Library/Media Center Policies

 

The role of the Media Center is to provide the resources, materials and services necessary to support the curriculum of all school departments, to encourage and provide reading guidance to support recreational reading, and to provide motivation and experiences necessary to create a desire for life-long learning.

 

Hours of Operation and Scheduling:

 

The Media Center will be open from 7:15 am to 3:00 pm on school days. Other dates and times will be considered on a case by case basis. Classes will be scheduled to use the Media Center on a first come/first served basis. The Media Center schedule will be available for viewing on the Media Center web page. Teachers wishing to schedule the Center should contact the Media specialist via email, phone, or personal contact to be entered into the schedule. No more than one class will be booked into the Center at any given time.

 

 

Services:

 

The services available in the media center for students include book check out including fiction, non-fiction, and biographies. Reference books and periodicals are available in the Center but are not to be checked out. A small number of computers with internet access are available for student use.

 

Services for teachers include the same book check out as the students plus some professional materials and videos for curriculum support(see Selection Policies paragraph below). Other services available to teachers include projector bulbs, laminating, library orientation for classes, lessons on research skills, Big 6, media literacy, or other areas as requested.

 

Requests by students or teachers for purchase of new books and materials will be given heavy consideration if the requested materials fall in with the schoolÕs selection policies and the limits of the Media CenterÕs budget.

 

Usage policies:

 

Students entering the LMC during class time (not accompanied by a teacher) must show a HALL PASS signed by their teacher.

 

Each student may checkout up to 5 items for period of 15school days using his/her student activity card. Magazines and encyclopedias and other reference books are to be used only in the Media Center.

 

Students will be fined 10 cents a day for any overdue books,. Students will be charge the full price of any lost or damaged books plus 2 dollars processing fee.

 

Books may be renewed as often as desired unless there is a waiting list for that book. If there is a waiting list, then the book may be renewed one time then must be returned.

 

Videos and equipment will only be checked out to school faculty and staff.

 

No food or drink is allowed in the Library/Media center.

 

 

Selection Policy:

 

Selection of library media materials shall be based on thefollowing criteria:
      1. Educational value.
      2. Accuracy, timeliness, permanence, and appropriateness.
      3. Potential for user appeal.
      4. Artistic quality and literary style.
      5. Author/producer/publisher reputation.
      6. Value commensurate with cost.

 

The library media specialist, working in cooperation with the principal and staff members, shall be responsible for the selection of materials for school library media center.

 

Suggestions from students will be considered based on the selection criteria as outlined above. Items donated to the Library/Media center will be evaluated by the library media specialist for inclusion in the collection base on the outlined criteria.

 

The collection of materials in the library will be constantly evaluated for currency, accuracy, appropriateness and usability. Materials that no longer meet the needs of the library/media center patrons will be weeded from the collection. Replacements will be obtained where possible and appropriate in accordance to the selection criteria and budget constraints.

 

Budget documentation will be maintained by the media specialist documenting all expenditures of monies by the Media Center. These documents will be available upon request to authorized personnel.

 

 

Challenges to Local Library Media Materials


      1. Challenges to library media materials shall be submitted in writing to the local

          school committee on a Request for Reconsideration of Library Media Materials form (see appendix 1)

2. The principal, as chair of the local school committee, shall call a committee

meeting to review a submitted Request for Reconsideration of Library Materials.

Each committee member shall receive a copy of the challenge and view the

materials prior to the meeting.
      3. The local school committee as a whole shall discuss the challenged materials based

on the guidelines outlined under Selection Policy and the written challenge.
      4. The local school committee shall determine by majority vote the disposition of the

challenged material. Local options shall include:
            a. Taking no action.
            b. Restricting access to students whose parents or guardian grant written

permission.
            c. Restricting access to adults.
            d. Referring the material to the District Library Review Committee with a

recommendation to remove the material from the school media center.
      5. The local school principal shall send a letter to the challenger explaining the

decision of the committee and the challengerÕs option to appeal to the District

Library Review Committee

      6. Decisions of the local school committee can be appealed to the District Library

Media Review Committee. During the review and the appeals process, the material

may be temporarily removed from circulation but shall not be removed from the

school media center.

 

 

Copyright:

 

All materials in the Library/Media center will be used in accordance to the copyright regulations of the United States and the policies of the school district.

 

 

Record keeping and reports

 

As stated in the Selection Policy section, The School Library Media Specialist will maintain budget records and reports and make them available to authorized persons upon request. The Media specialist will provide quarterly activity reports to the principal and district administration on library circulation, usage by classes, cooperative lessons taught, workshops attended, and other activities that involve the library media center and its personnel.

 

 

Intellectual Freedom:

 

The school library media center strives to operate according to the principles set out in the Library Bill of Rights.

 

1. 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.

 

2. Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not be removed because ofpartisan and doctrinal disapproval.

 

3. Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment.

4. Libraries should cooperate with all persons and groups concerned with resisting abridgment of free expression and free access to ideas.

5. A personÕs right to use a library should not be denied or abridged because of origin, age, background, or views.

6. 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 requesting their use.

 

Adopted June 18, 1948. Amended February 2, 1981, June 27, 1967 and January 23, 1980. By the ALA Council

 

 

 

 

APPENDIX 1

 

A CITIZEN'S REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION

 

OF LIBRARY MATERIALS

 

Title__________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Author__________________________________ Bock __________ Film ________ Other____________________________

 

Publisher (if know)______________________________________________________________________________________

 

Request initiated by_____________________________________________________________________________________

Telephone _________________________ Address_____________________________________________________________

City _________________________________________ Zip Code ______________________________________

Complainant represents:

Himself or Herself

Name of organization

 

1.      To what in the book, film, or material do you object? (Please be specific)

 

 

2.      What do you feel might be the result of reading this book, viewing this film, or listening to this material?

 

3.      For what age group would you recommend this book, film, or material?

 

4. Is there anything good about the book, film, or material?

 

 

5.      Did you read, view and/or listen to the entire book, film, or material?

          What parts?

 

 

6.      Are you aware of the educational purpose in using this material?

 

 

7.      Are you aware of the judgment of this book, film, or material by literary critics?

 

 

8.      What do you believe is the theme and purpose of the book, film, or material?

 

 

9.      Which of the following would you like to do about this book, film, or material?

         Do not assign or lend it to my child ____________________________________________

                  With draw it from all readers or students as well as my child____________________________

                  Send it back to the media selection committee for reevaluation.___________________________

 

10.    In its place, what material of equal literary quality would you recommend that would convey as valuable a picture and perspective of the subject treated?

 

 

 

Date_____________________________________ Signature of Complainant:_________________________________