- General
- Objectives and Responsibilities
The Board of Education recognizes that the primary objective of the library media centers in District schools is to support the philosophy, goals, and objectives of the state, District, and individual schools.
The responsibility for the selection, review, and refinement of library materials is shared with the person or persons at schools who hold the job title of teacher librarian ("Teacher Librarian"), if any, the school administrators, and other District personnel. However, the authority to select, review, and refine library materials held by these individuals, shall in no way limit the Board of Education's statutory authority to determine the content of library materials. In support of the Board of Education and at its direction, it is the responsibility of the Teacher Librarian and/or school administrators in alignment with the American Library Association's School Library Bill of Rights to:
- 1. Place principle above personal opinion and prejudice in selecting materials of the highest quality to ensure a comprehensive collection appropriate for the users of District library media centers;
- 2. Encourage educational excellence and student achievement;
- 3. Provide materials which implement, support, and enrich the curriculum, taking into consideration the age and maturity levels, learning styles, abilities, and varied interests of students served;
- 4. Furnish materials for students and staff that stimulate growth in knowledge, literary and aesthetic appreciation, and enjoyment of reading;
- 5. Locate materials which include opposing sides of controversial issues, and which will promote opportunities for students to make informed judgments and practice critical analysis;
- 6. Offer materials representative of the school community, as well as a more diverse population, including but not limited to people of other religions, races, ethnic and/or socioeconomic backgrounds, gender identities, and political groups.
- Criteria for Selection of Library Materials
Library materials will be selected for their strengths. The following criteria are used as a guide in selection:
- Overall value to the collection;
- Literary and artistic excellence;
- Readability and reader appeal;
- Age and maturity level of intended audience;
- Cultural relevance to the students and staff;
- Significance to a field of knowledge;
- Arrangement and organization of materials/resources, including ability to retrieve information and inclusion of navigational tools and/or special features;
- Currency, accuracy, and timeliness of information;
- Scope of material;
- Contributions the subject matter makes to the curriculum;
- Relevance to the interests of students and staff;
- Balanced representation of information;
- Educational significance and relevance;
- Value commensurate with cost and/or need;
- Quality and variety of format as compared to similar materials, including efforts to incorporate emerging technologies
- Selection of Library Materials
The Teacher Librarian shall use one or more of the following procedures when selecting materials:
- valuate available resources and curriculum needs to determine currency and usefulness to the school community;
- Consult reputable professionally prepared sources and awards lists;
- Encourage suggestions and requests from administrators, staff, students, and community;
- Solicit reactions and opinions from administrators and teachers when appropriate, including when the material contains content about controversial/sensitive issues;
- Seek recommendations from other professionals;
- Use professional judgment.
Each school administrator and Teacher Librarian will establish an agreed upon process whereby administration and staff (and community and students when appropriate), can make recommendations for the selection of library materials.
Gifts to the library may be accepted if they meet the criteria established for the selection of all instructional materials.
- Review of Library Materials
Assessment of current library materials is fundamental to collection development and is as important as selection of new library materials. To ensure balance, reliability, and comprehensiveness, the Teacher Librarian and/or designated school staff members shall review the collection regularly.
Students, parents/guardians, teachers, and administrators are encouraged to share concerns with a Teacher Librarian and/or school administrators regarding specific material in the collection.
- Assisting Students With Selection of Library Materials
For the library media program of the District to be responsive to the community it serves, communication is essential.
Teacher Librarians and/or other designated school staff can assist students in selecting appropriate materials for individual needs. Reader guidance includes informal discussions with students, booktalks, bibliographies, and other methods of communication. The Board of Education recognizes that the final decision as to which materials an individual student may access rests with the parents/guardians of the student. Parents/guardians may choose to limit their student's use of specific materials. Parents/guardians are encouraged to contact the Teacher Librarian and/or designated school staff at their student's school to discuss the needs of their student.
Originally Adopted: September 14, 1998Current Revision: June 10, 2024
| Cross References: | KEC and KEC-E - Public Concerns/Complaints about Educational Resources |
| IB – Academic Freedom | |
| IJ – Instructional Resources and Materials | |
| IJND – Technology Resources | |
| IMB & IMB-R - Teaching About Controversial/Sensitive Issues | |
| Legal References: | C.R.S. § 22 32 110(1)(r) (board authority to exclude library materials) |