Selecting Materials 1

Selecting Materials: A Guide for Parents

Thank you for using the library o What you are doing is great! Families play an important role in their children's reading success. Reading aloud to infants stimulates their brains to create new learning pathways and strengthen existing ones. Reading to preschoolers is the most important thing families can do to prepare them for reading. A 1998 study shows that students improved 2.99 grade levels for every school year that they read 60 minutes per day. Children who score at the 90th percentile on a reading test spent five times as many minutes per day reading books as children at the 50th percentile. Studies of individual families show that what they do to support literacy in the home is more important to student success than family income or education. o Early Literacy is important Libraries can help babies and young children Connect synapses in their brain through hearing words and music, seeing pictures and text, touching objects and turning the pages of books Understand the function of words and pictures in books Develop language skills Develop the idea of sequence by experiencing the beginning, middle and end of stories Learn to socialize Develop positive reading habits Stimulate their imaginations Libraries can help parents... Understand they are their childs first and most important teacher Read aloud to their child Share activities which enhance their childs emotional development **Learn how to select appropriate books for their childs interests and development** Gain access to childrens reading materials that they might not otherwise have in their homes

Selecting Materials 2 Learn about other organizations in the community that provide services for parents and children The library believes that a parent is the best judge of what materials are appropriate for their child. A variety of materials representing all points of view are housed in the library, but it is the parent's right and responsibility to decide what their child is ultimately exposed to. Our collection policy o We provide materials from all points of view o A persons right to use the library will not be denied because of age o To see our selection policy, go to our website at... o DouglasCountyLibraries.org o Click on About Us under the Quick Links drop down menu o Click on Collection Purchase Policy under FAQ's and Policy Okay, as a parent, how do I choose materials for my family? o Review materials before your children see them o Check the illustrations and story line o Look at the lifestyles portrayed o Weigh the relationships among people o Note the heroes/ heroines o Consider your child's unique needs o Does it portray values consistent with your family's values? What happens if I run into something that I dont like? o Talk about it! Discuss why you dont like it with your children o Seek an alternative to highlight another viewpoint Douglas County Libraries Staff are here to help you find other materials o Post a comment online Amazon.com Customer Reviews Customer Discussions Our own website! o File a formal complaint through the library You are the expert on your children! Resources o Library Bill of Rights (ALA) www.ala.org/ala/oif/statementspols/statementsif/librarybillofrig hts.pdf o Freedom to Read http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/statementspols/ftrstatement/freedomr eadstatement.htm

Selecting Materials 3 o Free Access to Libraries for Minors http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/statementspols/statementsif/interpreta tions/freeaccesslibraries.htm o Freedom to View http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/statementspols/ftvstatement/freedomv iewstatement.htm o Intellectual Freedom Basics (ALA) http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/basics/ o Education Week's From cradle to career: Connecting American education from birth to adulthood http://www.edweek.org/ew/toc/2007/01/04/index.html o Reading is Fundamental: How to Choose a Good Book http://www.rif.org/parents/goodbooks/ o The Childrens Book Council: Choosing a Childrens Book http://www.cbcbooks.org/readinglists/choosing.html o Gayles Preschool Rainbow: How to Choose a Picture Book http://www.preschoolrainbow.org/picture-book.html