Collection+Development+Policy

 = = http://www.cpsd.us/web/PubInfo/LibrarySelectionPolicy.pdf   The purpose of this library materials selection policy is to provide guidelines for the selection and review of print, non-print, and electronic resources, excluding textbooks, that reflect the philosophy and goals of the school. This policy outlines the responsibility, objectives, and criteria for selection, as well as procedures for both selection and reconsideration of materials. Each library collection is considered a segment of the total district library collection. Materials are shared and may be made available to any school library in the district. The term “electronic resources” refers to those that the Library Media Coordinator and/or Specialist has selected for use--specifically; online services subscribed to annually, or designated curriculum-based sites on the World Wide Web. The Library Media <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">department does not control material that may be available from other Internet sites, and <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">use of the network is subject to the schools’ Acceptable Use Policy. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">Students must have a current signed Acceptable Use Policy on file in order to use library <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">media center computers to access the Internet. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman,Bold','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'TimesNewRoman,Bold'"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">The School Committee is responsible for establishing the policy of the <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">School. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">The responsibility for the selection of all library media materials is delegated to the <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">professional library media coordinator and/or specialist through the building principal. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">The selection process is a collaborative effort involving administrators, teachers, <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">students, and library media specialists. The responsibility for coordinating and <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">recommending the selection and purchase of library media materials rests with the library <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">media coordinator and/or specialists, who have professional training and experience in <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">materials selection. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">In selecting materials, library, staff, administrators, and faculty are guided by the <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">principles incorporated in the American Library Association’s “Library Bill of Rights”, <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">the American Library Association and Association of American Publishers’ “Freedom to <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">Read” statement, standards adopted by the American Association of School Librarians, <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">school library standards of the Massachusetts School Library Media Association, and the <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">Massachusetts Department of Education’s regulations pertaining to curricula (622 C.M.R. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">5.01-5.03). <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman,Bold','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'TimesNewRoman,Bold'"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">The School Committee recognizes that it is the primary objective of the <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">library media centers to implement, enrich, and support the education programs of the <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">schools. Materials are selected to advance the curriculum frameworks of the state, <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">district, and individual schools. It is the duty of the library media centers to provide a <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">wide range of materials on all levels of difficulty, with diversity of appeal and with <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">presentation of different points of view. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">To this end, the School Committee reaffirms the American Library <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">Association’s Bill of Rights for School Library Media Programs and asserts that the <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">responsibility of the School Library Media Center is: <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">1. To provide materials that will enrich and support the curriculum, taking into <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">consideration the varied interests, abilities, and maturity levels of the students <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">served. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">2. To provide materials that will stimulate growth in factual knowledge, literary <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">appreciation, aesthetic values, and ethical standards. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">3. To provide a background of information which will enable students to make <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">intelligent judgments in their daily lives. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino-Roman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Palatino-Roman">4. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">To provide materials on opposing sides of controversial issues so that young <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">citizens may develop under guidance the practice of critical analysis of all media. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">(Opinions expressed in library materials are not necessarily endorsed by the <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">Cambridge School Committee.) <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino-Roman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Palatino-Roman">5. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">To provide materials representative of the many religious, ethnic, and cultural <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">groups and their contributions to our American heritage. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino-Roman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Palatino-Roman">6. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">To place principle above personal opinion and avoid prejudice in selection of <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">materials of the highest quality in order to assure a comprehensive collection <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">appropriate for the users of the library media center. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">The Cambridge School Committee recognizes that the final decision as to what materials <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">an individual student will use rests with that student’s parents/guardians. However, at no <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">time, will the wishes of one child’s parents/guardians to restrict his/her reading or <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">viewing of a particular item infringe on other parents/guardians rights to permit their <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">child to read or view the same material. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino-Bold','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Palatino-Bold"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">Materials selected should support the curriculum and interests of students, staff, and <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">families, taking into account the diverse interests, age levels, ability levels, learning <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">styles, and emotional and social development levels. Materials should encourage <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">appreciation for both informational and recreational reading, viewing, or listening. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">In order to achieve the objectives of the library media centers, materials will be selected <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">with the following criteria in mind: _ <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">Factual content _ <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">Educational significance _ <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">Readability _ <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">Authenticity and accuracy _ <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">Literary style and/or artistic quality _ <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">Quality and variety of physical format _ <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">Treatment of subject that is clear, comprehensible, skillful, convincing, wellorganized, <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">and unbiased _ <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">Timeliness or permanence _ <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">Durable and attractive construction _ <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">Special features such as illustrations, photographs, maps, charts <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">4. The value of each work will be examined as a whole, transcending individual words, <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">phrases, illustrations, or incidents. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">5. Materials will be chosen in a variety of formats, with efforts to incorporate emerging <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">technologies. Formats include print, non-print (i.e., videotapes, audiotapes, computer <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">programs), and online resources. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">6. Resource sharing will be considered while selecting materials. Materials may or may <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">not be purchased based on collaborative relationships or in-school collections, depending <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">upon extent of need. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman,Bold','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'TimesNewRoman,Bold'"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">1. Each library media specialist will submit a plan to the Coordinator of Library Media <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">Services or designee for collection maintenance and development annually. In <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">coordinating this process, the library media specialist will: _ <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">Collaborate with library media colleagues for shared purchase selection to support <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">the curriculum frameworks _ <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">Purchase duplicates and replacements _ <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">Share print, non-print, and online resource lists, resulting from teacher <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">collaboration on student research and literary projects _ <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">Maintain current knowledge of children's literature and information technology <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">resources <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">2. Core reference collections (print, non-print, and online) will emphasize subject-related <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">sources and will be evaluated and updated annually on a system-wide basis to ensure <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">equitable access to information at all school regardless of size of collection and student <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">population. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">3. Selection tools from reputable, professionally-prepared sources will be consulted for <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">selecting books, non-print, and electronic media. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">4. When possible, items will be examined before purchase. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">5. Gift materials will be evaluated by the same standards and criteria as purchased <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">materials and are accepted or rejected by these standards. Gifts that do not meet criteria <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">for library use but are appropriate for classroom or home use will be offered to the school <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">community with the donor's consent. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">6. Library media specialists will inventory collections at least every two years. The same <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">thought and care given to selection of materials will be exercised in weeding so that <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">collections remain current and useful to the school community. The ALA recommends <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">that three (3) to five (5) percent of collections (print and non-print) be weeded annually. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">Worn, damaged, or missing items basic to the collections will be replaced periodically <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman">
 * I. Introduction**
 * <span style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman,Bold','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'TimesNewRoman,Bold'">II. Responsibility **
 * <span style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman,Bold','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'TimesNewRoman,Bold'">III. Objectives **
 * <span style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino-Bold','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Palatino-Bold">IV. Selection Criteria **
 * <span style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'TimesNewRoman,Bold','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'TimesNewRoman,Bold'">V. Selection Procedures **