Mullin Dream Library Collection Development Policy

Port Neches Groves Independent School District

Port Neches, TX

Library Manual
Including
Port Neches High School Library Policies
August 9th, 2022

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 Table of Contents

I. Community and School Analysis 3-4

II. Philosophy and Objectives 5
III. Purposes 5
IV. Selection Policies and Procedures 5
V. Intellectual Freedom 5
VI. Gifts 5
VII. Weeding and Discarding 6
VIII. Procedures for Book Challenge 6
VIIII. Confidentiality Policy 6
X. Fair Use and Copyright Compliance 6-7
XI. Circulation Procedures 7
XII. ALA Library Bill of Rights 8

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 I. Community Analysis

This community analysis is for Port Neches-Groves High School library located in

Port Neches, TX but serves the cities of Port Neches and Groves. The school’s mission

states that “the combined efforts of the staff, students, parents, and community will

provide a learning environment that ensures opportunities for all students to pursue

lifelong learning and responsible, productive citizenship.” The library’s mission is to

“build a balanced collection that will facilitate learning activities for all subject areas in

quantities sufficient for individual or class use. Provide the greatest possible number of

standard reference materials appropriate to the grade levels being served. Enrich the

personal reading experience of individuals.”

According to the 2020 census, the combined population of Port Neches and

Groves is 31,027. Port Neches is located along the Neches River, and both cities are

dominated economically by the multiple oil refineries in the area. This is a major source

of employment for many. The high school is located approximately 30 minutes away

from the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. Fishing and water sports are important activities in

the area.

Race Age

1070 1803
176 1788
1405 6567
5594

3702

22169 10594

White African American American Indian Under 5 Age 5-19 20-29

Asian Other 30-59 60 and over 3
 According to txschools.gov, the total student enrollment for 2020-21 at Port

Neches Groves High School was 1,476 students for grades 9-12. 36.9% of students

were economically disadvantaged, 7.7% utilized special education services, and 3.7%

were emergent bilingual/ English learners. The drop out rate was .9%. The average

student to teacher ratio is 14:1. The school offers 10 AP courses and 23 extracurricular

activities. There are 133 full time staff members with 106 full-time teachers. The staff is

not diverse with 85% being white, 13.1% Hispanic, .9% Asian, and .9% American

Indian.

Student Enrollment by Race/ Ethnicity

6.00% 0.10% 2.90%
0.30%

27.80%
59.60%

3.50%

White African American Hispanic American Indian

Asian Pacific Islander Two or more races

The size of the collection at Port Neches Groves High School is approximately

27,000 books including multiple online databases. The staff at the library includes a

certified librarian and a paraprofessional as a library aide. The budget for the library is

$30,000 directly from the school budget to be used for adding to the collection as well

as supplies. The librarian has also applied for and won grants such as the Indorama

STEM grant in 2021. The library received $3000 to be used for Makerspace materials

which fosters an interest in robotics, civil engineering, and electrical engineering.

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II. Philosophy and Objectives
The library supports the philosophy and objectives established by the Port Neches
Independent School District as stated in the Community Analysis.

III. Purposes

Policy governing the selection of library materials shall give preference to materials in
the following areas:

 Build a balance collection that will facilitate learning activities for all subject areas
in quantities sufficient for individual or class use.
 Provide the greatest possible number of standard reference materials
appropriate to the grade levels being served.
 Enrich the personal reading experience of individuals.

IV. Selection Policies and Procedures

The librarian is responsible to the principal for selecting and procuring materials.
Teachers, students, and administrators are encouraged to submit requests for specific
materials or to call attention to areas of need in the collection.
Library materials include books, videos, and periodicals. Selection shall be based on
personal examination of material and/or on reviews and recommendations from
professional journals and standard selection aids and review sources.
The following evaluative criteria are used: Materials are to...
 support the curricular needs of the district;
 challenge students at appropriate levels of interest and ability;
 enhance literary and aesthetic appreciation;
 present balanced and varied viewpoints of social issues;
 be from authentic, credible, and current sources

V. Intellectual freedom
The library generally endorses the principles expressed in the School Library Bill of
Rights approved by the American Association of School Librarians (see p. 6).

VI. Gifts
The library is grateful for all gifts but reserves the right to add them to the collection or
otherwise dispose of them based on the stated criteria for selection.

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VII. Weeding and discarding

The librarian shall regularly examine the library’s collection and determine which items
need to be weeded from the collection. Materials which no longer meet the stated
criteria shall be discarded according to accepted professional practices.

VIII. Procedures for Book Challenge

In the event that materials of the library are deemed questionable for any reason, a
book challenge request must be submitted in writing to the librarian. The librarian will
notify the principal on campus, and the following must be completed to move forward:

 The person submitting the challenge, the principal, and a school board member
will read the material in its entirety. After the material has been read in its
entirety, the person must request in writing to move forward with the challenge.
 If the person chooses to move forward, the principal will set up a hearing to
include the librarian, the board member, the principal, and the person submitting
the challenge. At this meeting, all parties will have the opportunity to discuss the
merits of the material, and a decision will be made amongst the school officials
present.
 The material in question will remain in the library available to students until a
decision has been made. There will be an exception made if the challenge is
being made by a parent of a current student, and their student will be given
similar materials to choose from if necessary.

VIIII. Confidentiality Policy

The librarian and other library staff will take steps to protect students’ privacy through
keeping their circulation record and internet usage confidential. Students have a right to
access library materials without fear of judgement or repercussion. Teachers, staff, and
parents may not request or obtain student library records with the exception of suspicion
of student safety. The librarian will routinely delete student records after the appropriate
time has passed.

X. Fair Use and Copyright Compliance

Copyright is the exclusive legal right, given to an originator or an assignee to print,

publish, perform, film, or record literary, artistic, or musical material, and to authorize
others to do the same. It is imperative to follow the law and respect content created by
others. Within education, one can follow the Fair Use Doctrine to use some copyrighted
material appropriately. The Fair Use Doctrine is as follows:

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 1.  the purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a
commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes;
2. the nature of the copyrighted work;
3. the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted
work as a whole; and
4. the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted
work.

XI. Circulation Procedures

All materials, including print and non-print items, are listed in the library’s online catalog
by author, title, and subject.

 Books are circulated as follows:

1. Checked out to students for a three-week period;
2. Checked out to teachers for a six-week period;
3. Checked out in classroom sets for a six or nine-week period;
4. Reserved in the library by teacher request when assignments are
likely to create heavy student demand for limited materials.
5. Teachers should request that items be reserved in advance of
assignments in order that the books may be collected, organized
and listed for student convenience.

 Periodicals (except for the current issues) are circulated for three weeks.

 Audio and video recordings...

1. Are loaned to teachers only;
2. Must be approved by the Assistant Principal for Instruction if from any source other than
the library.

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 Library Bill of Rights
The American Library Association affirms that all libraries are forums for information and
ideas, and that the following basic policies should guide their services.

I. Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest,
information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library
serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin,
background, or views of those contributing to their creation.
II. Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of
view on current and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed
or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.
III. Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their
responsibility to provide information and enlightenment.
IV. Libraries should cooperate with all persons and groups concerned with
resisting abridgment of free expression and free access to ideas.
V. A person’s right to use a library should not be denied or abridged because
of origin, age, background, or views.
VI. Libraries which make exhibit spaces and meeting rooms available to the
public they serve should make such facilities available on an equitable
bases, regardless of the beliefs or affiliations of individuals or groups
requesting their use.

Adopted June 18, 1948.

Amended February 2, 1961, and January 23, 1980,
Inclusion of “age” reaffirmed January 23, 1996,
By the ALA Council.