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Selection Policy

Objectives

The selection of materials is the responsibility of the school media specialist in

consultation with administration and faculty. In the selection of materials for purchase,the media specialist will consider the goals established by the School Media Committee

and the criteria listed below. Individual parents, students, and teachers may also make

recommendations for materials to be purchased.

Internet resources are not subject to this policy. The internet is largely unregulated, and

not all of the information it carries is suitable for school aged children. Although the

district prescribes to a filtering service that blocks much inappropriate material, theTechnology Use Policy and the Guidelines for Acceptable Use of the Internet represent

an understanding on the part of the student and his/her parents or guardians that this

district does not control the contents of the internet.

Any resident or employee of the Transformational School District may formally

challenge library resources on the basis of appropriateness. This shall be done throughadministrative procedure.

Criteria for Selection of Media

Guidelines

I. Objectives of Selection

Instructional media and equipment will be selected, acquired, and used toimplement the philosophy and educational goals of the school system and to

support the learning activities designed for students. To promote maximumutilization, media will be provided for all instructional levels and curricularcontent. It will have a diversity of appeal, present various viewpoints, and be

provided in a variety of formats. It should relate to the curriculum and meet the

developmental needs, varying interest, learning modalities, and differing abilitylevels of students; stimulate intellectual curiosity and growth in factual

knowledge; promote broad awareness and reflect and diversity of our country and

the world.

Ample equipment shall be provided and maintained to promote maximum

utilization of all available material formats, to increase technological applications,

and to encourage incorporation of media into learning activities.

II. Responsibility for Selection of Library Resources

The elected Board of Education shall delegate to the Superintendent of schoolsthe authority and responsibility for all print and non-print materials.

Responsibilities for actual selection shall rest with the school librarian who shall

discharge this obligation consistent with the Boards adopted selection criteria and

procedures. However, the responsibility of coordinating the selection of library

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resources and for making recommendations to purchase rests with the certified

librarian.

The selection of library resources will include:

The district superintendent

One member from the network/technology department

One parent volunteer at large One board member

The district special needs coordinator

One school media specialist and one classroom teacher from an elementary,middle and high school

The district curriculum coordinator

III. Criteria for Selection of Library Resources

A. The following criteria will be used as they apply:

1. Learning resources will support the mission and the academic, social,

and civic expectations of the Transformational School District; themission, philosophy, guiding principles, and annual goals of each

individual school; and the standards and frameworks of the State ofGeorgia.

2. Learning resources will support the existing curriculum, as well as the

personal needs and interests of library users.

3. Learning resources will meet high standards of quality in factual

content and presentation.4. Learning resources will be appropriate for the subject area and for the

age, emotional development, ability level, learning style, and social

development of the students for whom the materials are selected.5. Learning resources will be selected to help students gain an awareness

of our pluralistic society.

6. Learning resources on controversial issues will be directed towardmaintaining a diverse collection representing various views.

7. Learning resources will be selected for their strengths rather than

rejected for their weaknesses.8. Learning resources will be accurate in terms of content.

9. Learning resources will be free of bias and stereotype

10. Learning resources will be the appropriate format to effectively teach

the curriculum11. Learning resources will be cost effective in terms of use

12. Learning resources will be accurate, current, and authoritative.

13. Learning resources further the professional development of the staff.

B. Electronic resources

1. Electronic content should be comparable in cost to its print analog,unless there is substantial added value.

2. The library should not be required to purchase both the print and its

digital equivalent.

3. The library would prefer pricing based either on simultaneous use or

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by transaction. Site licensing pricing should be tied to FTE student

count as opposed to the district population.

VI. Procedures for Selection of Library Resources

A. In selecting library resources, the librarian will measure available materials

against the above criteria, the emerging needs of the curriculum, and the libraryscurrent two-year Collection Development Plan.

B. The librarian will consult reputable, professionally prepared selection guides

and other appropriate review sources. Such sources include-but are not limited to-American Historical Fiction, Booklist, Childrens Library Catalog, Junior High

School Library Catalog, Kirkus Reviews, and School Library Journal.

C. Administrators, teachers, instructional assistants, students, parents, and

community members will be regularly encouraged to make recommendations forpurchase.

D. When feasible, the resource itself will be examined.

E. Gift materials will be measured against the above criteria and will be accepted

or rejected accordingly.F. Resource selection will include the routine removal of outdated and inaccurate

materials, as well as the replacement of lost or worn items still of educationalvalue.

G. When selecting digital media, objective evaluation information like those

provided by the Educational Products Information Exchange (EPIE) will be used.

These resources include-but are not limited to The Educational Software Selector(TESS), The EPIE report on Computer Based Integrated Systems, and EPIEs

Curriculum Analysis Services for Education.

H. Digital media selection will also include surveying sources and referenceguides such as A-V Online, Bowkers Complete Video Guide, Only the Best

Computer Programs, Best Videos for Children and Young Adults, Elementary

School Library Collection, and the U.S Department of Educations Gateway toEducational Materials (GEM) database.

V. Controversial Materials

During the selection process, the Transformational School District will uphold the First

Amendment of the United States Constitution, Congress shall make no law respecting

an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the

freedom of speech, or of press; or the right of the people peaceable to assemble, and topetition the Government for a redress of grievances. Further, the school board

subscribes in principle to the statements of policy on library philosophy as expressed in

the American Library Associations Library Bill of Rights.

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Article

http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA153101.html?q=selection+policy

Policies

http://www.ncwiseowl.org/impact/progadmin.htm

http://www.eduref.org/plweb-cgi/fastweb?getdoc+listservs+LM_NET-2001+15807+7+wAAA+media%26committee

http://facstaff.colstate.edhttp://www.hopkintonschools.org/hhs/library/selpol.htmlu/kufori

ji_paulina/6116_Review_of_Collection_Development_Policy.doc

Additional Resources

http://www.ala.org/Template.cfm?

Section=dealing&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=11173

http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/librarybill/lbor.pdf

Smaldino, S., Lowther, D., and Russell, J.Instructional Technology and Media for

Learning, Ninth Edition.

http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA153101.html?q=selection+policyhttp://www.ncwiseowl.org/impact/progadmin.htmhttp://www.eduref.org/plweb-cgi/fastweb?getdoc+listservs+LM_NET-2001+15807+7+wAAA+media%26committeehttp://www.eduref.org/plweb-cgi/fastweb?getdoc+listservs+LM_NET-2001+15807+7+wAAA+media%26committeehttp://facstaff.colstate.edu/kuforiji_paulina/6116_Review_of_Collection_Development_Policy.dochttp://facstaff.colstate.edu/kuforiji_paulina/6116_Review_of_Collection_Development_Policy.dochttp://www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Section=dealing&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=11173http://www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Section=dealing&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=11173http://www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Section=dealing&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=11173http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/librarybill/lbor.pdfhttp://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA153101.html?q=selection+policyhttp://www.ncwiseowl.org/impact/progadmin.htmhttp://www.eduref.org/plweb-cgi/fastweb?getdoc+listservs+LM_NET-2001+15807+7+wAAA+media%26committeehttp://www.eduref.org/plweb-cgi/fastweb?getdoc+listservs+LM_NET-2001+15807+7+wAAA+media%26committeehttp://facstaff.colstate.edu/kuforiji_paulina/6116_Review_of_Collection_Development_Policy.dochttp://facstaff.colstate.edu/kuforiji_paulina/6116_Review_of_Collection_Development_Policy.dochttp://www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Section=dealing&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=11173http://www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Section=dealing&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=11173http://www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Section=dealing&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=11173http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/librarybill/lbor.pdf