Media+Selection+Paragraph

==== In the St. Vrain Valley School District, we have a Language Arts chair person that monitors what the schools read in the classroom. Jennifer Conway is her name. She has a group of people that meet with her to discuss what novels should be read in school and they take into account the genre of the book, who wrote it and the time period it was written and the time period it takes place during. As for the library, the librarian is in charge of ordering books for the library. The district media specialist offers advice and many parents seem to have a strong opinion, but ultimately it is up to the librarian. I believe that having a strong literature selection in the library, along with in the English curriculum is very important. Students need to be reading about different cultures around the world and they need to be reading from authors from around the world. They need to be reading some classics along with some new releases. It is so hard to choose among so many great choices. One way I would gauge what needs to be done is to survey the students. Simply ask them what genres or books they enjoy reading. It is so critical to put books in kids' hands that they enjoy reading. That way, it makes it easier to get them to read a book that they might not enjoy as much. Having a dedicated and determined librarian and English staff who are focused on having strong literature is a must for any school success. ====
 * Post a paragraph which outlines the dedication demonstrated by the school librarian and the school d****istrict to select quality literature. This is a document that you can refer back to if you need to discuss a book with a parent, and it will be interesting to compare the prepared policies that districts publish. Remember to include your name with your posting.**

Sarah D.

District Twelve Five Star Schools (named for the five cities it serves), has a superintendent policy that covers the selection of literature and every librarian is issued a three ring manual that contains the policy. The district as a whole can access the superintendent policies online. In the well crafted publication, the district covers many of the points enumerated in the //Library Bill of Rights//: presenting materials with multiple view points; freedom of access regardless of ethnicity, religious beliefs, race, or other discriminatory characteristics; and providing books with topics of interest that inform and entertain. The superintendent policy also covers placing good literature in the hands of readers that “enriches the curriculum,” and is free of bias. Another point is to provide literature and materials that reflect the American experience. I feel that the points made in the publication are pertinent to the continued health of our educational system, and to those it serves. As a parent, and teacher, and future librarian, not only to I believe in putting good literature in the hands of young people, but to also give them the tools to evaluate the material and to think critically about it. Shawna L.

While volunteering in Poudre School District libraries, I observed media specialists reading reviews and talking to teachers in the process of selecting and ordering media center collection materials. I also noticed that at least some on-line reference materials are purchased at the district level because of discounts received when ordering for more than one school. I did some online research to find out what the district policy is on maintaining library collections and (I’m sure I’m behind the curve and most school library people already know this) but I found on the district website that for this district, “//Libraries Today//: A Principal’s Leadership Guide” is used as a guide for school principals in maintaining a high quality media center. I’m not exactly sure why yet, but this fascinates me. The guide seems to have a lot to say about computers and technology, and I didn’t see much about the print collection. This is a long document, but here is the link if anyone is interested: http://eweb.psdschools.org/documentlibrary/downloads/Media_and_Instructional_Technology/Media_Centers/Libraries_Today--Principals_Guide.pdf Here is the guide’s section on a media specialist’s role in Collection Development: ** “Collection Development ** ** 2.1 The library media center collection is selected and developed by the media technology spe­cialist in collaboration with faculty to support district standards and the school’s curricu­lum and to contribute to the learning goals of teachers and students. ** // Media Technology Specialist... // • reads book reviews and professional journals for information about print and audiovisual ma­terials for the library. • knows the standards and the curriculum and selects materials based upon curricular needs. • recognizes students’ reading levels and interests and selects materials appropriate for them. • meets with faculty and uses their input for the selection of materials. • maintains consideration files.” //Kat Sharp//

The following is the Materials Selection Criteria for my school district: **“Criteria for Selection. ** The following Board approved criteria should be followed when selecting materials, no matter what the funding source, i.e. library budget, SBA funds, gifts, etc. Consideration should be given to all of the following as is appropriate: Educational significance, Contribution the material makes to the curriculum and to the interests of the students, Favorable reviews found in professional selection tools, Favorable recommendations based on preview and examination of materials by professional personnel when possible, Reputation and significance of the author, producer and publisher, Valid, up-to-date and appropriate material, Contribution the material makes to breadth of representative viewpoints on controversial issues, High degree of potential user appeal, High artistic quality and/or literary style, Quality and variety of format, Value commensurate with cost and/or need, Timeliness, Integrity, and Lasting value.” This is the criteria that I use when purchasing books for the library collection. My school district has a couple of book vendors that we use regularly and when looking up a book on their website it also gives any reviews that are available on that title. The reviews are from //School Library Journal//, //Horn Book//, //Booklist//, //Library Media Connection// and a few others. I have also been faced with the task of weeding the collection in my library. When a collection analysis was done at my school the average age of the collection was 1987. As I have gone through the collection I have found books that date back to the 1960s when the school was built. These books were covered and taped with a product that has not held up over the past 50 years. These older books are yellow and when you touch them the covers are brittle and break into dust. After weeding a section of the library I analyze what is needed in that area to support the curriculum or the interest of the students. A list is made and then I search for the best book we can get for the price. ~Andrea Wiltse

Hello Everyone, Well I tried to find a copy of Poudre R-1's Library Materials Selection Policy and I was unable to do so. I noticed that Kat Sharp found a document that is very long (I took a look at it) and I had trouble finding anything other than the section she posted. It did not provide a lot of information. I have not been into Webber (the school I am currently interning at) this week but when I go back I will ask my supervisor if she has a copy of the policy.

I did find a copy of Windsor's Library Materials Selection Policy. I thought it was quite good, so I will post here:

LIBRARY MATERIALS SELECTION AND ADOPTION IJL All types of materials for school libraries shall be recommended for purchase by the professional personnel of the libraries and approved by the superintendent or his designee. Consultation may take place with the administration, faculty, students, or parents if applicable. All materials selected shall be consistent with the stated principles of selection which apply to all instructional and library materials. Additionally, in maintaining and augmenting school library collections, persons responsible for selection of materials shall strive:
 * To meet the needs of the individual school based on knowledge of the curriculum and the stated needs of administrators and teachers
 * To meet the needs of individual students, according to both the stated needs of students and general understanding of children’s interests
 * To provide materials of high artistic and literary quality
 * To provide a balanced collection, with a fair proportion of each type of material selected to meet the needs of the curriculum, the students, and professional staff at all levels
 * To provide a wide range of materials with diversity of appeal and different points of view

In order to maintain a current and highly usable collection of materials, media specialists shall provide for continuing renewal of the collection, not only by addition of up-to-date materials, but by the judicious elimination of materials which no longer meet needs or find use. Gifts to the library may be accepted if they meet the criteria established for the selection of all instructional materials. Policy KEC deals with the procedure for questions that anyone may have about materials. Revised: August 1986

I found it interesting that all purchases had to be approved by the superintendent or his designee. This seems like it would be a very big job.

At Webber I have talked to my supervisor quite a bit about how she goes about selecting books for a Middle School. One of my assignments was to go through a catalog and find books that I thought seemed interesting. I then had to look them up on Title Wave and read reviews about them. My supervisor really likes School Library Journal's reviews. If the books had favorable reviews and fell within the appropriate age level then I could add them to a wish list for books to purchase. My supervisor places a lot of emphasis on whether or not the books are written at the 6th to 8th grade level. I think I disagree with her on this. I have noticed that many of the students enjoy books that might be written for high school students or even adults. I guess I feel that it is unfair to students who want to read more challenging books to not provide them with current novels that fall into this area. I know that I read books that fall into a very wide range of levels. I love anything from outstanding picture books to science packed action novels. I feel that more emphasis should be placed on the quality of the book instead of the appropriate age level. I also think that I will try to be continuously reading because that will help me talk to the students about books they might be interested in. I know I cannot read them all but I can read a lot of them. Whenever a parent starts telling me about a book they don't let there kids read I ask them if they have read it. You really cannot make a sound judgment about a book unless you have read it. Taking little bits out of context really does not show a clear picture of the books value.

O.K. So those are my thoughts. Happy Halloween Everyone! Marcia

This is the selection policy applied in the Thompson R2-J School District (Loveland/Berthoud):

 Selection and Evaluation Criteria

 Print and non-print materials will be evaluated by the following criteria as they apply.

 Contents of materials shall:  1. Support and be consistent with the general educational goals of the district as well  as the objectives of specific courses.  2. Be appropriate for the subject area and for the diverse ages, emotional  development, interests, and ability level and social development of students.  3. Provide timely and meaningful resources to meet the information and learning  needs of students and teachers.  4. Reflect the highest quality possible in terms of authenticity, style and scope of work.  5. Be free of stereotypes and include the contributions made to our civilization by  minority and ethnic groups.  6. Stimulate student curiosity and creativity. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> 7. Represent a variety of viewpoints that encourage the development of critical <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> thinking skills.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> In addition, materials shall: <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> 1. Have adequate documentation, including indexes, bibliographies and glossaries <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> and/or manuals and guides. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> 2. Exhibit quality materials and workmanship suitable for their intended use. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> 3. Provide good value for district money.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> I think these are good goals for a selection policy which encourages the acquisition of quality literature, and addresses many aspects of a well rounded and globally minded curriculum. In the classroom, the school board is adamant that if a student feels material is against their personal belief system or otherwise offensive the teacher must provide an alternate assignment (this is also board policy). Our district faced a challenge with this when a family opposed their student reading a book in the International Baccalaureate Program; students are tested on the books the program includes - not concepts or ideas, but actual book content. This presented an interesting challenge but is also a good reminder of the purpose and meaning of a selection policy in a school library where there is a bit more freedom to both support curriculum and reading which simply broadens minds; I believe a complete and thoughtful selection policy allows a school library reliable guidelines to build a collection through which people have access to a variety of materials that can serve every corner of the school population in question. In reading over the other policies that have been posted, I am pleased that my district's policy addresses a number of potential issues and both provides specific guidance (like supporting curriculum) that a media specialist can use to advocate for an adequate budget as well as allowing for flexibility to respond to the specific population in the school (so as a media specialist I can really try to stimulate the curiosity and creativity of my specific students rather than that age group in general, for example). <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">-Carin Barrett


 * <span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Here is a copy of Weld Re-8’s selection and adoption policy. **

**<span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Library Materials Selection and Adoption ** <span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Purpose: <span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">The purpose of the Weld County School District Re-8 Library System shall be to provide the best possible library media services, materials and equipment to support the curricula, and provide for the recreational needs of students and teachers at all levels, and to provide instruction in the use of these services, materials and equipment.
 * <span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"> File: IJL **

<span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Objectives: <span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">The primary objective of the school media centers is to implement, enrich and support the educational program of the school. A secondary objective is to supplement the educational and recreational needs and interests of individual students. It is the duty of the centers to provide materials having a wide range of difficulty, materials with diversity of appeal, and those which present different points of view.

<span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">To this end, the Board of Education of the Fort Lupton School District Re-8 asserts that the responsibility of the library media center is: <span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">1. To provide materials that will enrich and support the curriculum, taking into consideration the varied interests, maturity levels, gender and ethnic diversity of the pupils served. <span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">2. To provide materials that will stimulate growth in factual knowledge, literary appreciation, aesthetic values and ethical standards. <span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">3. To provide a background of information which will enable pupils to make intelligent judgments in their daily lives. <span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">4. To provide materials on opposing sides of controversial issues so that young citizens may develop under guidance the practice of critical reading and thinking. <span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">5. To provide materials representative of the many religious, ethnic, and cultural groups and their contributions to our American heritage. <span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">6. 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 media center.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> <span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">I believe that this policy does a good job of covering all the major component necessary when selecting and purchasing items for the library. There is also a policy for challenged materials but it was too long to post. I believe that the selection policy is well rounded in terms of language, religion, maturity levels, personal interests and points of view as well supporting the curriculums. I also think it is a positive that all materials are selected by the librarian, with teacher and student input. The order is processed by the librarian and only approved by the principal, not the superintendent. It doesn’t directly state this in the policy but it is the procedure. It is a rare occasion when the principal challenges my selection. She is very supportive and confident in my material selection. Reports are also required at the end of every school year that reports on the number of materials removed through the weeding process as well as an analysis of the current collection. I understand the importance of this policy and am completely dedicated to keeping my collection current and reflective of my staff, students and community interests and culture.

<span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Wow...that seems like a lot! Have a Fabulous Halloween Everybody!!!

<span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">-Tasha :)