not considered a classic work or of historical value to the Shullsburg School library collection or the Shullsburg community
- Is poorly formatted or has been re-released in a format more accessible and appropriate for curriculum standards and goals
- M=misleading or inaccurate information
- U=ugly condition, beyond repair
- S=superseded by newer editions
- T=trivial, of no literary or scientific merit
- Y=your collection has no use for this item
Reconsideration of Materials and Materials Challenges and Complaints
When a concern is expressed about instructional materials or library media resources, the librarian needs to consider both the citizen’s right to express their opinion and the principles of Intellectual Freedom. It is one of the jobs of the librarian to support the rights of student, parents/legal guardians or community members to disagree with the appropriateness of materials for themselves or a child/ward in their custody.
All challenges/complaints will be recorded by the Shullsburg School librarian for reference purposes and shared with school administration. Those wishing to formally challenge materials must fill out the Request for Reconsideration of Materials form available in the school library, school office, or via the district website. Only once the form is completed and submitted will the material be considered for removal.
Procedure for Reconsideration
- The Shullsburg School librarian…
- Will listen calmly and objectively to the challenge
- Explain brief selection criteria established by the Shullsburg School District and give a copy of the Collection Development Policy if it should be requested
- Request the complainant complete the Request for Reconsideration of School Library Materials form and return it to the school office or library once finished
- Confer with the principal about the concern and discuss the purpose and use of the resource in question. The item in question will not be removed from the collection until the procedure for reconsideration is finalized
- A reconsideration committee will be formed consisting of school librarian, school administration, teachers, students, and parents. Each member of the committee will be required to read the item in question in its entirety prior to any action being taken
- Reconsideration committee will set a hearing and the complainant will be notified via letter as to the date and time of the meeting. Due to the sometimes emotionally charged nature of these hearings, the meeting will be closed to the public
- The committee will vote on removal or retention of the item in question and the principal will present the ruling to the school board. The complainant will be mailed a copy of the ruling and a copy will be filed with the collection development policy as well as in the library
- Items chosen for removal will be removed from the library or relocated to a more appropriate area of the collection based on the discretion of the librarian
- Appeals must be made to the principal in writing within 30 days of the ruling
The circulation records of the library are confidential regardless of the source of inquiry. Should an item be requested by a Shullsburg teacher/staff member while checked out by a student, the librarian will contact the patron who has the item checked out and retrieve the requested item. Students may place holds on checked out items via the school library catalog but items will not be recalled via student request.