STARLING CITY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

LIBRARY COLLECTION POLICY

I. STATEMENT OF POLICY
The purpose of the school library media center is to provide developmentally
appropriate instructional materials and recreational materials so that each student
has the potential to develop to the best of his or her ability, mentally exploring the
widest possible opportunities. The collection should support the curriculum in all
disciplines as well as provide a common body of knowledge (Westwood).
II. OJBECTIVES OF THE LIBRARY COLLECTION
The primary objective of library materials is to implement, enrich, and support the
educational program of the school. It is the duty of the school to provide a wide
range of materials on all levels of difficulty, with diversity of appeal, and
presentation of different points of view (Fayetteville).
III. RESPONSIBILITY FOR SELECTION
The district shall provide a wide range of quality learning resources for students to
deliver, support, enrich, and assist in implementing the districts educational
program. Learning resources shall be defined as textbooks, library acquisitions and
ancillary materials for classroom use, and any other resources used for formal or
informal teaching and learning purposes. Learning resources may be print or nonprint and may be acquired through purchase, as gifts, or as loans.
Learning resources shall be selected by the professional staff to help schools meet
curricular, instructional, and assessment objectives. The selections shall also be
based on long-range plans, existing collections of materials, and the availability of
other resources (Blue Valley).
IV. BOOKS AND MATERIALS RECEIVED AS GIFTS
Books and materials received as gifts must meet the same selection criteria as
materials purchased with Board of Education funds. Once accepted by the Starling
City public schools, these materials become the property of the district. Materials
not meeting the selection criteria will be donated as the librarian sees fit (Norman).
V. CRITERIA FOR SELECTION OF LIBRARY MATERIALS
Materials for library purchase are considered on the basis of the following criteria:
Overall purpose and educational significance;
Validity, timeliness, or permanence, and appropriateness of material;
Contribution the subject matter makes to the curriculum and the interests of
the students;
High artistic quality and/or literary style;
High degree of potential user appeal including varied interests that reflect
religious, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds;
Representation of opposing sides of controversial issues in order to develop
critical reading, listening, viewing, and thinking;
Reputation and significance of the author, producer, or publisher;
Variety of format; and
Value commensurate with cost and/or need (Fayetteville).

Additionally, the following questions will be considered when selecting materials:

Does the item support the curriculum?
Is it age/developmentally appropriate for the patrons?
Is the material timely? Will it be outdated quickly?
Is the material accurate? Is it written or edited by an authority on this
subject?
Is the scope of the material adequate? Are there views not represented?
Is the material visually pleasing and readable? Are the illustrations supportive
of the text?
Are there user aids such as a bibliography, glossary, or index?
Is the current collection already heavy in this area?
Will the material be widely used (Westwood)?
VI. CHALLENGES AND RECONSIDERATION OF LEARNING RESOURCES
Please refer to the Starling City Public School District Library Materials Selection
Policy.
VII. COLLECTION MAINTENANCE
Materials that have disfigurements beyond repair will be discarded.
Materials that are outdated or obsolete will be removed from the collection.
Materials that are age or developmentally inappropriate will be removed
(Westwood).

Works Cited
Administration Regulations for Policy #6.15. Fayetteville Public School District
#1, Web. <http://www.fayar.net/images/6.15AR.pdf>.
Library Materials Selection Policy. Fayetteville Public School District #1, 19 Jan.
2005. Web. <http://fayar.net/images/6.15.pdf>.
"Norman Public Schools Library Media Program Procedures Manual >> Selection
Policy." N.p., Web. 25 Apr. 2015.
<http://staff.norman.k12.ok.us/~klewis/Handbook/selection policy.html>.
Policy 4610: Challenges to and Reconsideration of Learning Resources. Blue
Valley Schools, Sept. 2013. Web.
<http://www2.bluevalleyk12.org/policies/documents/4610 guidelines.pdf>.
Selection of Learning Resources. Blue Valley Schools, 13 Sept. 2004. Web.
<http://www2. bluevalleyk12.org/policies/documents/4600policy.pdf>.
"Westwood Elementary School Media Center/Library." Westwood Elementary
School. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2015. <http://www.wcs.edu/wes/index/mediacenter/>.