Media Services – Materials Selection Policy

Introduction | Purpose | Responsibilities | Challenged Materials | Request for Reconsideration

INTRODUCTION Back to Top | Back to Policy Start

The purpose of a materials selection policy is to provide a statement of philosophy and objectives for the guidance of those involved in the procedure for selection.  It defines the role of those who share in the responsibility for selecting materials and sets down the criteria for the selection and evaluation of those materials.  A material selection policy allows the community to have knowledge of the philosophy and procedures used in evaluating and selecting materials, and also provides a procedure to follow when objections are raised concerning certain materials.

For the purpose of this document, the words book, material, and media are interchangeable and can refer to any type of object from books, to videocassettes to a world globe.

PURPOSE Back to Top | Back to Policy Start

The Marsing School District encourages the selection of materials of the highest quality for use in the school curriculum.  These selections shall be guided by principles stated in the American Library Association’s School Library Bill of Rights.

School libraries are concerned with generating understanding of American freedoms and with the preservation of these freedoms through the development of informed and responsible citizens.  To this end, the American Association of School Librarians reaffirms the School Library Bill of Rights of the American Library Association and asserts that the responsibility of the school library is to do the following:

1. Provide materials that will enrich and support the curriculum, take into consideration the varied interests, abilities and maturity levels of the pupils served.

2. Provide materials that will stimulate growth in factual knowledge, literary appreciation, aesthetic values and ethical standards

3. Provide a background of information, which will enable pupils to make intelligent judgments in their daily life.

4. Provide materials on opposing sides of controversial issues so that young citizens may develop under guidance the practice of critical reading and thinking.

5. Provide materials representative of the many religions, ethnic and cultural groups and their contributions to our American heritage.

6. Place principle above personal opinion and reason above prejudice in the selection of materials of the highest quality in order to unsure a comprehensive collection appropriate for the users of the library.

In addition, the Marsing School District endorses the principles set down in the Library Bill of Rights, School Library Bill of Rights, and the Students Right to Read statements.

RESPONSIBILITIES FOR SELECTION OF MATERIALS Back to Top | Back to Policy Start

1. Materials shall support and be consistent with the general educational goals of the district and the objectives of specific goals.

2. Materials shall meet high standards of quality in factual content and presentation.

3. Materials shall be appropriate for the subject area and for the age, emotional development, ability level, and social development of the students for whom the materials is intended.

4. Materials shall have aesthetic, literary, or social value.

5. Materials shall be selected for their strengths rather than their weaknesses.

6. Biased or slanted materials may be provided to meet specific curriculum objectives.  (Additional materials to counterbalance the slanted materials must be purchased).

7. The physical format of the material shall be suited for its intended use.

CHALLENGED MATERIALS Back to Top | Back to Policy Start

The Marsing School District does not recognize the rights of parents or groups of parents to determine the reading, viewing, or listening materials for students other than their own children.  The District recognizes the rights of individual parents to request that their children not have to read, view, or listen to specific instructional items, provided a written request is made to the appropriate principal or teacher.

The following procedures have been established to provide a system for receiving, considering, and acting upon complaints regarding instructional materials used by the school district:

1. Most complaints can and should be resolved informally at the school level by the library media specialist, the principal, and the complainant.  Every effort should be made to resolve the matter amicably and expediently.

2. Should the issue remain unresolved, the complainant should be requested to complete the Reconsideration Form and to submit it to the media specialist within ten school days.  Access to the challenged materials should not be restricted during the reconsideration process.

3. Upon the receipt of the written complaint, the principal or media specialist shall in the selection committee.

4. Prior to the first committee meeting, individual members shall examine and review the materials in question.

5. The committee and complainant must meet within ten school days of the reception of the written complaint, and reconsider the materials according to the selection criteria outlined in this document.  If the complainant refuses, the matter will be dropped.  At this meeting, the committee shall make its decision.  The decision shall be one of the following:

1. The material is compatible with the criteria of the selection policy and should not be restricted or removed from the media center.
2. The material is not compatible with the criteria of the selection policy and should be restricted or removed from the media center.

6. The committee's decision shall be forwarded to the superintendent, and the complainant shall be notified in writing.

7. If the complainant is not satisfied with this decision, that person may appeal the decision to the superintendent, and request that the decision be reconsidered by the Board of Trustees.

Request for Reconsideration Form Doc | PDF