Mount Saint Joseph High School Library Policy Manual I.
Mission Statement
II.
Philosophy / Goals
III.
Media Selection Policy a) Objectives of Selection 1) ALA/AASL Bill of Rights b) Responsibility for Selection of Materials c) Criteria for Selection of Materials d) Procedure for Selection of Materials e) Placement of Materials f) Procedure for Challenged Materials Appendix 1) Sample letter to complainant Appendix 2) Request for Reconsideration of Materials form g) Policy for disposal of materials h) Policy for gifts of materials i) Special collections 1) Archives
Submitted by: Paula I. Wichmann, Library Director March 13, 2007
Approved by: Academic Committee, April 2007
I. Mission Statement
The mission of the Mount Saint Joseph Library is to ensure that all students, faculty, and staff have the skills and opportunity to access, evaluate, and utilize information. Information literacy should be an integral part of the educational experience. The Librarians play a critical role in the introduction of new learning technologies, support of the curriculum, and the teaching of information skills in a positive learning environment in which all students can become independent, lifelong learners.
II. Philosophy The Library of Mount St. Joseph High School is committed to servicing the information needs of every student, faculty member, staff member, and alumni. The Library ensures that current print and non-print materials are available to support the curriculum goals and objectives of the school. Instruction and guidance are provided in the use of these materials. The Library provides an opportunity for users to pursue independent interests, leisure reading, and personal research in a quiet environment. The Library is committed to provide the MSJ community with the current trends in library technology development. The Library supports the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights and Freedom to Read statements. These documents are to be considered part of library policies.
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Goals
We believe that it is important for the Library to maintain its traditional role of preserving and disseminating information while incorporating advances in technology for information access. Our goal is to help students become productive citizens and participants in a rapidly changing global society.
The purpose of the MSJ Library is to meet the goals listed below: • • • • •
to provide books, magazines, journals, library technology, community programming, reader's advisory, bibliographic instruction, and reference assistance. to provide materials in the library that support the school’s curriculum, interest, information, and enlightenment of the Mount Saint Joseph High School community. to develop a collection based on the diversity of the school’s curriculum and community. to ensure that materials and information present all points of view and expression on current and historical issues. to create a library space that is welcoming, attractive, and organized.
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III. Media Selection Policy
A.) Objectives of Selection
1) The primary objective of the MSJ Library is to support, enrich, and implement the educational program of the school. It is the duty of the Library to provide a wide range of materials and learning resources at various levels of difficulty, with diversity of appeal and the presentation of different points of view to meet the needs of students and teachers. 2) For the purposes of this statement of policy, the terms “materials” and “learning resources” will refer to any person or item with instructional content or function. Materials include books, magazines, journals, maps, community resource persons, agencies or organizations, kits, pictures, slides, sound recordings, transparencies, videocassettes, DVDs, CD-ROMs, audio-visual equipment, and other learning resources.
We feel it is the responsibility of the Library to: • • • • • •
Provide materials that will enrich and support the curriculum, taking into consideration the varied interests, abilities and maturity levels of the students served. Provide materials that will stimulate growth in factual knowledge, literacy appreciation, aesthetic values and ethical standards. Provide a background of information which will enable students to make intelligent judgments in their daily lives. Provide materials on opposing sides of controversial issues so that young citizens may develop under guidance the practice of critical reading and thinking. Provide materials representative of the many religious, ethnic and cultural groups and their contributions to our heritage. Place principle above personal opinion and reason above prejudice in the selection of materials of the highest quality in order to assure a comprehensive collection appropriate to the users of the library.
B.) Responsibility for Selection of Materials
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1)
The school administration delegates the responsibility for the selection of materials to the library director employed by the school system, and declares that selections made shall be held to approval of the school administration.
2)
While selection of materials involves many people, such as administrators, teachers, staff, students, community persons, and library personnel, the responsibility for coordinating the selection of school learning resources and making the recommendation for purchase rests with the principal and/or library director.
3)
The selector will place principle above personal opinion and reason above prejudice in the selection of materials in order to assure a comprehensive collection appropriate to the school community.
C.) Criteria for Selection of Materials 1) Needs of the school based on knowledge of the curriculum and of the existing collection are given first consideration. 2) Materials for purchase are considered on the basis of: a) pertinence to the curriculum b) accuracy and objectivity c) overall purpose d) timeliness e) importance of subject matter f) quality of writing or production g) readability and popular appeal h) authoritativeness i) reputation of the publisher/producer
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j) reputation and significance of the author/artist/composer, etc. k) format and price 3) Requests from faculty and students are almost always honored.
D.) Procedures for Selection of Materials
1) In selecting materials for purchase, the professional personnel will evaluate the existing collection and consult reputable, unbiased, professionally prepared aids and other appropriate sources.
2) Suggestions are checked against the following review sources: a) Senior High School Library Catalog b) American Library Association / American Association of School Librarians c) Booklist d) VOYA e) The New York Times Book Review f) The Washington Post Book World
3) Multiple items of outstanding and much in demand media are purchased as needed. 4) Gift materials are judged by the criteria outlined and will be accepted or rejected by those criteria. (see III.H.) 5) Selection is an ongoing process which should include the removal of materials no longer appropriate and the replacement of lost and worn materials still of educational value. (see III.G.)
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E.) Placement of Materials 1) The Placement of Materials within the MSJ Library is determined by several factors. The Library uses Dewey Decimal Classification. This classification scheme divides material by subject. Library catalogers using the Dewey Decimal Classification and the Library of Congress subject headings place materials in the proper area and assign them to Fiction, Young Adult, Reference, etc. 2) Various material formats other than print materials are purchased for the MSJ Library. These materials are shelved in separate, restricted areas from the print materials. These collections may include audiobooks, videocassettes, DVDs, multimedia kits, CDs, and maps.
F.) Procedure for Challenged Materials 1) The principles of the Freedom to Read and of the professional responsibility of the staff must be defended, rather than the materials. 2) Any parent or guardian of an enrolled child of the school may formally challenge materials used in the school’s library on the basis of appropriateness. This procedure is for the purpose of considering the opinions of those persons in the schools who are not directly involved in the selection process. a) All formal objections to materials must be made on a Request for Reconsideration of Materials form. b) The Request for Reconsideration of Materials form must be signed by the questioner and filed with the Principal or Librarian. c) The request for reconsideration shall be referred to a review committee at the school level for reevaluation of the resource.
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3) Upon receipt of a Request for Reconsideration of Materials, the Principal and/or Librarian shall appoint and meet with a review committee in a timely manner. a) The Review Committee shall include one member of the school teaching staff chosen by the school faculty, one member of the library professional staff, one member of the school parent organization, one student representative chosen by the student body, and one member of the school board to act as chairperson. b) The Review Committee may choose to consult Archdiocesan support staff and/or community persons with related professional knowledge. c) The Review Committee shall judge the challenged resources as to whether it conforms to the principles of selection as outlined in the Library’s Selection of Materials Policy (see III. C, D) 4) To reach a resolution, the Review Committee shall: •
Examine the challenged material
•
Determine professional acceptance by reading critical reviews of the resource
•
Weight values and faults and form opinions based on the material as a whole rather than on passages or sections taken out of context
•
Discuss the challenged material in the context of the educational program
•
Discuss the challenged item with the individual questioner when appropriate
•
Prepare a written report
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5) The written report shall be discussed with the individual questioner if requested. 6) The written report shall be retained by the Principal and Librarian. Written reports, once filed, are confidential and available for examination by appropriate officials only. 7) The decision of the Review Committee is binding. 8) Notwithstanding any procedure outlined in the policy, the questioner shall have the right to appeal any decision of the Review Committee to the Division of Schools of the Archdiocese of Baltimore as the final review panel. 9) The guiding principles for reconsideration of challenged materials are as follows: a) Any parent or guardian of an enrolled child of the school may raise objection to materials used in the Library despite the fact that the individuals selecting such resources were duly qualified to make the selection, followed proper procedure, and observed the criteria for selected materials. b) No parent or guardian has the right to determine reading, viewing, or listening matter for students other than his/her own. c) The MSJ Library supports the Library Bill of Rights, adopted by the American Library Association. When materials are challenged, the principles of the Freedom to Read/Listen/View must be defended as well. d) Access to challenged materials shall not be restricted during the reconsideration process. e) The major criterion for the final decision is the appropriateness of the material for its intended educational use.
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G.) Policy for Disposal of Materials 1) The librarian examines several different portions of the collection yearly on a rotating schedule to ensure regular professional review of the entire collection. •
Dated, obsolete, and unused titles are removed from the collection on a continuing basis.
•
Infrequently used materials are retained if they enhance the scope of the holdings, add historical viewpoint, or contribute to overall collection balance.
•
Worn or missing standard items are replaced periodically.
H.) Policy for Gifts of Materials 1) The MSJ Library accepts and encourages unrestricted, irrevocable gifts of books, non-print resources, or funding to purchase materials that will increase the usefulness of the collection. 2) Gifts added to the collection must meet the same selection criteria as materials purchased for the collection. If gifts do not meet these criteria, they may be conveyed to interested faculty and students or otherwise disposed. 3) The MSJ Library will not assign a value to donated gift materials. However, the Library will issue a letter of gratitude and/or a receipt for “x” number of books, boxes of books, etc. which can be used for tax purposes.
I.) Special Collections
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1) The MSJ Library maintains the Archival Room as a special collection. The MSJ Archives is available for use by faculty, staff, students, alumni, and the community at large. 2) School and community members are welcome to access materials from the archives for library use only. Materials may not be checked out. 3) Contents in the Archives include materials covering 130 years of MSJ History: photographs, class pictures, commencement programs, yearbooks, school newspapers, school literary publications, class and graduate lists, brochures, alumni events programs, ledgers, catalogues, and architectural plans. 4) Donations to the Archives are strongly encouraged.
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Appendix 1
Sample Letter to Complainant (copy on school letterhead)
______________ Date
Dear_________________________,
Thank you for your concern over the appropriateness of ______________________________________ in our Library.
Our school administration has a policy for the selection of materials. A copy of our selection policy is available in our Library for your review. After reviewing this policy, if you still have concerns about the material in question, please complete the enclosed “Request for Reconsideration of Materials� form and return it to me.
I can assure you that this matter will be given our prompt attention. If the form is not returned within two weeks, that is (insert due date), we will assume you no longer wish to file a formal complaint.
Thank you again for your concern about our Library selections. We appreciate your interest in our school and in our students.
Sincerely,
________________ Librarian
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Appendix 2 RECONSIDERATION OF MATERIALS FORM
Author __________________________________________________________ Title
__________________________________________________________
Publisher _________________________________Copyright Date___________
Request Made By: Name ______________________________________________________ Address ______________________________________ Zip___________ Phone _____________________________________________________
1. How was this material brought to your attention?_______________ _______________________________________________________
2. Have you examined the material in its entirety? _________If not, what parts have you examined? ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________
3. Please explain your objection to the material. Please be specific. ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________
4. Is the material useful in any way? Please evaluate the material’s positive and negative qualities. __________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ (over)
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5. What harmful effect do you feel the material might have? On Whom?_____________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________
6. For what age group do you think it should be reserved? ___________________________________________________________
7. Has the book been reviewed by any authorities or reviewers? ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________
8. What do you think should be the disposition of the material? ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________
9. Are the alternatives to this material which the Library could consider? ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________
10. Who do you represent? Myself ___________________________________ Organization Name _________________________ Other (please specify) __________________________________
Signature
Date
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