MEDIA SELECTIONPolicies and Procedures

The Same…but Unique

No two library centers will have the same collection and they shouldn’t!

The media center should reflect the specific needs of the school it serves.

But all media centers share three basic goals….

Library Media Center’s Three Primary Goals

1. Satisfy the needs of students for curriculum related materials.

2. Fulfill students’ wishes concerning materials for recreational purposes.

3. Provide teachers with professional information.

To Reach These Goals

Coalesce all decisions into a policy manual to serve as guide.

What do you need in order to make decisions?

You Need Background Knowledge Community Students Faculty Curriculum Media

Bibliographic and Review aids

Existing collection

Budget

Knowledge of Community Community

Ethic and religious background Occupations Economic, educational status Business and transportation Libraries and cultural resources

Knowledge of Students Students

Age groups Reading ability Test scores Technology skills Interest and activities

Hobbies Sports Jobs?

Knowledge of Faculty

Teaching assignments Classroom use of media/technology Teaching methods Media center use by department In-service needs

Knowledge of Media Availability and Use of:

Educational and Technology materials Characteristics Strengths Limitations Potential

Site Licenses for Integrated Library System like Follett?

Knowledge of Bibliographic Tools Bibliographies

American Historical Fiction Basic Book Collection for Elementary Grades The Best in Children’s Books Children and Books Children’s Catalog Elementary School Library Collection European Historical Fiction and Biography Guide to Sources in Educational Media Junior High School Catalog Reference Books for School Libraries Subject Guide to Children’s Books in Print Subject Index to Books for Intermediate Grades Subject Index to Books for Primary Grades

Knowledge Reviewing Tools Current reviewing media:

AASA Science Books and Films American Film & Video Association Evaluations Booklist Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books Horn Book Kirkus Reviews School Library Journal

Knowledge of Existing Collection Size Strengths and weaknesses Age and physical condition Basic usefulness

How to find out?? 1. Use computer shelf list and inventory

records to ascertain.2. Browse the shelves

Knowledge of the Budget Budget allotments for the current year Additional funds?

Federal, state and local

Plan expensive purchases especially on a 3 -5 year schedule?

Knowledge of Databases and Research Sources

Do you need full-text periodical databases like ProQuest or Ebsco? Site Licenses

Overall the Media Specialist at the school level should:

Organize and administer the reviewing procedures at the school.

Route catalogs, bibliographies and other selection aids to faculty asking for purchase suggestions

Involve as many people as possible Attend faculty and departmental

meetings Conduct interest surveys and inventories

of students and faculty Maintain a file of current commercial

catalogs of materials and equipment

Why Create a Media Selection Policy? It is the foundation of the media center

program, it serves many purposes:

Criteria and selection procedures for the collection

Blueprint for future growth of the collection Prevents haphazard collection development Prevents unnecessary disputes involving

controversial material

What Should the Policy Manual Contain? The selection policy should include:

Mission/philosophy statement of school Goals and objectives of the school Broad universal principals of the profession

Freedom to Read Statement (ALA) The School Library Bill of Rights (AASL)

All groups affected by the policy should participate in its formation. Faculty, administration, students and the

community (PTO) It should be officially adopted by these groups

Materials Selection Policies

Elements are listed in the Morris text on page 302.

Websites: ALA Componets of Selection Policy

http://www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Section=Dealing_with_Challenges&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=11173

Policy Manuals for School Libraries http://falcon.jmu.edu/~ramseyil/libpolicy.htm

Standards

Specify norms for quantities and in some cases, quality of the center’s collection

SLMS should be familiar with at the State federal, and district levels

Should be included in the policy if appropriate

Selection Aids Both primary and secondary sources

Primary – the item itself is examined before purchase Preview materials from publishers Preview materials at conventions and exhibits On approval purchases

**The explosion of information and materials make hands-on examination neither possible nor practical for the vast majority of LMS’s!

Selection Aids Secondary selection aids – reviewing

sources Bibliographies Catalogs Indexes Review periodicals Best lists

“The proper interpretation, evaluation and understanding of these aids is one of the essentials of effective selection.”

Retrospective aids Very helpful in building the initial

collection and in filling in gaps in the existing collection. These contain time tested general recommendations for general and specific needs. Children’s Catalog Senior High School Library Catalog

(Wilson) Middle School Library Catalog Elementary School Library Collection

(Brodart)

Current Selection Aids

Primarily for new materials: Booklist (ALA) School Library Journal (ALA) English Journal (NCTE)

Baltimore County Public School, Resources for Information Specialist Role http://www.bcps.org/offices/lis/office/infospec.html

Criteria for Choosing Selection Aids Authority

Who are the reviewers and their qualifications

Scope What types of material are listed?

Books, AV software, equipment For adults, children, or everyone Certain ages, languages, time periods

How often up-dated Directions for use

Criteria for Choosing Selection Aids Arrangement

Alphabetical, classification or subject Index

Annotations or Reviews Descriptive, critical or both Detailed or broad Basic to collection or supplemental Consistent in treatment Comprehensive Reviewer checked for accuracy and reliability

Practical Points to Aid Selection Participation in the Selection Process

Input from you the LMS is essential Diversity in Material – get something on

everything Diversity in Students – get something for

everyone – including Non-users Selection, Not Censorship!

Practical Points to Aid Selection

Subjectivity vs Objectivity Make purchases from the user’s point of

view…. not only what the student should be reading or using but also what the student wants and is capable of using.

Media and Messages Is the medium the most appropriate to

convey the contents to the student? Duplication

User demand

Practical Points to Aid Selection Use many selection aids Cooperative Acquisitions

Schools within a district decide areas of concentration

Out of Print Materials If still needed for faculty & students, find a

source. Publishers’ and Manufacturer’s Catalogs

Use cautiously

Practical Points to Aid Selection Gifts and Free materials

Policy should clearly state: Only items appropriate to the collection will be

kept LMC may dispose of the material in any way.

Professional Library Sample textbooks, workbooks Curriculum guides File of web sites for lesson plans

Practical Points to Aid Selection Local History Collection

Internet Resource Materials How web sites will be selected

http://207.238.25.30/library/libraryinfo/InternetCollection.htm

Censorship and the SLMC Complaints involving out of date material

at the school level are not usually subject for concern and settled easily.

Complaints from parents or groups are more complex and not easily solved. Usually involves sex, race, religion,

profanity, drugs or sex-role sterotypes.

Dealing with Censorship

A sound Selection Policy Committe appointed by superintendent

to hear complaints PTA Teacher, LMS, administrator, community Educational personnel

Dealing with Censorship Citizen’s Request Form for Reevaluation

of Learning Resource Center Materials Identify complainant, group or organization Identify the work in question Statement that the complainant has read or

seen the work in question Identify or supply critical reviews of the

work in question Recommendation of the eventual

disposition of this material Signed by complainant

Sequence of Steps to Follow in Handling a Complaint1. Explanation of the selection procedures and

policies2. Criteria used in selection3. May supply reviews or recommendations4. If it is still not resolved, then the complainant

should file the full complaint form.5. Do not remove the item in question during this

reevaluation process.6. Refer to the reevaluation committee with all

pertinent data and reviews.7. Decision of the committee is usually sent to the

superintendent for review.8. Decision is given to the complainant.9. Include a regulation that the item will not be

reevaluated for a given period – usually three years.

Court Decisions To prevail you must have:

1. Detailed, explicit and widely distributed set of policies and procedures.

2. The support of the school board and administrators at all levels.