Policy EFA-R1

SCHOOL LIBRARY MEDIA CENTER

SELECTION OF MATERIALS
(REGULATION)
Mission Statement

The mission of the Sand Springs Schools’ Library Media Program is to promote skills, experiences, and
confidence that will enable children to use library and information resources for independent lifelong learning, to
promote the appreciation and enjoyment of literature, and to encourage reading for pleasure as well as for
information. The responsibility of the Library Media Specialist is to collect materials that help teachers and
students meet these goals.

The Board of Education of Sand Springs Schools is legally responsible for all matters relating to the operation of
the school district including the selection and purchase of all print and non-print materials. Authority for
selection in libraries is delegated to each individual school’s library media specialist.

Materials shall be selected in accordance with the principles established by the School Library Bill of Rights as
approved by the American Association of School Librarians. Final selection will be made by the media specialist
subject to approval by the board. Suggestions from the administration, the faculty, and from the students are
encouraged.

The Board of Education and the media staff of the Sand Springs Public Schools subscribe in principle to the
following statement of policy expressed by the American. Association of School Librarians:

BILL OF RIGHTS FOR LIBRARY MEDIA CENTER PROGRAMS

The professional staff of school media centers is concerned with the development of informed and responsible
citizens. To this end, the American Association of School Librarians reaffirms the Library Bill of Rights of the
American Library Association and asserts that the responsibility of the school media center is:

To provide materials that will enrich the student as an individual and support the curriculum, taking into
consideration individual needs, and the varied interests, abilities, socioeconomic backgrounds, and maturity
levels of the student served
To provide materials that will stimulate growth in knowledge and develop literary, cultural, and aesthetic
appreciations and ethical standards
To provide materials on all sides of issues, beliefs, and ideas so that young citizens may develop the habit
of critical thinking, reading, listening, and viewing, thereby enabling them to develop an intellectual
integrity in forming judgments
To provide materials which accurately reflect all religious, social, political, and ethnic groups, and their
contributions to our American heritage as well as knowledge and appreciation of world history and culture
To provide a comprehensive collection of instructional materials which, when selected in compliance with
basic selection principles, can be defended on the basis of their appropriateness for the users of the media
center
Objectives of Selection
Sand Springs School Library Media Centers support the vision of Sand Springs Schools through the creation of
learning environments that encourage intellectual and social development leading to productive citizenship. The
library mission is to promote the skills, experiences and confidence that will enable children and young adults to
use libraries and information resources for lifelong learning. To accomplish this mission, the following
objectives for selection have been adopted:

1. To provide materials that support curriculum and learning

2. To provide equitable access to a variety of information materials, taking into consideration individual
needs, interests, abilities, diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, variance in language, and maturity levels of
the students served
3. To provide materials which reflect all sides of issues, beliefs, and ideas for the PU’POSC of guiding
students in becoming critical thinkers who can understand varying perspectives
4. To develop a collection of popular print/non-print materials of’ high interest that attract students to
reading for pleasure, recreation, and personal interest
Types of Material for Purchase

The following kinds of material should be selected for the media center:

1. Materials integral to the instructional program.

2. Materials appropriate for the reading level and understanding of students in the school.
3. Materials reflecting the interests and needs of the student and faculty served by the media center.
4. Materials warranting inclusion in the collection because of their literary and/or artistic value and merit.
5. Materials presenting information with the greatest degree of accuracy and clarity possible.
6. Materials representing a fair and unbiased presentation of information. In controversial areas, the media
specialist, in cooperation with the faculty, should select materials representing as many shades of opinion
as possible, in order that varying viewpoints are available to students.
7. Textbooks will not be included in the general collection.
Criteria for Selection

The following criteria will be used as they apply:

1. Learning resources shall support and be consistent with the general educational goals of the state and
district and the aims and objectives of individual schools and specific courses.
2. Learning resources shall meet high standards of quality in factual content and presentation.
3. Learning resources shall be appropriate for the subject area and for the age, emotional development,
ability level, learning styles, and social development of the students for whom the materials are selected.
4. Physical format and appearance of learning resources shall be suitable for their intended use.
5. Learning resources shall be designed to help students gain an awareness of our pluralistic society.
6. Learning re sources shall be designed to motivate students and staff to examine their own duties,
responsibilities, rights, and privileges as participating citizens in our society, and to make informed
judgments in their daily lives.
7. Learning resources shall be selected for their strengths rather than rejected for their weaknesses.
8. The selection of learning resources on controversial issues will he directed toward maintaining a diverse
collection representing various views.
 9. Learning resources shall clarify historical and contemporary forces by presenting and analyzing
intergroup tension and conflict objectively, placing emphasis on recognizing and understanding social aid
economic problems.
Selection emphasis is placed on providing a wide range of fiction and nonfiction materials that promote a
lifelong love of reading, support the school’s curriculum, and contribute to the professional goals of the faculty.
Materials are selected to reflect cultures, beliefs, and viewpoints of our diverse community. The following
criteria is considered in the selection process:

Relevance to the local curriculum, state, and national standards

Literary merit including quality of writing and/or illustrations
Timeliness
Reading level
Popular appeal
Cost
Social significance and representation of diversity
Authority and accuracy of content
Format
Reputation and standards of the publisher or producer
Representation of differing viewpoints
Selection Tools

1. In selecting materials for purchase, the media specialist evaluates the existing collection and consults
reputable, unbiased, professionally prepared selection aids, such as:
Booklist
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
Children’s Catalog
The Elementary School Library Collection
Junior High & Senior High School Catalog
Kirkus
VOYA
2. Suggestions for patrons including staff and students
3. Professional and trade journals
4. Lists of recommended titles
5. Publisher’s catalogs and promotional materials
Gift Books and Materials

Gift books and materials are accepted with the understanding that they must meet the same selection criteria as
materials purchased with board of education funds. The practice of a donor’s purchasing new books or materials
as library media center gifts is discouraged. It is preferable that donors make monetary gifts for the purchase of
books and materials because the school receives a discount and can purchase more hooks for the same amount of
money.

Gift books and other materials, once accepted by the Sand Springs Public Schools, becomes the property of the
Sand Springs Public Schools.
 De-Selection

In compliance with ALA guidelines, the collection of the library information center will be continually
reevaluated in relation to evolving curriculum, new formats of materials, new instruction methods, and the
current needs of its users. Materials no longer appropriate should be removed. Lost and worn materials of lasting
value should be replaced. Weeding is essential to maintaining a relevant, attractive collection. Materials
considered for weeding should include items:

In poor physical condition

Containing obsolete subject matter
No longer needed.to support the curriculum or student/faculty interest
Superseded by more current information
Containing inaccurate information
With low circulation
Offering stereotypical images and characterizations
Procedures for Reconsideration of Materials

It is recommended that a student or the student’s parent should have the right to reject the use of library media
center materials which seem incompatible with the student’s values or beliefs. It is further recommended that
classroom assignments involving library media center materials provide for alternative choices. This procedure is
consistent with the National Council of Teachers of English Statement on Students’ Right to Read, which is
endorsed in its entirety. However, no parent has the right to determine the reading matter for students other than
his/her own children. Books and other materials shall not be removed or banned solely because of partisan or
doctrinal disapproval.

If an objection to a selection is made by the public, the procedures are as follows:

1. Inform the complainant of the selection practices and procedures and make no commitments. Make
every attempt to resolve the issue informally in a private, personal conference with the complainant.
2. Invite the complainant to file his/her objections in writing on forms provided through the principal’s
office.
3. Keep challenged materials on the shelves during the reconsideration process.
4. Completed forms are to he returned to the principal. Upon receipt of the completed reconsideration
form, the building principal forwards a copy to be filed with the Superintendent of Schools.
5. The building principal and librarian should maintain a written record of all contacts with the
complainant.
6. If the formal request for reconsideration has not been received by the principal within two weeks, it shall
be considered closed. If the request is returned, the reasons for selection of the special work shall be
reestablished by the appropriate staff.
7. An informal conference with the principal will be held.
8. If unable to satisfy the complainant, refer the complaint to the Review Committee, consisting of
Library Media Specialist
Principal
Counselor
Classroom Teacher
9. The procedure for the first committee meeting following referral to the Review Committee is as follows:
 a. Distribute copies of written request form
b. Distribute copies of the challenged material, as available, to be read, viewed, or listened to by the
next meeting
c. Distribute copies of reputable, professionally prepared reviews of the material when available
d. Give complainant or group spokesperson an opportunity to talk about and expand on the request
form
10. At the second, or a subsequent, meeting, the committee should determine the extent to which the
material supports the curriculum, and arrive at a recommendation to present to the Superintendent
concerning action to be taken. The committee may make its decision in either open or closed session. The
committee’s recommendation will be one of the following:
To take no removal action
To remove all or part of the challenged material from the school
To limit the educational use of the challenged material
11. The major criterion for the final recommendation is the appropriateness of the material for its intended
educational use. The principles of intellectual freedom inherent in the First Amendment of the Constitution
of the United States, the right of access to materials, and the integrity of the certified personnel involved in
the selection must also be considered. The written recommendation and its justification shall be forwarded
to the Superintendent, to the complainant, and to the appropriate school building(s), where it should he filed
by both the media specialist and the principal.
12. The complainant shall be kept informed by the committee secretary concerning the status of his or her
complaint throughout the committee reconsideration process. The complainant and known interested
parties shall be given appropriate notices of such meetings.
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OSSRA POLICY SERVICES REVIEW NOTES:

This policy replaces former policies EFA and EFAB-R.

Adoption Date: February 5, 2007