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Collection Development Policy

 

Introduction

 

Materials are selected to serve the breadth of the curriculum and the needs and specific interests of our students with individual learning styles. The Library provides a wide range of materials on all levels of difficulty, in a variety of formats, with diversity of appeal, representing the presentation of many different points of view. To a lesser extent, general materials on teaching and parenting are collected.

 

Responsibility for Selection

 

The day-to-day operation of The Athenian School Library is the responsibility of the Library Director, who coordinates the selection of all materials. While extensive help and advice is sought from administrators, faculty, students, parents and others affiliated with The Athenian School, final responsibility for the selection of all materials for The Athenian Library lies with the Library Director.

 

Criteria for Selection

 

In general, learning materials shall be selected for their strengths, rather than rejected for their weaknesses. The following criteria are used as a guide in selection:

• Authenticity – Authenticity and accuracy of content is of primary importance.
  
• Relevance – In order to promote collaboration between the Library and teaching staff, the Librarians will select materials to support the school curriculum.  Teacher will be solicited for suggestions and teacher requests will receive serious consideration.
  
• Merit – The librarians will consider editorial reviews in professional journals, bibliographies, library listserves and annual awards lists.
  
• Diversity – Items added to the collection will reflect broadly diverse views, socioeconomic groups and cultures.  When materials are chosen to present controversial issues, attempts will be made to have equal representation of opposing points of view.
  
• Style and Presentation – Selected items will include text and images that are suitable for middle school and high school students, and will include appropriate indexes, illustrations, figures, and thoughtful use of color and layout to support the text.
  
• Popular Appeal – Titles found on fiction and nonfiction best-seller lists will be added as deemed appropriate by the librarians.
  
• Patron Request – Patron requests will be honored as long as the item is consistent with other selection guidelines.
  
• Price – The cost of library materials will reflect expected usage and likeliness of loss or damage.
  
• Format – Materials will be purchased in a variety of formats to reflect the technological capabilities of Library patrons.
  

Selection Tools and Reviewing Media

 

The following lists and tools shall be consulted in the selection of materials, but resources are not limited to these listings

 

Booklist
Bookmark
American Libraries Journal
EBSCO Novelist subscription database
Journal of the American Association of School Librarians
Library Media Collection Journal
Bibliographies, using the latest editions and supplements
Senior High School Catalog
Special bibliographies prepared by educational organizations for particular subject matter areas
New York Times Book Review
Bay Area Independent School Librarians Listserve
American Association of Independent School Librarians Listserve
Follett Software Novelist
Amazon.com Reviews
Various books and websites written by librarians and other professionals who are acknowledged by the quality of their reviews
Teacher and student recommendations

 

Selection Process

 

Requests and suggestions are sought from students, faculty, staff, parents, and other members of The Athenian School community. Concurrently, reviews are culled from the literature of professional organizations and other reviewing sources recognized for their expertise. The removal of materials no longer appropriate and the replacement of outdated, lost, and worn materials still of educational value is part of the selection process. Traditional guidelines of appearance, duplication, accuracy or currency of content, and circulation statistics are considered; however, content related to the curriculum and primary source materials may cause an item to be retained despite the traditional guidelines. Gift materials, free and inexpensive vertical file resources, and sponsored materials are evaluated by the same criteria as purchased materials.

 

Library Fines/Charges

 

There are no fines or costs attached to material usage. In the case of lost items, periodically during the school year the person responsible for financial obligations, in the case of a minor, or the adult, is billed for the replacement cost (including shipping and processing fees), or a minimum of $25.00, for all materials not returned.

 

Intellectual Freedom

 

Recognizing that an atmosphere of free inquiry is essential to the educational process, in order for our students to participate fully in a democratic society, The Librarian subscribes to the American Library Association's Library Bill of Rights and its interpretations, including Access to Resources and Services in the School Library Media Program which are appended to and made a part of this policy.

 

Challenges to Library Materials

 

The procedure for challenged materials is outlined below.  Its purpose is to provide for a hearing with appropriate action, within the context of the principles of freedom of information, the student's right to access of materials and the professional responsibility and integrity of the school faculty. While no questioned materials shall be removed from the school pending the process of review, access to questioned materials can be denied to the student of the parent or guardian making the complaint, if they desire.

 

All complaints to staff members or administrators shall be reported to the Library Director, whether received by telephone, letter, or in personal conversation.

 

The Library Director shall contact the complainant to discuss the complaint and attempt to resolve it informally by explaining the philosophy and goals of The Athenian School and The Athenian School Library, as well as the materials selection criteria and process.

 

If the complaint is not resolved informally, the complainant shall be supplied with a letter and packet of materials consisting of The Athenian School Library's Selection Policy and the procedure for handling objections. Included in this packet is a Statement of Concern About Library Resources (copy included in appendix) which shall be completed and returned before further consideration will be given to the complaint.

 

If the Statement of Concern About Library Resources has not been received by the Librarian within two weeks of the date indicated on the letter to the complainant, it shall be considered closed. If the request is returned, the reasons for selection of the specific work shall be reestablished by the appropriate staff.

 

Upon receipt of a completed Statement of Concern form, the Head of the School will chair and appoint a committee to consider the complaint. This committee shall consist of the Head of the School, the Library Director, a representative from the Athenian Parent Association, two teachers, and a student.

 

This Evaluation Committee shall meet to discuss the material and determine if it conforms to the principles of selection outlined in The Athenian Library Collection Development Policy, following the guidelines outlined in the Instructions to the Evaluating Committee (appended). They shall prepare a report on the material containing their recommendations on disposition of the matter. In answering the complainant, the Head of the School shall explain the selection philosophy, give the guidelines used for selection of the specific material under consideration, cite authorities used in reaching the decision, and make recommendations.

 

The Head of School shall notify the complainant of the decision, followed by a formal report and recommendation to the Board of Trustees. A decision to sustain a challenge shall not be interpreted as a judgment of irresponsibility on the part of the professionals involved in the original selection and/or use of the material.

 

The Board of Trustees shall review and adopt the findings of the Evaluating Committee in the absence of clear and convincing proof that the Committee's findings were capricious or arbitrary. The Board's adoption of the Committee's findings shall be administratively final, binding and conclusive.