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Selection Policy
Breanna Bales
2/17/2018
TE 875- UNK
Wauneta-Palisade Schools

Selection Policy of School Library Collections

Wauneta-Palisade Mission Statement

Inspiring our youth & expecting results every day.

Library Mission Statement

The mission of Wauneta-Palisade School’s library is to adhere to the school mission by

creating conditions of all students to learn the knowledge, skills, and behaviors

necessary to be productive in a changing world. By teaching our students the skills to

effectively access, evaluate and use information will aid in teaching students to be

lifelong learners.

Standards

AASL Standards for the 21st Century Learner

1) Inquire, think critically and gain knowledge.

2) Draw conclusions, make informed decisions, apply knowledge to new situations, and

create new knowledge.

3) Share knowledge and participate ethically and productively as members of our

democratic society.
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4) Pursue personal and aesthetic growth.

Selection Policy and Procedures

Selection Goals

Wauneta-Palisade schools strives to provide students with a variety of resources in

order to meet the informational, educational and recreational needs of students.

Criteria for Selection

Materials that are selected for the school library will be of a variety of formats including

both print and non-print. The library supports intellectual freedom and has adopted ALA

Bill of Rights.

The librarian will use Rule 10 when budgeting for materials for the library. The decision

for what materials to have in the library will be based off of:

1. Authenticity: The materials must contain up-to-date information. Materials that no

longer hold accurate information must be weeded from the collection.

2. Educational: The librarian should contact teachers to find what kind of

educational aids the librarian could get to help benefit the students learning and

aid the teachers in their teaching.

3. Interest: Materials included in the collection should be of interest to the current

students. Students may request books.

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Tools for Selection

The librarian will use professional reviews when determining what materials will work

best for the library.

1. Titlewave

2. School Library Journal

3. Booklist

Other sources may be used and will be determined by the LMS.

Gifts

Donated gifts to the library will be accepted as long as they support the purchased

materials criteria selection listed above. Monetary gifts will be accepted and used how

the donor wishes. However, the wish must meet the criteria for selection as stated

above. It will be the librarians responsibility to evaluate gifts using the criteria for

selection.

Weeding - Policy adapted from Orland School District #135

The purpose of weeding is important in order to maintain a relevant, attractive, accurate

and useful collection that facilitates efficient use of space. It’s the responsibility of the

librarian to determine what materials need to be removed or replaced.

Criteria for weeding:

1. Poor physical condition

2. Materials that have not circulated in the last 10 years.

3. Material is no longer up to date and provides inaccurate or dated information.

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4. Outdated/ unattractive format

5. Biased information

The final decision of what to weed will be up to the librarian. Weeding is a continuous

process and should be done as the librarian sees fit. Materials that are biased,

outdated, or in poor quality will be thrown in the trash. Other weeded materials will be

set out for students to take home and read if they wish.

Professional Collections Policy

Professional Collections will be available for staff use and will be seperate from the the

rest of the library materials. The librarian should reach out to teachers to see what

materials should be purchased in order to better enrich and support their curriculum.

Policy and Procedures for Challenge Materials

If a concern is expressed about materials in the library, the librarian must consider both

the patrons right to express an opinion and the principles of Intellectual Freedom.

1. Listen to the concern.

2. Explain the selection policy and student’s right to intellectual freedom.

3. Document the conversation and share with the buildings principal.

4. Provide the principal with the patrons concerns and discuss the purpose of

having the resource in the library along with professional reviews and the

selection criteria.

5. If the principal deems the item not suitable for the library, then the item will be

removed.
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6. The concerned patron will be notified about the final decision of the principal.

Plan for Adoption of Policy

1. If a parent, staff member, student, board member have a concern with a library

policy he or she shall contact the school librarian and discuss the concern.

2. The librarian should then contact administration and have a discussion about the

policy and the proposed policy. It will be the administration’s decision to change

the policy.

3. The librarian has the right to request to update/change a policy as he/she sees

fit. In order for a policy to be changed, the librarian must discuss the idea at a

school board meeting and must have majority approval.

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References

American Association of School Librarians. (2007). Standards for the 21st century

learner. Chicago: American Library Association.

Eastern Greene Schools. Materials Selection Policies. Retrieved: February 16, 2018,

from

http://www.egreene.k12.in.us/our_schools/high_school/high_school_library/mater

ials_selection_policies

Orland School District 135. Selection Practices for Media Center Materials. Retrieved:

February 16, 2018, from

https://www.orland135.org/cms/lib/IL01905133/Centricity/Domain/126/FINAL_se

lection_procedure-1.pdf