Evaluation and Selection
Since selection of instructional materials is a specialized field of librarianship, the final selection must be left to trained personnel who know the course of study, methods of teaching and the individual differences of students. Student involvement in selection of materials is encouraged; however, final selection and purchase is the responsibility of professional staff.
Specific criteria for selection should include most of the following:
1. Is this material needed by the school?
2. Is it the best of its kind available?
3. Does it fit into or enrich the curriculum?
4. Is it suitable to the grade for which it is bought?
5. If factual, is it accurate and up to date?
6. Is it selected from one of the approved reviewing media listed in the State Standards and/or the ESEA Title II Handbook for Librarians, Audio-Visualists and Teacher Librarians, Pages 27-33?
Special guidelines for selection of various media have been compiled and adopted by officials of the American Association of School Librarians. Copies of these guidelines will be available from all IMC personnel and administrators.
Weeding of the collection is also the responsibility of the professional personnel.
Special factors for evaluation concern donated materials which are gladly accepted provided the donor gives full title and control to the IMC. The personnel must not become obligated to keep unsuitable materials. The IMC personnel must apply the same evaluative criteria to donated materials as those purchased by the district.
Challenged Materials
We realize that it is not possible for the professional personnel to read or review every item before ordering it for the IMC. Consequently, we rely in most instances on the judgement of others, particularly as published by reliable organizations such as the American Library Association, the H.W. Wilson Company, the R.R. Bowker Company, the National Council for the Social Studies and many other comparable and reliable organizations. We recognize that not all people agree on what is suitable for an IMC and that an occasional objection may arise. The objector has a right to be heard and to be treated in a dignified manner. Consequently, on February 16, 1969, the district adopted a procedure and set up a Committee for Reconsideration of School Library Materials.
Membership of the Committee includes:
1. One teacher from the primary or intermediate grades;
2. One teacher from the senior high social studies department;
3. One teacher from the senior high language arts department;
4. One teacher from the middle school;
5. The District Technology Director;
6. The media specialist of the school involved;
7. Eight parents, one from each school, selected by the building principals;
8. The principal of the school involved is to serve as chairperson.
We recommend that all objections be in writing and presented on te form, "Citizen’s Request for Reconsideration of School Library Materials", taken from page 17 of the National Council of Teachers of English booklet, The Student’s Right to Read. A copy of this form is attached along with the copy of the School Library Bill of Rights.
The IMC personnel and/or the administration shall consider any objections. If the case is of a sufficiently serious nature, it shall be referred to the Committee for Reconsideration of School Library Materials, and the case should be initiated through the building principal of the school involved. The objector shall be allowed to select one person to sit with them at the hearing. The review of the questioned materials shall be treated objectively and professionally as a serious matter. The best interests of the students, the school and the community shall be of paramount consideration in such a hearing.