Critiera
The objective of the library is to make available to faculty and students a collection of materials that will enrich and support the curriculum and meet the needs, both academic and leisure, of its users. Materials in the library are chosen to meet the diverse learning needs, abilities and learning styles of the students; to provide background materials to supplement classroom instruction; and to provide a broad range of materials on controversial issues to help student develop critical analytical skills.
General criteria guidelines
- educational significance
- contribution the subject matter makes to the curriculum and to the interests of the students
- favorable reviews found in selection sources
- favorable recommendations based on preview and examination of materials by professional personnel
- reputation and significance of the author, producer, publisher.
- validity, currency, and appropriateness of material
- high degree of potential user appeal
- high artistic and/or literary quality
- value with regard to cost and/or need
- integrity
- sturdy binding/packaging
- unbias treatment of controversial issues
- clarity of sound in audio materials
Specific materials
NonFiction - Materials will be relevant to curricular needs. Resources will provide accurate, timely, thorough, unbiased content written in age appropriate language. Accompanying graphic or illustrative information should be concise, understandable and enhance learning.
Fiction - Materials will be of interest to 7-12 graders. A variety of reading levels and interest will be selected to encourage recreational reading and provide for the appreciation of literary form. Materials with accompanying graphics or illustrations will be of aesthetic quality to inspire interest and imagination.
Periodicals - Materials will support the curriculum and provide leisure reading. Materials will be of interest to 7-12 graders.
Newspapers - Materials will support the curriculum and provide timely information on local, national and international issues.
Electronic resources - Resources suce as CD-ROM, computer software, and online services provide timely and greater access to information. Materials will be user friendly; be accurate and reliable; provide organization and navigation tools to enhance information retrieval; provide a variety of difficulty, pacing and content.
Audiovisual, software and other equipment - Materials will be chosen based on enhancing the curriculum, providing students with quality resources and equipment to enhance the learning process and encourage further academic enquiry. Materials will be of quality construction, provide dependable service over a long period, be easy to use and be cost effective.
Selection Tools
The following will be consulted in the selection of materials:
Booklist - a magazine that delivers over 8,000 recommended-only reviews of books, audiobooks, reference sources, video, and DVD titles each year.
BookReview.com - http://www.bookreview.com offers unbiased, book reviews from a variety of publishers on a multitude of subjects and genres.
Follett TITLEWAVE - offers collection recommendations, links to 'best' lists from ALA and School Library Journal and latest State Award lists.
New York Times Book Review - www.nytimes.com/pages/books offers book reviews on a variety of categories and genres.
Teacher Librarian - http://www.teacherlibrarian.com/ Journal for School Library Professionals offers recommendation for fiction and nonfiction suitable for young and older teenagers.
Horn Book - provides reviews and recommendations of books, reference materials, age level appropriateness, software.
American Library Association - http://www.ala.org/ site offering lists of award winning titles, such as Caldecott, Newbery, Coretta Scott King, etc.
Books for the Teen Age- http://teenlink.nypl.org/bta_new.htm a New York Public library site.
Multimedia & Internet @ Schools - www.mmischools.com offers guides to electronic tools and resources for K-12 education.
VOYA - Voice of Youth Advocates, devoted to the information needs of teenagers.
Faculty, Parent and Student recommendations - recommendations are filed, reviewed and used when considering additions to the collection.
Internet Library for Librarians - http://www.itcompany.com/inforetriever/ provides information about library media and reference resources, publishers, booksellers, and distributors.
Responsibility of selection
The librarian will coordinate, recommend, select and order materials, with the input from faculty and administrators. Students and parents may also recommend addition of material. Click on above links.
Gift Policy
Gift material will be judged by the selection criteria.Deselection/Weeding Guidelines
The removal of materials is ongoing and based on the CREW method (Continuous Review, Evaluation, and Weeding). Weeding is necessary to ensure the collections usefulness and accuracy. The criteria for deselection can be summed using the following formula X/Y/MUSTIE
X - the book's last copyright date (age of material in the book). Varies depending on the resource, see www.tsl.state.tx.us/ld/pubs/crew/guidelines.html for CREW guidelines by Dewey Class .
Y - maximun amount of time the book has not been checked out or used (generally 3-5 years)
M - Misleading, the information is inaccurate
U - Ugly, worn out beyond ability to mend or rebind
S - Superseded, a newer edition or better book on the subject is available
T - Trivial, no literary value or scientific merit
I - Irrelevant, does not fill the needs and interst of the community
E - Elsewhere, the resource can be gotten through another source
From Texas State Library and Archives Commission, www.tsl.state.tx.us/ld/pubs/crew/guidelines.html.
Additional criteria:
- Copyright date should be considered, but can be cancelled if the material is considered historical or classic.
- Material is biasd or portrays stereotypes.
- Inappropriate reading level
- Outdated and unattractive format, design, graphics, illustrations.
- Not selected in accordance with general selection criteria.
Freedom To Read
Parkersburg Catholic High School adopts the ALA's Library Bill of Rights. www.ala.org
Controversial Materials adapted from Bowling Green Area Schools http://www.bgcs.k12.oh.us/resource/selection2.html#criteria
Parkersburg Catholic High School recognizes the need and right of students to free access to many different types of print and non-print materials. It also recognizes the right of the professional staff to select print and non-print materials supportive of the school’s educational philosophy and goals. Despite the quality of the selection process, occasional objections to instructional materials may be made. No questioned material shall be removed from the school except upon the recommendation of a reconsideration committee.
If a parent requests that his/her own child not read a given book, the teacher, library media specialist and /or school administrator should resolve the issue, perhaps by arranging for use of alternative material meeting essentially the same instructional purpose.
PCHS will not permit any individual or group to exercise censorship over instructional materials and library collections, but it recognizes that, at times, a re-evaluation of certain material may be desirable. Should an individual or group ask to have any instructional material withdrawn from school use the following procedure must be observed.
PROCEDURES TO BE FOLLOWED:
All complaints to staff members shall be reported to the principal, whether received by telephone, letter, or in personal conversation.
The principal shall contact the complainant to discuss the complaint and attempt to resolve it informally by explaining the philosophy and goals of the school, the selection procedure, criteria and qualifications of those persons selecting the resource.
If the complaint is not resolved informally, the complainant shall be supplied with a copy of the the Selection Policy and a copy of the Request for Reconsideration of Instructional Materials form. This form shall be completed and returned before consideration will be given to the complaint.
If the formal request for reconsideration has not been received by the principal within two weeks, it shall be considered closed. If the request is returned, the reasons for selection of the specific work shall be reestablished by the appropriate staff.
No questioned materials shall be removed from the school pending a final decision. Pending the outcome of the request for reconsideration, however, access to questioned materials can be denied to the child (or children) of the parent(s) making the complaint, if they so desire.
Upon receipt of a completed objection form, the principal will convene a committee of three to consider the complaint. This committee shall consist of the principal, librarian, a grade level teacher, and a parent.
The committee shall meet to discuss the materials, following the guidelines set forth in Instructions to Reconsideration Committee (following), and shall prepare a report on the material containing its recommendations.
The principal shall notify the complainant of the decision and send a formal report which will explain the instructional material selection system, give the guidelines for selection, and cite authorities used in reaching decisions. If the committee decides to keep the work that caused the complaint, the complainant shall be given an explanation. If the complaint is valid, the principal will acknowledge it and make recommended changes.
If the complainant is still not satisfied, he or she may take the matter to the PC Board of Education, which shall make a final determination of the issue. The Board of Education will be advised to seek assistance from outside organizations such as the American Library Association, the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, etc., in making its determination.
INSTRUCTION TO RECONSIDERATION COMMITTE
Keep in mind the principles of the freedom to learn and to read. Freedom of inquiry is vital to education in a democracy.
Thoughtfully and thoroughly study all materials referred to you and read available reviews.
Passages or parts should not be pulled out of context. The values and faults should be weighted against each other and an opinion based on the materials in its entirety.
Consider the challenged resource in the context of the educational program.
Prepare a written report, presenting both positive and negative opinions.