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Library
Media Center Materials Selection Policy
The
School Committee endorses the principles of the “Library Bill of
Rights,” as adopted by the American Library Association; the “Access
to Resources and Services in the School Library Media Program: An
Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights;” and the joint statement
by the American Library Association and the Association of American
Publishers entitled “The Freedom to Read.”
All staff and
students may make suggestions for the purchase of library materials.
However, the responsibility for coordinating the selection and
making recommendation for purchase rests with certified media personnel.
The final approval and authority for distribution of funds rests
with the building principal, subject to the approval of the
superintendent.
The
following criteria should be used in the evaluation and selection of
print and non-print materials purchased with funds allocated to the
Library Media Center:
- Materials
will support and be consistent with the educational goals of North
Attleborough Public Schools and the objectives of the curriculum.
- Materials
will meet the information needs of students with varied interests,
abilities, and maturity levels.
- Materials
will be selected for their purpose, accuracy, reliability,
authenticity, quality of writing, and subject treatment. Materials in the print format will be selected on
physical characteristics such as binding, paper, and quality of
illustrations.
- Materials
will stimulate growth of factual knowledge, literary appreciation,
aesthetic values, and ethical standards.
- Materials
will represent the many religious, ethnic, and cultural groups as
well as their contributions to our American heritage.
- Materials
will present opposing sides of controversial issues to enable
students to practice critical reading and to make intelligent
judgments in their lives.
- Materials
will be selected based on the recommendation of reputable, unbiased
selection tools whenever possible.
- Materials
will provide alternate formats made available by technical advances
to access information.
- Materials
received as donations or gifts must meet the same selection criteria
as materials purchased with school department funds.
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Materials which an
individual or group challenges will follow the procedure set forth
in the Procedure for Handling Requests for Removal of Library
Materials.
The continuous
review of Library Media Center materials is necessary as a means of
maintaining a useful and active collection.
As new materials are selected and added, some older materials are
withdrawn. The
responsibility for determining which will be withdrawn will rest with
the professional staff.
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