Ketchum Public Schools
Library Media Center Selection Policy
I. Statement of Philosophy
The Board of Education and media staff of Ketchum Public Schools subscribe in principle to the statement of policy expressed by the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights.
II. Responsibility for Selection of Materials
The Board of Education, the governing body of the school district, is legally responsible for the selection of instructional materials. This authority is delegated to the professional personnel of the district for the selection of these materials.
III. Criteria for Selection
A. It is the policy of the Ketchum Public Schools to select materials for library media centers in accordance with the following principles:
1. Instructional materials are chosen because they are of interest and have learning value for the students in the community. Materials are not excluded because of race, nationality, religion, or political views of the writer.
2. Insofar as it is practical, materials are provided which present all points of view concerning the problems and issues of our times, international, national, and local. Books and materials of sound factual authority are not removed or banned from library media center shelves because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.
B. Certain factors are considered in the selection of library media center materials.
1. Selections are made for, and in accordance with, the different maturity levels of the students.
2. Nonfiction materials are selected which fill a need related to the curriculum and/or contribute to the development and enrichment of the student.
3. Fiction as well as nonfiction has assumed an important role as an educational medium. The sound treatment of significant historical, social, and personal problems in books of fiction can contribute to the understanding of human problems and human relations. Fiction is acquired to supplement areas of the curriculum and to encourage and develop the interests of students.
4. In the selection of materials, recognized reviewing tools such as the following are used: Booklist, Senior High School Library Catalog, Junior High School Library Catalog, School Library Journal, Hornbook, The Elementary School Library Collection: A Guide to Books and Other Media, Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, AAAS Science Booklist, VOYA, SDE Book Lists, and Book Report. When possible, audiovisual materials are previewed before purchase or ordered with return privilege guaranteed.
5. The following specific criteria are considered:
a. The overall purpose of the material and how well it is accomplished.
b. Reputation and significance of the author.
c. Timeliness or permanence of the materials.
d. Importance of subject matter to the collection.
e. Accuracy of material.
f. Reputation and standards of the publisher or producer.
g. Readability and reader appeal.
h. Quality of writing and illustrations.
i. Appearance of the title in material selection aids.
j. Price.
6. Subjects which are topics of criticism are carefully considered before selection. Among these are:
a. Religion – Factual unbiased materials which represent all major religions may be included in the library media center collection. Bibles and other sacred writings are acceptable. Publications from religious bodies may be selected if they have general value or appear in magazine indexes.
b. Ideologies – The library media center should, without making any effort to sway the reader’s judgment, make available basic factual information on the maturity level of its reading public or ideologies or philosophies that are current or continuing interest.
c. Science – Medical and scientific knowledge suitable to the developmental stage of the students should be made available without any biased selection of facts.
d. Sex Education – Materials presenting information on sex should be subjected to a stern test of literary merit and reality.
e. Sex – The library media specialist will be careful not to include media which contains sensational, over-dramatic, or graphically explicit sex scenes presented in a lewd or pornographic way. However, the fact of sexual incidents appearing should not automatically disqualify any material. The decision should be made on the basis of the value of the media as a whole, as it fills a need of the curriculum or students and falls within their maturation levels.
f. Profanity – The fact that profanity appears in material will not automatically disqualify a selection. Care will be taken to exclude materials using profanity excessively or in a lewd or detrimental attitude.
IV. Procedures in Specific Areas
A. Gift materials are judged by basic selection standards and are accepted or rejected by these standards. The practice of a donor’s purchasing new books or materials as library media center gifts is discouraged. It is preferable that donors make monetary gifts for purchase of books and materials because the school receives a discount and can purchase more books for the same amount of money.
B. Gift books and other materials, once accepted by the Ketchum Public Schools, become the property of the Ketchum Schools.
C. Multiple items of outstanding and much-in-demand media are purchased as needed.
D. Worn or missing standard items are replaced periodically.
E. Out of date, or no longer useful materials are withdrawn from the collection.
V. Guidelines for Reconsideration of Materials
A. It is recommended that a student or his/her parent should have the right to reject the use of library media center materials which seem incompatible with his/her values and beliefs.
B. It is further recommended that classroom assignments involving library media materials provide for alternate choices.
C. However, no parent has the right to determine the reading matter for students other than his/her own children.
D. If an objection to a selection is made by the public, the procedures are as follows:
1. Be courteous and inform the patron of the process of media review.
2. Invite the complainant to file his objections in writing with the school principal, specifying the request on the given form.
3. If the principal is unable to satisfy the complaint during an informal conference, he/she should refer to matter to the Staff Review Committee composed of: library media specialist, principal, two teachers, and one parent.
4. No administrator, librarian, or teacher should agree to withdraw and item without referring it to the Review Committee which determines whether the material should be withdrawn from any or all schools.
5. The principal shall call on the library media specialist to contact and chair the committee for the purpose of:
a. Screening questionable media, and by a majority vote of the committee, recommend placing or not placing the media on the library shelves.
b. Reviewing and judging material as to conformity with selection criteria and instructional goals.
c. Reading and examining challenged media by using the following suggested procedure:
(1) Read or view entire media selection.
(2) Check general acceptance of materials by reading professional reviews.
(3) Meet to discuss the media and prepare a report on the decision of the committee. This decision will result in reinstatement, restriction, or removal of the material.
(4) The decision of the committee is submitted to complainant, and a file of the objection and decision is kept by the library media specialist, school office, and the administrative office.
6. In the event that the complainant does not accept the decision of the Review Committee, he/she may appeal to the Board of Education through the Superintendent. The final decision then rests with the Board of Education.