1.      School Library Media Center Mission

 

The Paul L. Dunbar Library-Media Center at J. S. Abrams Elementary School exists to support members of the school's learning community as they strive to become effective users of ideas and information.

 

2.      Selection Policy

 

               i.      Statement of Policy

 

The Paul L. Dunbar Library-Media Center is designed to implement, enrich, and support the educational program of the school.  It is our belief that the purpose of education is to help all students acquire the skills, understandings, and attitudes which will promote sound character, responsible citizenship, intellectual sufficiency, and personal fulfillment in our ever-changing society.  Materials selected for use in the library-media center shall support this purpose.

 

             ii.      Objectives of Selection

 

The primary objective of the school's library media center is to implement, enrich, and support the educational program of the school.  To this end, the objectives of the standard set forth by the State of Alabama, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and Media Programs: District and School Librarians and the Association for Educational Communications and Technology, are reaffirmed and it is asserted that the responsibility of the Library Media Center is:

 

·         To provide materials that will enrich and support the curriculum, taking into consideration and the varied interests, abilities, and maturity levels of the pupils served.

 

·         To provide materials that will stimulate growth in factual knowledge, literary appreciation, aesthetic values, and ethical standards.

 

·         To provide a background of information which will enable pupils to make intelligent judgments in their daily life.

 

·         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.

 

·         To provide materials representative of the many religious, ethnic, and cultural groups and their contributions to our American heritage.

 

 

 

 

3.      Collection Development Policy

i           Criteria for Selection

 

Needs of the individual school is based on knowledge of the curriculum and of the existing collection are given FIRST consideration.

 

a.  Needs of the individual school program

·        Based on knowledge of the curriculum

·        Based on requests from administration and teachers

 

·        Based on knowledge of children and youth

·        Based on requests by parents and students

 

      Each item purchase is to be considered on the basis of the following

 

a.       Overall purpose

b.      Timeliness or permanence

c.       Importance of the subject matter

d.      Quality of the writing/production

e.       Readability and popular appeal

f.        Authoritativeness

·        Reputation of the publisher/producer

·        Reputation and significance of the author/artist/composer/producer, etc.    

g.       Format and price

h.       The ability of the literature to enhance the curriculum

 

                   ii.            Procedures for Selection

 

When selecting materials for purchase, the library media specialist is to evaluate the existing collection and consult:

 

a.       Reputable, unbiased, professionally prepared selection aids.

b.      Specialists from all departments and/or grade levels.

c.       The media committee, when there is one, appointed by the principal to serve in an advisory capacity in the selection of materials.

d.      Charge made for lost items is the replacement cost of that item.

 

                  iii.            Material Organization and Maintenance

 

It is the responsibility of the library media specialist to provide current information and well-maintained materials. As such the specialist should engage in a process of weeding and inventorying materials in the library on regularly. The criteria for weeding and the process for inventorying materials are as follows: 

 

·        Materials in poor condition.  Only mended materials that can be repaired in     

·        10-15 minutes.  Library media specialists' time is too costly for major   

·        mending jobs unless the item is out-of-print or very expensive.

·        Materials with outdated information.  Materials with out-of-date sections of   

·        chapters should be replaced with current items.

·        Unneeded duplicates

·        Materials of poor quality, such as print too small, cramped margins, pulpy   

·        paper, yellowed paper, or badly bound.

·        Materials that have not circulated in more than five years (after an effort has been made to attract students to its use).

 

 

·        A complete inventory of library materials should be made at the end of each school year. Using Athena, the inventory would cover all bar-coded materials assigned to the library. 

·        Items reported as lost at the end of the inventory should be eliminated from the inventory list at the beginning of the next school year. This gives patrons opportune time to look for the lost materials.

·        Inventory of materials should be done after teachers and students have returned all materials and the library has been closed for the year.

 

4.      Acquisition Policy

 

Although the selection of materials may involve school administrators, librarians, teachers, and students, it is the responsibility of the library media specialist to acquire the materials needed for the library. As such, he or she has the flexibility in choosing vendors who provide quality materials at a reasonable cost. To ensure that materials selected enhance the curricular needs of the school, it is beneficial that the library media specialist consult with teachers in order to evaluate the current collection and plan for future acquisitions. Student suggestions for materials are also encouraged.

 

                                 i.            Gift Books

 

a.       Gift materials, whether print or non-print, are judged by basic collection standards. 

 

                               ii.            Book Fair and Other "Free" Books

 

a.       Book fairs are scheduled periodically. Special schedules are in operation during these times to enable all students to attend. Profits from book fairs are used to purchase materials for the media center. Book fair information will be announced at least one month before the fair.

 

5.            Reconsideration and/or Challenge Policy

 

Library Media Specialists must always be aware of an individual’s right to challenge the use of certain materials relative to the school library. Procedures should be in place, to address such challenges.

 

                     i.    Statement of Responsibility

 

The Library Media Specialist, who is delegated by the principal and gains input from the professional staff in the school, is ultimately responsible for selecting all library materials. He or she also has the responsibility to uphold intellectual freedom. This means that patrons, parents and community members have the right to access and use information under the First Amendment of the United States of America.  In addition, the Library Media Specialist and professional staff must address anyone who lodges a complaint about the use of or the holding of certain materials in the library.

 

             ii.            Procedure for Handling Complaints

 

It is most important that the LMS use professionalism at all times during the process. One way to ensure professionalism is to educate the teaching staff and those who work with students about the steps to take when they are approached. Another way to ensure professionalism is to have in place a due process policy. Most school librarians develop a Citizen Complaint Form. The suggested steps and form are listed as follows: 

 

1.            Unauthorized personnel should pass the person with the oral or written complaint on to a supervisor who is authorized to hear such complaints.

 

2.            The authorized personnel (e. g. a teacher) should treat such complaints with respect. Although they may not agree with the person making the complaint, the person is usually someone who cares a great deal about the community and/or the protection of their own child/children. Respect for the person’s complaint can go a long way in making the process of handling the complaint more amiable. The person placing the complaint may be less likely to create a community controversy.

 

3.            The authorized personnel, who has the authority to deal with the complaint, may choose to respectfully explain the collection development policy (suggest writing their complaint in a formal manner) or direct the person to the library media specialist. If the authorized personnel discover that the person making the complaint remains unsatisfied, the authorized personnel must direct the person to the library media specialist, who is qualified to address the person and the complaint.

 

4.            The library media specialist should encourage the person lodging the complaint to place their concern in writing. This means providing them with a Citizen Complaint Form. A copy of the complaint form is provided on the following page.

      iii.                  Citizen Complaint Form

 

 

1.                  Place a check next to the nature of the material to which you object:

 

Pamphlet _______       Tape Recording _______        Video _______    Recording _______         Textbook _______  Library Book _______  Other (specify) ________

 

Author (or artist) _______________________________________________

 

Title ________________________________________________________

 

Publisher and year of copyright (if known) _________________________________

 

2.                  Request initiated by (your name) ____________________________________

 

Telephone number __________________________________________________

 

Address  __________________________________________________________

 

City __________________  Zip Code __________________________________

 

3.                  Complainant represents:

 

Himself/herself ______________

 

Organization (include name of organization) ____________________________________________________

 

Other (specify) _______________________________________

 

·         To what in this material do you specifically object (please be as detailed as possible?

_______________________________________________________________

 

 

·        Did you read the entire books/article or listen to/view all of the material?

 

_______________________________________________________________

 

·        What do you believe is the theme of this material?

 

_______________________________________________________________

 

·        What do you believe might be the result of students coming in contact with this material?

 

_______________________________________________________________

 

·        For what age group would you recommend this material?

 

_______________________________________________________________

 

·        Is there anything good about this material?  If so, what?

 

_______________________________________________________________

 

·        Are you aware of the judgement of this material by literary critics?

 

_______________________________________________________________

 

·        What would you like your school to do about this material?

 

 

 

4.      In its place, what material of equal literary quality would you recommend that would convey the information contained in the material or as valuable a picture and perspective of our civilization?

 

Signature of complainant _________________________________________

 

Date ___________________________________

 

*Please submit completed form to the principal of the school in which the material is used.

               i.      Material Review Process

 

1.                  Upon completion of the Citizen Complaint Form, the library media specialist should talk with the complainant in hopes of coming to a resolve.   The library media specialist should be careful to review the collection development policy with the complainant and share the intellectual freedom components instituted by the American Library Association.

 

2.                   If the complaint is not resolved after the aforementioned steps have been taken, the library medial specialist should contact the principal. The principal reserves the right to talk with the complainant and/or to call a meeting with the reconsideration panel or committee to discuss and make a decision on the complaint lodged.

 

3.                  The reconsideration panel or committee may consist of the following people

 

8.                  The principal and/or the assistant principal

9.                  The library media specialist

10.              Two teachers

11.              A parent

12.              A board member (preferably the person over curriculum and instruction

13.              The superintendent (if needed)

 

4.                  The reconsideration panel or committee should use the following processes to review the challenged material:

 

 

6.            Collection Evaluation Policy

 

“Collection evaluation is the process of assessing the effectiveness of a collection to meet the identified information needs of a school community. It is a continuous process which reflects changes in teaching/learning programs and user needs” (NSW Department of School Education, 1996: 25). A collection evaluation policy, therefore, allows the Library Media Specialist to assess the quality of the library collection, through a clearly defined process. 

 

                   ii.                  The process used to evaluate the collection at the Paul L. Dunbar Library happens at the beginning and at the end of the year. The free services of Children’s Plus Book Company is requested. This company initiates and completes a collection analysis of the library’s MARC records. The data gathered from the analysis provides the library media specialist with a complete listing of the books contained within the library along with publishing dates, barcodes, publishers names, binding information, the appropriate grade levels per book, and the price of the book at the time of purchase. The Dewey Decimal code is also listed.  In addition to this,

Children’s Plus provides the library media specialist with a total of the number of books in the collection, the number of accelerated reader books, fiction, nonfiction, easy readers, etc. The data is displayed using pie charts and histograms. The library media specialist can compare and contrast what he or she has in the library and what he or she does not have. Using this information, the library media specialist is able to talk with teachers and administrators intelligently about the collection, discussing with them their wishes for additional materials.

 

7.            Copyright Policy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.      Hours of Operation

 

·        The Paul L. Dunbar is open from 8:00 - 3:15 in the afternoon.

 

·        School begins at 8:00 a.m. and ends at 3:00 p.m.

 

·        During the months of after school tutoring, the library-media center will stay open until 4:00 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                 iv.                  Acceptable Use Policies (Internet and Technology)

 

Bessemer City Schools are pleased to make available to students access to computers, computer systems, and the Internet for educational purpose. The goal of the district is to provide innovation and educational excellence by the use of computers, computer systems, and the Internet for research, worldwide resource sharing, and communication. For the purposes of this acceptable use policy, the term “computer” is intended to have a broad interpretation. “Computer” as used herein, means the computer itself, along with all of the accessories and peripherals used in connection with the computer such as, but not limited to, servers, backup drivers, backup disks, network servers, communication servers, modems, Internet access, software, CD ROMs, CD drives, printers, software, stored data, computer hardware, e-mail, and any and all data and programs used on computers. All use of computers must be in support of education, research or business applications consistent with the purposes of the school district. The use of computers in the school district in no way indicates a desire by the school to create a designated or limited public forum their usage.

 

1.      Personal Responsibility

 

All students must read and review this policy with their parents, then sign, with their parents, and return the signature page at the end of this policy to the student’s teacher. All students, regardless of age, must have his or her parents or guardians read and sign the signature page at the end of this policy. The school district cannot provide computer access to any student who fails to return a signed signature page as directed. By signing the signature page of this policy, students agree to follow the rules of this policy and to report any misuse of computers and computer equipment. By signing the signature page of this policy, parents are indicating that they have read the policy and accept its terms and conditions.

 

2.      Term of the Permitted Use

 

Students who submit a properly signed signature page for this policy and who follow this policy will have computer access during the course of the school year. Students will be asked to sign a new acceptable use policy signature page each year in which they are students, before they are given an access account.

 

3.      Acceptable Uses

 

This section of the policy describes uses of computers in the school district that are considered acceptable.

 

Examples of What Responsible Computer Users May Do

 

a.       Use computing facilities for educational purposes only. Students who have any doubt about whether a contemplated activity is educational may consult with their teacher or with the school district’s designated supervisor over computer uses.

b.      Research for assigned classroom projects, as directed by the teacher.

c.       Send electronic mail (e-mail) to other users, as directed or permitted by the teacher.

                                                               i.      Explore other computer systems in a legally-appropriate manner.

                                                                         ii.      Use the system efficiently, in terms of time, disk space, and printer facilities, in accordance with the following priority of uses:

(first priority) system administration and maintenance;

(second priority) administrator, teacher, and staff use

(third priority) student use for group activities assigned by the teacher;

(fourth priority) student use by individual students pursuant to activities assigned by the teachers;

(fifth priority) individual student use without assigned activity by the teacher;

(sixth priority) individual student use for games.

Lower priority users should give up their access to higher priority users when requested.

f.        Be aware that the computing facilities are as secure as possible but that a user determined enough will break into the system. Therefore, confidential material should be stored on a school account.

g.       Change passwords frequently, to ensure security.

h.       Use the computer and computer system in a safe manner.

 

4.      Unacceptable Uses

 

This section of the policy describes uses that are considered unacceptable and which constitute a violation of the Acceptable Use Policy. Whether described as behaviors that one may not do or described as improper etiquette, such behaviors are considered unacceptable and constitute a violation of the policy, although the range of consequences for violation may vary according to the severity of the behavior.

 

 

                           i.                  Examples of What Responsible Computer Users May NOT Do

 

a.       Engage in illegal activity.

b.      Violate the law or encourage others to violate the law.

c.       Use the system to offer for sale or use any substance the possession or use of which is prohibited by the school district’s student code of conduct.

d.      Use the system to view, transmit, or download pornographic materials.

e.       Use the system to communicate or send impolite, abusive, vulgar, lewd, indecent, or obscene language or pictures, or to communicate with swearing, vulgarities, suggestive, obscene, belligerent, or threatening language.

f.        Use the system to threaten, harass, or bully others.

g.       Use the system to make, distribute, or redistribute jokes, stories, or other material that is based upon slurs or stereotypes relating to race, gender, ethnicity, nationality, or religion.

h.       Use the system in a way that causes harm to others or damage to their property or reputation.

i.         Use the mail system to hinder the ability of others to work, or to harass, intimidate, or otherwise annoy a person.

j.        Change computer files that do not belong to the user.

k.      Send or receive copyrighted material without permission from the copyright owner.

l.         Download or upload copyrighted software.

m.     Forward or re-post the personal information of another user without his or her permission.

n.       Send material over the Internet with someone else’s name as author, without permission.

o.      Share a password with others or allow others to use a password to access the computer or Internet.

p.      Use the computer system for personal gain or profit.

q.      Use the computer system for the commercial exchange of goods or services.

 

 

                         ii.                  Network Online Etiquette (Netiquette)

All users must abide by rules of network etiquette, which include the following:

 

a.       Be polite and use appropriate language.

b.      Don’t assume that a sender of e-mail is giving his or her permission for you to forward or redistribute the message to third parties.

c.       Don’t give another person’s e-mail address to a third party without getting permission from the other person.

d.      Be considerate when sending attachments with e-mail. Be sure that the file is not too large to be accommodated by the recipients system and is in a format that the recipient can open.

e.       Compose e-mail and bulletins off-line in order to reduce unnecessary network traffic.

f.        Make your “subjectline” as descriptive as possible.

g.       Always include a salutation before your message: “Dear John . . .”

h.       Always sign your name and tell where you are from. If possible, include your email address.

i.         Always restate or describe the question that you are answering or the issue on which you are commenting.

j.        Always acknowledge that you have received a document or file that someone has sent you.

k.      Check your e-mail once or twice a week if you are expecting replies.

l.         Delete e-mail once you have read it.

m.     Don’t send personal messages on conferences, bulletin boards, or digests.

n.       Don’t expect an answer in less than 2-3 days.

o.      When sending a file, give as much information as possible, including length, type, and contents.

p.      Conference and bulletin board messages represent your abilities. Proofread and edit all messages.

q.      Take care with the way you express yourself. Electronic text allows no context clues to convey shades of irony, sarcasm, or harmless humor.

r.        Don’t publicly criticize (or “flame”) other network users.

s.       Protect others’ privacy.

t.        Be careful not to spread computer viruses. Always check downloaded files.

u.       Don’t leave a workstation unattended while a session is in progress (dangerous to personal files and belongings, reputation, and security).

 

5.            Internet Safety

 

This section of the policy addresses concerns about the safety of student users and the integrity of the computer system.

 

a.       General Warning:

 

Individual Responsibility of Parents and Users. All student users and their parents and guardians are advised that access to electronic materials may include the potential for access to materials inappropriate for school-aged pupils. Every user must take responsibility for his or her use of the computer network and internet and stay away from inappropriate sites. Parents of minors are the best guides to materials to shun. If a student finds that other users are visiting offensive or harmful sites, he or she should report such use to a teacher or the school district’s supervisor over computer uses.

 

b.      Personal Safety

Students are urged to be safe. In using the computer network and Internet, students should not reveal personal information such as home address or telephone number. Students should not use his or her real personal information such as home address or telephone number. Students should not use his or her real last name or any other information which might allow a person to locate the student without first obtaining the permission of a supervising teacher or parent or guardian. Students must not arrange a face-to-face meeting with someone the student “meets” on the computer network or Internet without parental permission. Regardless of one’s age, one should never agree to meet a person with whom they have communicated only on the Internet in a secluded place or in a private setting.

 

c.       Hacking and Other Illegal Activities

 

It is a violation of this policy to use the school’s computer system to gain unauthorized access to other computers or computer systems, or to attempt to gain unauthorized access. Any use which violates state or federal law relating to copyright, trade secrets, the distribution of obscene or pornographic materials, or which violates any other applicable law or municipal ordinance, is strictly prohibited.

 

d.      Confidentiality of Student Information

 

Personally identifiable information concerning students may not be disclosed or use in any way on the computer, computer system, or Internet, without the permission of a parent or guardian, or if the student is 18 or over, the permission of the student himself or herself. Users should never give out private or confidential information about themselves or others on the Internet, particularly credit card numbers and Social Security numbers. A supervising teacher or administrator may authorize the release of directory information, as defined by Alabama law, for internet administrative purposes or approved educational projects and activities.

 

e.       Privacy

Computer, computer network and Internet access is provided as a tool for education. The school district reserves the right to monitor, inspect, copy, review, and store at any time and without prior notice any and all usage of computers and any and all information transmitted or received in connection with such usage. All such information files shall be and remain the property of the school district and no user shall have any expectation of privacy regarding such materials. As such, all such information files remain under joint use doctrine for the purpose of search and seizure purposes.

 

6.                  Failure to Follow Policy

 

Failure to follow this acceptable use policy subjects the student user to a variety of penalties, including loss of access to computers in the school district or consequences outlined in the school district’s code of conduct. A student user of computers in the school district violates this policy by his or her own action or by failing to report any violations of this policy by other users that come to the attention of the student. Further, a student user violates this policy if he or she permits another person to use his or her account or password to access a computer, the computer network, or Internet, including any other user whose access has been denied or terminated.

 

7.                  Warranties/Indemnification

 

The school district makes no warranties of any kind, either express or implied, in connection with its provision of access to and use of computers, its computer networks, and the internet provided under this policy. It shall not be responsible for any claims, losses, damages, or costs, including attorney’s fees, of any kind suffered, directly or indirectly, by any user or his or her parent(s) or guardians(s) arising out of the user’s use of the school district’s computer equipment under this policy. By signing this policy, users are taking full responsibility for his or her usee, and the user who is 18 years of age or older or, in the case of a user under age 18, the parent(s) or guardian(s) are agreeing to indemnify and hold the school, school district, the data acquisition site that provides the computer and Internet access opportunity to the school district and all of the school district’s administrators, teachers, and staff harmless from any and all loss, costs, claims, or damages resulting from the user’s access to the school district’s computers, computer network and the Internet, including but not limited to any fees or charges incurred through purchases of goods or services by the user. The user or, if the user is a minor, the user’s parent(s) or guardian(s) agree to cooperate with the school in the event of the school’s initiating an investigation of a user’s use of his or her access to the school’s computer network and the Internet, whether that use is on a school computer or on another computer outside the school district’s network.

 

8.                  Updates

 

Users, and if appropriate, the user’s parents/guardians, may be asked from time to time to provide new or additional registration and account information or to sign a new policy signature page, for example to reflect developments in the law or technology. Such information must be provided by the user (or his or her parents or guardians) or such new policy signature page must be signed if the user wishes to continue to receive service. If after the user has provided account information, some or all of the information changes, the user must notify the user’s teacher or the supervisor over the district’s computer uses.

 

SOURCE:                    Bessemer City Board of Education, Bessemer AL

ADOPTED:                 November 20, 2001

LEGAL REF.:              Children’s Internet Protection Act of 2000 (H.R. 4577, P. L. 106-554); Communications Act of 1934, as amended (47 U.S.C. 254 (h)(7)); elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended (20 U.S.C. 6801, et. Seq., Part F); Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier, 108 S.Ct. 562 (1988); Bethel School District No. 403 v. Fraser, 106 S. Ct. 3159 (1986); Perry Education Assn. V. Perry Local Educators Assn., 103 S. Ct. 948 (1983).

 

USER AGREEMENT AND PARENT PERMISSION FORM

 

As a student user of computers in Bessemer City Schools, I hereby agree to comply with the above stated rules – utilizing resources and communicating with computers in a reliable fashion while honoring all relevant laws and restrictions.

 

Student Signature: ________________________________________________________

 

As a parent or legal guardian of the minor student signing above, I grant permission for my son or daughter to access networked computer services such as electronic mail and the Internet. I understand that individuals and families may be held liable for violations. I understand that some materials on the Internet may be objectionable, but I accept responsibility for guidance of Internet use – setting and conveying standards for my daughter or son to follow when selecting, sharing, or exploring information and media.

 

Parent Signature: ______________________________ Date: ______________________

 

(Please Print)

Name of Student _________________________________________________________

 

School _______________________________________ Grade: ____________________

 

Social Security Number _________________________Birth Date __________________

 

Street Address ___________________________________________________________

 

Home Telephone _________________________________________________________

 

 

As the student’s teacher, I have read the rules articulated under the Acceptable Use Policy and will promote student use of computer equipment under the policy. Because the student may use computer resources for individual work or in the context of another class, I cannot be held responsible for the student’s improper use of equipment. As the student’s teacher, I agree to instruct the student on acceptable use of the equipment and proper system etiquette, but I nor the school district can guarantee that students will not gain unauthorized access. As such, neither myself nor the school district is liable for such unauthorized access.

 

Teacher’s Name (please print): ______________________________________________

 

Teacher’s Signature ___________________________________ Date: _______________