AISC Libraries Handbook 2023-24

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AISC Libraries Handbook 2023 - 2024

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AISC Libraries Handbook wAmerican w w . a i s cInternational h e n n a i . oSchool r g | Chennai @ A I S C h e n n1 a i

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AISC Libraries Handbook 2023 - 2024

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AISC Libraries Handbook 2023 - 2024

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TABLE OF CONTENTS AISC Mission.................................................................................... 4 Library Mission................................................................................. 4 Library Philosophy........................................................................... 4 Library Agreements......................................................................... 4 Library Usage................................................................................... 5 Curricular Connections.................................................................... 5 Circulation Policy............................................................................. 5 Overdue Materials........................................................................... 6 Lost and Damaged Materials........................................................... 6 Confidentiality of Library Records.................................................... 6 Weeding Policy................................................................................ 7 Collection Development and Materials Selection Policy................. 8 Reconsideration of Challenged Materials........................................ 9 Library Events................................................................................... 11 End of School Year Procedures........................................................ 11 Academic Honesty........................................................................... 11

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AISC Mission Together we inspire a love of learning, empowering all students with courage, confidence, creativity and compassion to make their unique contribution in a diverse and dynamic world.

Library Mission The AISC Libraries empower community members to confidently transform curiosity, creativity, and compassion into ideas or artifacts with personal, social, or global significance in an increasingly connected and multiliterate world.

Library Philosophy Because the AISC Libraries are the academic and social hubs of the school, we believe in increasing well-being by providing access, professional service, guidance, and collaborative spaces, as well as opportunities for lifelong learning to all members of our diverse community.

Library Agreements A. Patrons display the AISC Core Values: respect, responsibility, excellence, diversity, and integrity.

B. Patrons are expected to care for materials and use them properly and to also treat the library staff, patrons, and facilities with respect.

C. Food and drinks are not permitted during instructional time.

D. In MS, gaming or streaming video is permitted during non-instructional times if it is not disruptive or inappropriate, however MS students are not permitted to use technology in the library during the first portion of the lunch break. ES students are not permitted to game or stream video in the library. See the ES, MS, and HS handbooks for further information regarding digital citizenship.

E. Enjoyment of the full use of resources and privileges is dependent on patrons following the AISC Library Agreements.

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AISC Libraries Handbook 2023 - 2024

Library Usage The ES/MS Library is open from 8:00am-5:00pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. On Wednesdays, the hours are 8:00am-4:00pm. In addition, the ES/MS Library is open on Saturdays (except long weekends and holidays) from 8:30am-12:30pm for browsing, reading, and book checkout/return. The HS Library is open from 7:30am-5:00pm Monday through Friday.

During the school day, the ES/MS Library is open for student and teacher use, with families being able to visit before school from 8:00-8:30 and after school until closing. Families are welcome in the HS library from 7:30-8:30 and after school until closing. Families are encouraged to use the spaces for reading with their children, book checkout and return, and supporting their children’s academic and reading lives. Social meetings should be held in the Madras Cafe.

Curricular Connections The libraries at AISC aim to support students and teachers in grades EY-12 in several ways, including by making curricular connections. The AISC Libraries Scope and Sequence can support learning in the areas of research and library skills, as well as encouraging reading for pleasure. The ES/MS LibGuide and the HS LibGuide supports classroom instruction with unit guides, book recommendations, database and subscription housing, tutorials, and research skills practice.

Circulation Policy The AISC Libraries strive to ensure open and equitable access to resources.

A. Print materials are checked out on a fixed term of fourteen days. Library patrons are expected to take responsibility for their library use by monitoring due dates and being respectful of renewal length. Students are encouraged to use the library as often as they wish and renew materials they wish to keep for a longer duration. b. Students in grades EY-KG: Two books c. Students in grade 1: Three books

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d. Students in grade 2: Five books e. Students in grades 3-12: Ten books f. Parents/Families: Ten books g. Staff: As needed B. Students, faculty, staff, and parents may borrow materials from both the ES/MS Library and the HS Library. All students, faculty, and staff have personal library accounts. Families are given accounts, as well.

C. Digital materials from Sora may be checked out for a period of 21 days and with a limit of three books per patron. Renewal is also a possibility. a. Families and parents have access to Sora, using their personal email addresses (on file in Destiny) and the password: Chennai21

Overdue Materials Library materials should be returned or renewed within two weeks to ensure that others have access to them. Overdue notices will either be sent electronically or printed out. Patrons may determine what materials they have checked out by logging onto their library accounts. Patrons with overdue materials may not check out other materials until overdues are returned. Some exceptions to this policy may be made at the discretion of a librarian.

Lost and Damaged Materials A. Lost materials: Patrons who have lost materials will be asked to pay for them. The amount is determined by the replacement cost plus shipping and processing.

B. Damaged Materials: The patron will be billed for the cost of replacement of any damaged materials. If a student notices damage in any library item at the time of check out, it is his/her responsibility to bring it to the attention of a library staff member who will make a note in the item. Any damage that cannot be repaired will result in the patron being charged the full replacement cost.

Confidentiality of Library Records The American Library Association Policy Manual, Code of Professional Ethics

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for Librarians 42.2.3 states, “We protect each library user’s right to privacy and confidentiality with respect to information sought or received and resources consulted, borrowed, acquired or transmitted.” In accordance with this policy, the library staff will only access confidential patron records for legitimate library business; further, library staff will not share this information with anyone other than the patron without the patron’s express permission. A notable exception to this rule is student information on overdues, lost, and damaged materials which may be provided to administration or parents.

Weeding Policy Definition and Purpose: Weeding is the process of maintaining the condition and integrity of a library collection. Books are weeded on the basis of their physical condition, the accuracy of their content, and the amount of circulation the material generates. The priorities guiding the maintenance of the collection are to support curriculum and the personal interests of patrons.

A. Physical condition: If a book’s content is still accurate and up to date, but the book is in poor physical condition, it will be repaired if possible and replaced if the cost of repairing it is comparable to the price of a replacement copy.

B. Accuracy and relevance of content: The AISC Library holdings are not intended to be an archival collection. The librarians will continually strive to maintain an up-to-date collection. As material becomes outdated, it will be removed from the shelves and replaced with newer, accurate material.

In some cases older materials may be retained for the historical insights provided. Accuracy and relevance of content also refers to representations of groups of people.

C. Circulation: If a book has circulated poorly over a long period of time (at least five years), it will be reviewed. Librarians may choose to book talk or otherwise market these books to help circulation increase, but if that does not happen, weeding will be necessary.

D. Responsibility: Weeding will be performed by the librarians. A record of weeded items will be created through the library catalog.

E. Time Frame: Weeding in all sections of the library will be an ongoing process.

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F. Disposal of discarded items: Weeded items may be given to a teacher for classroom use or to individual students, to another institution, recycled or discarded.

Collection Development and Materials Selection Policy A. Statement of Policy: The policy of the AISC Libraries is to provide a wide range of learning resources at varying levels of difficulty, representing various world languages, with diversity of appeal, and different points of view to meet the needs of students and teachers.

B. Objectives of Selection: For the purposes of this statement of policy, the term “learning resources” will refer to any material with instructional content or function that is used for formal or informal teaching/learning purposes. These may include print, digital, and other media.

C. To this end, it is the responsibility of the librarians: a. To provide materials that will enrich and support the curriculum, taking into consideration the varied interests, abilities, languages spoken, learning styles, and maturity levels of the students served; b. To provide materials that will stimulate growth in factual knowledge, literary appreciation, aesthetic values, and societal standards, complex reasoning skills, and the habits of mind; c. To provide materials from a variety of perspectives so that students may have an opportunity to develop with guidance the practice of critical analysis and to make informed judgments in their daily lives; d. To provide materials representative of the many religious, ethnic, and cultural groups that contribute to the AISC and world communities; e. To provide materials representative of the many sexualities and gender expressions that contribute to the AISC and world communities; f. To place principle above personal opinion and reason above prejudice in the selection of materials in order to assure a comprehensive collection.

D. Responsibility for Selection of Learning Resources a. The professional librarians are responsible for the selection of learning resources, taking into consideration requests by students, faculty, staff, and the school community.

E. Criteria for Selection of Learning Resources

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Learning resources shall meet high standards of quality in: a. Artistic quality and/or literary style b. Educational significance c. Favorable reviews and/or recommendations d. Factual content e. Physical format f. Presentation g. Readability h. Technical quality F. In selecting learning resources, librarians will evaluate available resources and curriculum needs and will consult reputable, professionally prepared aids and other appropriate sources. Among sources to be consulted are professional library journals, educational blogs, annual award lists, and Follett Titlewave reviews and collection analyses.

G. Donated Materials a. Gift materials shall be judged by the criteria outlined in the library selection policy and shall be accepted or rejected by those criteria.

Acceptance of donated materials does not imply that the materials will become part of the library collection. Donated items may be given to a teacher for classroom use or to individual students, to another institution, recycled, discarded, or made a part of the annual book swap.

Reconsideration of Challenged Materials A. Intellectual Freedom: AISC supports the Library Bill of Rights and The Freedom to Read statements formulated by the American Library Association, and they serve as the basis for this policy. In the event library materials are questioned, the principles of intellectual freedom shall be defended.

B. Challenges to Library Materials: Despite the quality of the selection process, objections to library materials may be made. No materials shall be removed from the library pending a decision. The procedure for handling objections is outlined below.

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1. Any patron who questions the appropriateness of any library material should first schedule an appointment with the sectional librarian. At this time, the librarian will provide the patron with a copy of the Library Selection Policy and inform them of the procedure for handling objections.

2. If the question about appropriateness cannot be resolved during the meeting, the patron may choose to file a Request for Reconsideration of Library Materials. If the librarian does not receive this form completed within two weeks, the issue will be considered closed and no further action will be taken.

3. Once the patron returns the completed form to the librarian, the librarian will forward a copy to the sectional principal and head of school.

4. The librarian and principal will appoint a committee to review the complaint. This committee will consist of: a. the librarian b. the principal c. two teachers, both of whom should have knowledge of the nature of the challenged material and at least one of whom is a member of the relevant library’s school section. d. a member of the parent community as designated by the PCA Chair 5. The evaluating committee will read and consider the material with the specific objections in mind within two weeks of receiving the official complaint. The committee will communicate its decision in writing to the patron filing the complaint. During the evaluation, the committee must: a. bear in mind principles of freedom to learn and to read, basing a decision on these broad principles than on defense of individual materials; b. read available reviews of the material under evaluation; c. consult collections of other international schools; d. consider passages in question as part of the work’s larger context; opinions should be based on the material as a whole.

6. The Head of School shall inform the Board of any formal challenge to library materials. If the patron filing the complaint is not satisfied with the evaluating committee’s decision, they may appeal to the Head of School.

The Head of School’s decision is final.

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7. Further guidance is available to the evaluating committee considering a challenge to library materials in “Interpretations of the Library Bill of Rights.”

Library Events The AISC Libraries sponsor several whole school events throughout the school year, including: • Titles and Treats • LitWeek • Earth Week Book Swap • Outdoor Movie Night • Book Fairs

End of School Year Procedures Library patrons are welcome to check out materials for the summer break until the last day of school, provided they have no overdue items pending and will be returning to AISC the following year. Library staff will carry out inventory of the collections for one week in May of each school year and will ask for all library materials to be returned prior. The libraries will be closed for checkouts during this time.

Academic Honesty Academic honesty policies can be found in the relevant sectional handbooks.

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Works Consulted The American Association of School Libraries The American Library Association The American School of Dubai Library Policies Colegio Franklin D. Roosevelt Library Policies

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