Policy for Selection and Review of Library Materials

1. Introduction

School library media programs implement, enrich and support the educational programs of our schools. It is the policy of the Tuscaloosa City Board of Education to provide a wide range of library materials on all levels of difficulty, with diversity of appeal, and representing different points of view.

2. Responsibility for Selection of Materials
   The Tuscaloosa City Board of Education is legally responsible for all matters relating to the operation of the Tuscaloosa City Schools.

1. The selection of materials should involve many people, including library/media specialists, teachers, students, supervisors, administrators, parents, and other community persons. The responsibility for coordinating and recommending the selection and purchase of library and instructional materials is delegated to the Library Media Advisory Committee chaired by the certified library/media personnel employed by the school board. However, the ultimate responsibility for selection of materials housed within the school rests with the principal in accordance with board policy.

3. Objectives of Selection
   In order to assure that the school library media program is an integral part of the educational program of each school, the selection of materials is based on the following objectives:

1. To provide materials that will enrich and support the curriculum as well as personal needs of the clientele, taking into consideration their varied interests, abilities, maturity level, and learning styles.
2. To provide materials that will stimulate growth in factual knowledge, literary appreciation, aesthetic values, and ethical standards.
3. To provide a background of information which will enable pupils to make intelligent judgments in their daily lives.
4. To provide materials on opposing sides on controversial issues so that young citizens may develop with guidance the practice of critical analysis of all media.
5. To provide materials that realistically represent our pluralistic society and reflect the contributions made by all groups and individuals to our American heritage.
6. To place principles above personal opinion and reason above prejudice in the selection of materials of the highest quality in order to assure an appropriate and comprehensive media collection.
7. To promote the enjoyment of reading as a leisure time activity.

4. Criteria for Selection of Instructional Materials

1. Needs of the individual school based on a knowledge of the curriculum and of the existing collection are given first consideration.
2. Requests from faculty and students are considered.
3. Materials for purchase are considered on the basis of:
   1. Overall purpose
   2. Timeliness or performance
   3. Importance of the subject matter
   4. Quality of the writing and production
   5. Readability and popular appeal
   6. Authoritativeness
   7. Reputation of the publisher or producer
   8. Reputation and significance of the author, artist, composer, etc.

   Format and price

5. Procedures and Selection
   It is recommended that the certified library/media personnel consult with an advisory committee and the faculty in order to facilitate the following:

1. Evaluation of the existing collection
2. Assessment of curricular needs
3. Solicitation of recommendations for acquisitions
4. Review of recommendations, when appropriate, to assure that the materials are listed in a reputable, professionally prepared selection aid
5. Viewing selection as an ongoing process which includes the removal of materials no longer appropriate and the replacement of worn/damaged materials still of educational value.
6. Judging donations by the same criteria used in selection of materials
7. Acquisition of multiple items of outstanding and much-in-demand media.
8. Subscription items selected by the same criteria as used in selection of materials.

6. Criteria for Discarding Materials from the Collection (Weeding)

1. Justification

Maintenance of the school library media center collection should be a regular, continuous process reflecting changes in the student body and curriculum, new issues and concerns of both faculty and students, and changes in the community.

Weeding is the evaluation of present holdings to determine the need to repair, replace, or remove materials from the collection. Qualified school library media personnel should supervise the weeding process. When appropriate, school staff members should be consulted to identify items valuable to the school program.

2. Standards

Libraries must meet accreditation standards imposed by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the State Department of Education. Weeding should not adversely affect the library in relation to these standards.

3. Criteria
   Criteria for weeding will vary, depending upon the type of library involved in the process. General criteria will include:
   1. Condition
   2. Age (will vary depending on the subject area)
   3. Frequency of use (watch for shelf sitters and multiple copies)
   4. Currency
   5. Accuracy
   6. Additional weeding considerations include the selection of new textbooks, changes in curriculum, changes in faculty, and the need for currency in specific Dewey sections (e.g., computers, science, etc). Each Dewey section, as well as Fiction and Reference, should be weeded at least once every 10 years, especially at the secondary level.
4. Process
   1. Identify items to be weeded according to established criteria, as identified in the weeding schedule/plan.
   2. Request assistance from subject-area teachers in making decisions. Base the final decision on the overall school curriculum.
   3. Withdraw materials from collection and computer database.
   4. Physically remove materials. Options include:
5. transfer to another school
6. recycle
7. donate to classrooms or other libraries
8. discard
   1. Include weeded items in inventory/end-of-year reports

7. Procedures for Formal Review of Materials
   The Tuscaloosa City School Board supports principals of the intellectual freedom inherent in the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States and expressed in the Library Bill of Rights and the School Library Bill of Rights. The School Board recognizes the right of persons to express objections to library materials that they deem inappropriate. When a request for formal review of materials is made, the following procedures should be followed:

1. The principal and the library/media specialist shall inform the complainant of the selection procedures, request that the material in question be returned to the library, and make no commitment. The complainant will complete the "Request for Review of Library Materials" (see form IB-R) and will be given appropriate information as to the procedure to be followed.
2. Upon receipt of the complainant's completed form (Request for Review of Library Materials) the principal requests review of the challenged material by the School Media Review Committee within fifteen (15) working days, and notifies the appropriate Director and the Superintendent that such review is being made. During the review process, the challenged material will be in the possession of the library/media personnel.
   1. The School Media Review Committee shall be appointed by the principal, with the assistance of the library/media personnel, and shall consist of the principal, the school library/media specialist, two (2) classroom teachers, and two (2) parents (the PTSA president and his/her appointee). At the middle and secondary levels, two students may be added to the committee (the SGA president and a principal's appointee). The complainant may know the makeup of the committee but may not be a committee member.
   2. The School Media Review Committee will
      1. Read and examine materials referred to it.
      2. Check general acceptance of the materials by reading reviews of the challenged material.
      3. Weigh values and faults and form opinions based on the materials as a whole and not on passages taken out of context.
      4. Meet to discuss the material and to prepare a report on it using the appropriate review form as a guide for discussion. (See form IB-RA)
      5. Recommend retention or withdrawal of challenged materials.

1. The School Media Review Committee will notify the principal who will notify the complainant in writing of its recommendation within ten (10) working days. A copy of the report will be included with the decision. A copy of the report will be sent to the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction and to the Superintendent.
2. The decision of the School Media Review Committee may be appealed to the Superintendent. This request must be presented in writing to the Superintendent within ten (10) working days of notification from the School Media Review Committee.
3. The Superintendent will review the challenged material and respond in writing to the complainant within fifteen (15) working days. A copy of the Superintendent's decision will be sent to the members of the School Media Review Committee.

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