Skip To Main Content

header-container

mobile-schools-translate

Translate Mobile

district-nav

logo-container

logo-image-white

logo-image-color

right-container

header-portals-nav

search-container

search-popup

logo-container

logo-image-color

search-staff-directory

search-icons-nav

Translate Desktop

district-nav

horizontal-nav

BREADCRUMB

2021P: Library Media Centers

  • 2000: Instructional
2021P: Library Media Centers

A. Library Collection Development

This procedure guides library/media staff, as well as, informs the community about the process for selecting, acquiring, evaluating and maintaining library materials. The objective of each school library media program is to implement, support and enrich the educational program of the district. To best meet the unique needs of each school, the district will strive to create a library collection based upon an assessment of student and staff needs. This will be accomplished by:

  1. Providing resource materials, both curricular and personal for students and faculty;
  2. Providing materials that meet the interest, vocabulary, maturity and ability levels of all students;
  3. Fostering reading as a lifelong activity through pleasurable exposure to printed and digital materials; and
  4. Including materials in the collection because of their academic, literary and/or artistic value and merit.

B. Library Materials and Electronic Resources

Library materials or digital services are those items accessible through the library media center program which provide support for an area of the curriculum, information for independent study, or resources for enrichment and recreational interest. Electronic resources include access to electronic documents, databases and websites.

C. Suggestions for Acquisition:

Suggestions for acquisition or electronic resources may originate from students, parents, community members and teachers. Library/media staff will weigh requests, evaluate materials and select those which fulfill the needs of the instructional program.

Selection

  1. All items selected for placement in the school library will:
    1. Support and be consistent with the general educational goals of the State of Washington and Bellevue School District and the aims and objectives of individual schools and specific courses.
    2. Support and be consistent with school library media and information literacy standards established by the American Association of School Librarians as well as content area standards established by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction of the State of Washington.
    3. Meet high standards of quality in factual content and presentation.
    4. Contain appropriate subject matter for the age, emotional development, ability level, learning styles, and social development of the students for whom they are selected.
    5. Serve the intended purpose, in both physical format and appearance for library materials.
    6. Help students gain an awareness of our pluralistic society.
    7.  Motivate students and staff to examine their own duties, responsibilities, rights, and privileges as participating citizens in our society, and to make informed judgments in their daily lives.
    8. Withstand scrutiny based on their strengths rather than rejected for their weakness.
    9. Clarify historical and contemporary forces by presenting and analyzing intergroup tension and conflict objectively, placing emphasis on recognizing and understanding social and economic problems.

D. Gifts/Donations

Materials donated to the school library will be accepted or declined in accordance with the criteria applied to the purchase of materials.

E. Collection Assessment

De-selection (weeding) of outdated and damaged materials is a natural part of the library’s life cycle and maintenance of the quality and integrity of the collection. Library/media staff will evaluate the library collection on a continuing basis in order to assure that the collection meets the mission statement and goals of the Bellevue School District.

F. Considerations for De-selection

  1. Currency – The subject matter is out of date or no longer relevant to the instructional program;
  2. Physical Condition – Item is worn, soiled, missing pages, antiquated in appearance or unattractive;
  3. Not circulating for a reasonable amount of time;
  4. Superseded by newer editions;
  5. Perpetuates cultural, ethnic, or sexual stereotypes;
  6. Inappropriate reading level; or
  7. Unneeded duplication of materials.

G. Request for Reconsideration of Library Media Materials

When a concern is expressed about library resources, the Teacher-Librarian will consider both the citizen’s right to express an opinion and the principles of intellectual freedom. If there is not a Teacher-Librarian on staff at a school, the principal will hear the complaint.

  1. Informal Reconsideration Persons wishing to make a complaint regarding library resources will be asked to direct their complaint to the Teacher-Librarian. The Teacher-Librarian will attempt to resolve the issue informally by:
    1. Discussing the request with the complainant and listening carefully to the concerns expressed;
    2. Explaining why the material was selected, and how its inclusion in the collection was guided by the district collection development policy/procedure; and
    3. Share review sources for the item in question
    4. If the informal process does not resolve the matter, the complainant may submit a formal request for reconsideration of Library resources. Library materials in question will remain in the collection until the process is completed and a final decision is made
  2. Formal Reconsideration

    The building principal will be informed whenever a citizen asks for a Request for Reconsideration of Instructional Materials form. Procedure 2020P, Exhibit B.

    The Request for Reconsideration of Materials form, together with a copy of the challenged materials process will be furnished to the complainant by the principal.

    The formal process will follow the process required by board procedure 2020P for a written challenge, with the understanding that the criteria and rationale for reconsideration of library materials differs from classroom/district adopted materials.