2021P%20DRAFT%20Procedure%20Library%20Information%20and%20Technology.pdf

Parent document: Regular Meeting following Surplus Hearing at 6_00 P.M.-10-17-2024.pdf

Text

Book Policy Manual

Section 2000 - Instruction

Title Procedure - Library Information and Technology Programs
Code 2021P

Status Active

Last Revised February 10, 2022

Last Reviewed February 10, 2022

Prior Revised Dates 04.11; 12.11; 12.15

A. Library Collection Development
This procedure guides Teacher-Librarians and informs the community about the process for selecting, acquiring,
evaluating and maintaining library information and technology program materials. The objective of each 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. Providing a diversity of materials in the interest of achieving a balance of sources and perspectives;
4. Fostering reading as a lifelong activity through pleasurable exposure to printed and digital materials; and
5. 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 information and technology
program that 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 information and technology staff will weigh requests, evaluate materials and select those which
fulfill the needs of the instructional program. Teacher-Librarians in each school determine final selections.
D. Selection
1. Sources for the selection of materials include but are not limited to:
a. Vendor catalogs, American Historical Fiction, Basic Book Collection for Elementary Grades, the Best in

Children’s books, Children and Books, Children’s Catalog, Elementary School Library Collection,
European Historical Fiction and Biography, Guide to Sources in Educational Media, Junior High School

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b.

Catalog Reference Books For School Libraries, Subject Guide To Children’s Books in Print, Subject
Index to Books for Intermediate Grades, Subject Index to Books for Primary Grades, and
Westinghouse Learning Directory.

Current review journals:

AASA Science Books and Films

American Film & Video Association Evaluations
Kirkus Reviews

Media and Methods

School Library Journal

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

= Horn Book

= KLIATT

= VOYA

= Booklist

2. All items selected for placement in the school library will:

a.

Support and be consistent with the general educational goals of the State of Washington and Moses
Lake School District and the aims and objectives of individual schools and specific courses;

. 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;

. Meet high standards of quality in factual content and presentation;

. Contain appropriate subject matter for the age, emotional development, ability level, learning styles,

and social development of the students for whom they are selected;

. Be consistent with the district’s guidelines for avoiding age-inappropriate material;

Serve the intended purpose, in both physical format and appearance for library materials;

.Help students gain an awareness of our pluralistic society;

. 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;

Withstand scrutiny based on their strengths rather than be rejected for their weakness; and

. Clarify historical and contemporary forces by presenting and analyzing intergroup tension and conflict

objectively, placing emphasis on recognizing and understanding social and economic problems.

E. Guidelines for Avoiding Age-Inappropriate Material
The district recognizes there exists a vast array of materials with rich educational content. It is the district’s

objective to choose material that provides such rich educational content appropriate to students in the district over

material that may provide similar content but contains explicit sexual content, vulgarity, or profanity that is age
inappropriate or unnecessary for minors in school settings.

Explicit sexual content that falls short of material prohibited by criminal laws is nonetheless generally inappropriate

or unnecessary for minors in school. Parents or guardians have a wide range of options outside of the district’s
library and technology program to introduce their child to content they deem appropriate for their child’s age. As
such, the district will prioritize inclusion of quality materials suitable for educational goals and worthwhile for the
limited amount of time available to students that do not contain sexually explicit age-inappropriate content.

The following sets forth objective district standards governing age-inappropriate sexually explicit materials.

Borderline cases may still arise where a judgment call must be made, and administrators will use their professional

discretion in applying these standards in such instances.

High School Libraries
No materials in high school libraries shall contain the following:

RWNE

Material that would be illegal to give to minors, such as pornography or obscenity;

Visual or visually implied depictions of sexual acts or simulation of such acts;

Explicit written descriptions of sexual acts; or

Visual depictions of nudity, except for science and health instruction, breastfeeding, or classic works of art.

Middle School Libraries
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No materials in middle school libraries shall contain the following:
~~ Material that would be illegal to give to minors, such as pornography or obscenity;
Visual or visually implied depictions of sexual acts or simulation of such acts;
Explicit written descriptions of sexual acts; or

Visual depictions of nudity, except anatomical diagrams for science and health instruction, breastfeeding, or
classic works of art.

AONE

Elementary School Libraries
No materials in elementary school libraries shall contain the following:
Material that would be illegal to give to minors, such as pornography or obscenity;
Visual or visually implied depictions of sexual acts or simulation of such acts;
Explicit written descriptions of sexual acts;
Non-explicit references to sexual acts, except for the purposes of teaching students to avoid and report

molestation; or

5. Visual depictions of nudity or depictions that imply a person is not wearing clothing, particularly where
private areas are strategically covered or not shown but where such depictions draw the viewers’ attention
to the person’s private areas.

PON

Definitions

“Sexual acts” are defined as sexual intercourse, masturbation, sadism, masochism, bestiality, fellatio, cunnilingus,
exhibition of genitals or nudity if such nudity is depicted for the purpose of sexual stimulation or gratification, or any
touching of the sexual or other intimate parts.

“Implied sex acts” are depictions that explicitly imply that_a sex act is about to occur, is occurring, or has just
occurred.

F. Children’s Internet Protection Act
District libraries must comply with the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) as specified in 47 U.S.C. 254(h)(5

including technology protection measures, and all state and federal laws relating to the prohibition on pornographic
and other harmful materials for minors.

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

H. Opportunity for Parent Review
In recognizing that parents hold an essential role in the education of their children and have the right to guide what
their children read, each library shall maintain a printed list of materials onsite and on the district's website that
shows what has been selected _as well as what is slated for acquisition. Audio-visual materials are to be made
available to parents for in-person review, upon request, on the same basis as printed materials are made available.
Parents or guardians have the right to review their students’ education records, including but not limited to books
checked out by their students.

I. Parental Considerations
In school libraries, students are afforded the opportunity to self-select texts as part of literacy development. While
librarians are training in selecting materials in accordance with the outlined selection criteria and may provide
guidance to student in selecting texts, the ultimate determination of appropriateness for a minor lies with the parent.
School librarians, or designated building administrators, are to encourage parents to share any considerations
regarding their students’ book selections. Parents may contact the school librarians directly or complete an online
form for library book or content opt-out decisions. School librarians will honor and accommodate individual request
by parents within reasons, which may including restricting specific titles or books.

J. 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. The Teacher-Librarian will evaluate the library collection on
a continuing basis in order to assure that the collection meets the mission statement and goals of the Moses Lake
School District.

K. Considerations for De-selection
A good collection development plan must include weeding. The process of weeding is a key part of assessing the

collection. It helps keep the collection relevant, accurate, and useful—and it facilitates more effective use of library
space. A thorough weeding will occur at least once every five years. Criteria for weeding materials includes the
following:

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;

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5. Perpetuates cultural, ethnic, or sexual stereotypes;

6. Does not comply with the district’s guidelines for avoiding age-inappropriate materials;
7. Inappropriate reading level; or
8. Unneeded duplication of materials.

The decision to replace materials is based on availability and continued relevance, the availability of duplicates, the
number of other books on the same subject, the availability of more recent or better material, more appropriate
material, and the continued demand for the book in question. All materials are selected to provide a balanced
collection. A wide range of recognized classics should be maintained in each library.

L. 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.

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:

a. Discussing the request with the complainant and listening carefully to the concerns expressed;

b. Explaining why the material was selected, and how its inclusion in the collection was guided by the
district collection development policy/procedure; and

c. Share review sources for the item in question;

d. 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
Library/Media Materials form.

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 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. When reviewing a challenge to library materials the instructional review
committee will:

a. Examine the Request for Reconsideration form;

b. Read and evaluate the book/material in question;

c. Study thoroughly all materials referred and read available reviews. The general acceptance of the
materials should be checked by consulting standard evaluation aids and holdings in other schools;

d. Discuss the book/material in the context of the educational program and the audience for which it was
selected;

e. Consider the entire work, rather than extracting passages or parts. Weighing the values and faults
against each other and weighing the conflicting opinions based on the materials as a whole; and

f. Base the final decision upon the appropriateness of the material for its intended educational use.
The decision of the Instructional Materials Committee may be appealed by a concerned party to the Board of
Directors, by submitting a written request to the office of the superintendent. The purpose of the Board of Director’s
review will be to determine whether the committee applied the appropriate criteria and followed the proper process.
The superintendent will notify the concerned parties of the findings of the board’s review.
If the correct criteria and process were followed by the Instructional Materials Committee, the decision of the

committee stands. If it is determined they were not followed, the Board of Directors will determine the outcome of
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the challenge.

The decision regarding challenged materials will not be subject to reconsideration for a minimum of three years,
unless there is a substantive change of circumstances as determined by the superintendent.

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