Collection Development Policy
The primary objective of the library program is to enrich and support the instructional plan of the school. The libraries make available a wide range of materials on varying levels of difficulty with a diversity of appeal compatible with the different needs, interests, and viewpoints of students and teachers. The responsibility of the libraries is to:
- Provide materials, taking into consideration individual needs and the varied interests, abilities, socioeconomic backgrounds, and the maturity levels of the students served.
- Provide materials that stimulate the growth in knowledge, literary appreciation, aesthetic values, and ethical standards.
- Provide materials on opposing sides of controversial issues so that students may develop, under guidance, the practice of critical thinking and critical analysis of all media.
- Provide materials representative of the many religious, ethnic, and cultural groups worldwide and the contribution of these groups to students’ heritage.
Selection Policy
Library materials must be constantly reviewed and evaluated to maintain a collection that supports the instructional program in the school and meets the needs of the student population. All materials ordered should be chosen from positive reviews and recommendations from library journals. Reviews appearing in many subject oriented professional journals are considered as well.
Materials are considered on the basis of:
- Overall purpose
- Timeliness
- Importance of subject matter
- Quality of the writing/production
- Readability and popular appeal
- Authoritativeness
- Reputation of the publisher/producer
- Format and price
- Permanence
Weeding Policy
The libraries recognize the importance of maintaining a collection of current, appropriate, and useful materials. A periodic evaluation of the collection will be performed in order to remove and replace materials that are no longer useful.
Materials are weeded according to the following:
- Appearance
- Superfluous or duplicate volumes
- Poor content
- Lack of use
Reconsideration of Materials Policy
Both libraries support the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution which supports our rights and responsibilities regarding free speech both written and oral. There may be objections to certain materials at some point. An effort should be made before filing a formal objection, to rectify the matter informally by contacting the librarian of the library where the complaint took place. In the event that the complaint cannot be adjusted informally, the following procedure should be employed:
1. A request for review or reconsideration of any library material in the school shall be presented in writing (form available upon request) and shall include a full description of the work in question along with specific items, passages, excerpts or parts of the material to which the objection is being made. Reasons for objections shall be given and the statement shall be signed and dated.
2. An objection or request for reconsideration of materials should be submitted to the librarian of the designated library and a committee shall review the request. If the librarian has not received the formal request within two weeks, it shall be considered closed.
3. The principal shall notify the complainant of the decision of the committee.
Questions or comments? Contact:
Head Librarian – Gaila Chambi – gchambi@acslp.org |
