1.

Mission: The mission of this school library is to create a student-centered media center that provides a safe, nurturing environment in which students can gain access to resources that allows them to: seek out information for educational or personal reasons, gain an appreciation of reading and the worlds it can open, and learn the technology skills necessary for them to become a 21st century learner 2. Philosophy1 Sunshine Elementary School has adapted the collection development policy set forth by the School Library Bill of Rights provided by the American Association of School Librarians and endorsed by the American Library Association. School Library Bill of Rights School libraries are concerned with generating understanding of American freedoms through the development of informed and responsible citizens. To this end we reaffirm the Library Bill of Rights of the American Library Association and assert that the responsibility of the school library is: To provide materials that will enrich and support the curriculum, taking into consideration the varied interests, abilities, and maturity levels of the pupils served. To provide materials that will stimulate growth in factual knowledge, literary appreciation, aesthetic values, and ethical standards. To provide a background of information which will enable pupils to make intelligent judgments in their daily life. To provide materials on opposing sides of controversial issues so that young citizens may develop, under guidance, the practice of critical reading and thinking. To provide materials representative of the many religious, ethnic, and cultural groups and their contribution to our American heritage. To place principle above personal opinion and reason above prejudice in the selection of materials of the highest quality in order to assure a comprehensive collection appropriate for the users of the library.

3. Purpose The purpose of Sunshine Elementary Schools collection development policy is to ensure that the needs of the students and staff are met. Our goal is to provide materials that are age appropriate and help to support the curriculum within the district while taking into account the wide and diverse interests of our student population. Therefore, our collection development policy is in place to serve the needs of our patrons and ensure that the materials they need are provided. 4. Responsibility and Criteria for Selection of Materials 4.1. Responsibility for Selection The school media specialist will be responsible for final selection and ordering of materials for the library. However, suggestions for materials may originate from multiple sources including;
1

Unless otherwise noted, these policies were adapted based upon the current collection development policy of the Ann Arbor Public School located at http://www.aaps.k12.mi.us/ins.libmedia/collection_development

students, staff, teachers, parents, and administration. Other sources could include reviews from professional journals, award winning books, and professional bibliographies. 4.2. Objectives The primary objective when selecting new material for the library is whether or not it will help to implement, enrich, support the educational program of the school. Secondary objectives include 1) building a more accessible and readable expository text collection, 2) providing books that will help to improve reading skills including accuracy and comprehension, and 3) books that promote a love and positive attitude towards reading. Through the continued development of our fiction, non-fiction, digital, audio visual, and professional collections, we will be able to meet the needs of our patrons. 4.3. Criteria for Selection When selecting new materials for the library, our staff will base their decisions on the following items: age appropriateness of the material need of the school, based upon knowledge of the curriculum and requests made by administration and educators need of the individual students, based upon the knowledge of students likes and desires and requests made from students within the building. Items that will have a high degree of user appeal items that will continue to diversify the library collection and provide the students with a wide range of reading topics, levels, and interests item contains positive reviews from a reputable educational resource such as Booklist Other criteria that will be taken into account: 2 Durability of book Quality and Timelessness of information Reputation and significance of the author Award winners 5. Reconsideration and Challenge Policies3 Books chosen for the library will be broad, tolerant, and impartial. Due to the wide array of topics that are covered, there are times that some may object to material in the collection. In compliance with the American Library Associations Library Bill of Rights staff members of the library will resist efforts by individuals who attempt to determine what is appropriate for all students, staff, and community members. However, all parents, staff, and students have the right to challenge any material purchased for the library. 5.1. Initial complaints should be taken to the current media specialist in the building in which the book resides. An informal meeting will be set up to discuss the objections to the book. The
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Adapted from Muskegon Public Schools Selection Policy located at: http://moodle.muskegonisd.org/mod/page/view.php?id=513 3 This section was adapted by Reconsideration and Challenge Policy by Duchesne County School District Policy Manual at http://dcsd.org/policies.cfm?subpage=1516928

librarian will showcase current collection policies and the purpose for purchasing the given material. 5.2. If the challenge is not resolved in house, the complainant may submit Request for Reconsideration of School Library Materials form to the proper schools principal 5.3. Formal Hearing 5.3.1.Once the paperwork has been filed the school principal will inform the media specialist and a review committee will be formed. Members of the committee will include: The Library District Chair A member of the school libraries staff The principal of the school in which the complaint was filed A member of the PTO 2 Staff members chosen by the principal 5.3.1.1. The committee is required to review the book to determine its appropriateness for the school. This may include Reviewing the entire book Reviewing the complaint form filed with the school and determining the offensive material Reviewing the selection criteria located in section 4.3 of this document. Determining professional acceptance of the book by reading professional reviews located in educational journals Weigh the materials value against the objections of the complainant Determine the educational value of the selected item 5.3.1.2. When a formal decision has been made, the committee will send a formal letter to the complainant explaining their decision regarding the material. 5.3.1.3. This decision is final. No appeals will be granted. 6. Weeding The de-selection of books within the library is a necessary step in maintaining a healthy book collection within a school library. This will help to eliminate books that contain misinformation or ones that are no longer used. It will provide space for the new purchases. 6.1. Criteria for Weeding Materials from the School Library Weeding will be done based upon three criteria; circulation statistics (does anybody read it anymore?), accuracy and currency of information within the book, and physical condition of the book.4 6.1.1.Circulation Statistics One of the selection criteria provided in section 4.3 is whether or not a book has a high degree of patron usability. Will the students and staff within the building use this particular material? If the material has lost its desirability, it no longer contributes to the success of the library. Therefore, books that are not checked out within a two year span of time may be weeded.
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Most common criteria for weeding found in: Dilevko, Juris and Lisa Gottlieb. "Weed to Achieve: A Fundamental Part of the Public Library Mission? (PDF)" Library Collections, Acquisitions, & Technical Services. 27, no. 1 (2003): 73-96.

6.1.2.Accuracy and Currency The goal of the library is to facilitate learning and support the curriculum. If the information in the text is considered invalid and no longer supported, then the item in question must be removed from the library. This may hold true for books that contain older information as well. Therefore, books that hold inaccurate information or have a copyright that is 20 years or older, may be subject to weeding. As there are classics we would not want to de-select, a review of books removed due to publication date will be reviewed by a certified librarian. 6.1.3. Physical Condition Books that are badly torn, worn and missing pages, or destroyed beyond repair may be subject to weeding. This may also include books whose appearance no longer help to improve the school libraries image. 6.1.4.Other Other reasons an item may become a candidate for de-selection are: Duplicate copies that are no longer needed Space is needed within that collection Unwanted or damaged gifts 6.2. Frequency5 Weeding will be done throughout the school year. The schedule is as follows: Fiction and Picture Books: September December Non fiction January - May AV and Professional Collection - June

7. Donations/Gifts Sunshine Elementary is happy to receive all donations and gifts. A receipt will be provided upon request for all books donated to the school library. Gifts must be: In good, usable condition Age appropriate for the school in which they are being donated

These books will be subject to our selection criteria. If the item is unable to meet these requirements, the school reserves the right to give the book to another school, donate the item, or recycle it.

Dickinson, Gail. "Crying Over Spilled Milk (PDF)." Library Media Connection. 23, no. 7 (2005): 24-26.