POLICY TITLE: Library Materials Selection POLICY NO:

603.57
Minidoka County Joint School District # 331 PAGE 1 of 3

The Minidoka County School District #331 Board of Trustees recognizes that it is the primary
objective of the library media centers in our schools to implement, enrich, and support the
educational programs of the schools. It is the duty of the library media centers to provide a wide
range of materials on all levels of difficulty, with diversity of appeal, and the presentation of
different points of view.

To this end, the Board of Trustees reaffirms the Bill of Rights for School Library Media
Programs and asserts that the responsibility of the school Library Media Center is:

1. To provide materials that will enrich and support the curriculum, taking into
consideration the varied interests, abilities, and maturity levels of the students served.
2. To provide materials that will stimulate growth in factual knowledge, literary
appreciation, aesthetic values, and ethical standards.
3. To provide a background of information which will enable students to make intelligent
judgments in their daily life.
4. To provide materials on opposing sides of controversial issues so that young citizens may
develop under guidance the practice of critical analysis of all media.
5. To provide materials representative of many religious ethnic, and cultural groups and
their contributions to our American heritage.
6. To place principle above personal opinion and reason above prejudice in selection of
materials of the highest quality in order to assure a comprehensive collection appropriate
for the users of the library media center.

Responsibility for Selection

The Board of Trustees of Minidoka County Schools is legally responsible for all matters relating
to the operation of the Minidoka County Schools Libraries.

Selection of materials involves many people: principals, teachers, librarians, and department
chairmen. The responsibility for coordinating the selection of library material and making the
recommendation for purchase rests with the professionally trained library-media personnel.

Needs of the individual school based on knowledge of the curriculum and of the existing
collection are given first considerations.

Criteria for Selection

Materials for purchase are considered on the basis of: overall purpose, timeliness or
permanence, importance of the subject matter, quality of the writing/production, readability and
popular appeal, accuracy, reputation of publisher/producer, significance of the
author/artist/composer/producer, format and price. Request from faculty and students are given
priority.

Procedures for Selection

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LIBRARY MATERIALS SELECTION—continued Page 2 of 3

In selection materials for purchase, the librarian evaluates the existing collection and consults
reputable, unbiased, professionally prepared selection aids as well as specialists from all
department and /or all grade levels. In specific areas, the librarian follows these procedures:
1. Gift materials are judge by basic selection standards and are accepted or rejected by these
standards.
2. Multiple copies of items much in demand are purchased as needed.
3. Worn or missing standard items are replaced periodically.
4. Out-of-date materials or those no longer useful are withdrawn from the collection.

Challenged Materials
Despite the care taken to select materials for student and teacher use and the qualifications of the
persons who select the materials, it is recognized community members, students, or school staff
may raise occasional objections.
In the event a complaint is made, the following procedures will apply:
1. The librarian shall hear the complaint first.
2. If the matter is not resolved, the complainant will be given a “Request for Review of
Library Materials” form to fill out. The form will be forwarded to the principal.
3. The librarian shall appoint a committee composed of the following people to review the
complaint: one administrator at the appropriate grade level; the librarian/media
specialist; two classroom teachers; and other staff members as needed.
4. The review committee shall: read and examine the materials referred to them; check
general acceptance of the materials by reading reviews; weigh values and faults against
each other and form opinions based on the materials as a whole and not on passages or
portions pulled out of context; meet to discuss the material.
5. The decision of the reviewing committee shall be forwarded in writing to the complainant
and the superintendent.
6. If the complainant is not satisfied by the decision on the reviewing committee, the
complainant may file an appeal with the Board of Trustees by providing written notice to
the Board of Trustees within fifteen (15) days of the final decision of the review
committee. The Board of Trustees shall then review the Request for Review of Library
Materials and a written decision of the review committee and enter a final decision on the
appeal.
7. No materials shall be removed from use until the committee has made a final decision
and a final decision has been made upon the appeal.
8. Cooperation will be given to any parent wishing to restrict his or her own child from
using materials that are objectionable to the parent. The librarian, with the parent, will
try to work out a solution that will keep the family’s child or children from checking out
the materials the parent objects to, while still allowing free access for other children.

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LEGAL REFERENCE:
ADOPTED: July 17, 2000
AMENDED/REVISED:
ATTACHMENT: “Request for Review of Library Materials”

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LIBRARY MATERIALS SELECTION—continued Page 3 of 3

Request for Review of Library Materials

Description of Material (Name of book, video, magazine, etc.)

Request initiated by: ____________________________________________________________

Telephone # Address:

City: , State: __________________, Zip Code:

Complainant represents

1. To what in the book or material do you object: (Please be specific: cite pages etc.)

2. What do you feel might be the result of reading this book or using this material?

3. For what age group would this material be appropriate?

4. Did you read the entire book or review the material in its entirety?
What parts did you read or review?

5. Is there anything good about this book or material?

6. What would you like your school to do about this book or material?
____ Do not assign it to my child
____ Send book to school review committee

Signature of Complainant

Date Received ______________________ by

SECTION 600: EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM