1.  School Library Misson Statement

             The mission of the Thurgood Marshall Middle School Library is to ensure

             that students and staff are effective users of ideas and information.

2.    Selection Policy

             i.    Statement of Policy

         The goal of the Thurgood Marshall Middle School Library is to provide

          a broad range of educational materials to enrich and support the curriculum

          and to meet the needs of individual students and teachers.  Materials should

          be available in a variety of formats and represent varying levels of difficulty

          and points of view.  Materials are considered for their quality and appropriateness.

 

               ii.    Objectives of Selection

           The collection will be developed systematically, ensuring a well balanced coverage of subjects, opinions and formats.  A wide reange of materials on

            various levels of difficulty supporting the diverse interests, needs and viewpoints of the school community. 

 

 

3.    Collection Development Policy 

                         i.    Criteria for Selection

              Library resources will be chosen to support the existing curriculum as well as the personal needs and interests of the library users.  They will meet

              high standards of quality in factual content and persentation.  The resources will be appropriate for the subject area and for the age, emotional

              development, ability level, learning style and social development of the students for whom the materials are selected.  Library resources  will be

              selected to help students gain an awareness of our pluralistic society.  The selection of resources on controversial issues will be directed toward

              maintaining a diverse collection representing various views.  Resources will be selected for their strengths rather than rejected for their

              weaknessess.

 

 

                               ii.    Procedures for Selection

                 In selecting library resources, the LMS will measure available materials against the above criteria and the emerging needs of the curriculum.  The

                 LMS will consult reputable, professionally prepared selelction guides and other oppropriate review sources.  Such sources include, but are not

                 limited to, Booklist, Children's Library Catalog, Junior High School Library Catalog, School Library Journal, etc.  Administrators, teachers,

                 instructional assistants, students, parents and community members will be regularly encouraged to make recommendations for purchase.  When

                 feasible, the resource itself will be examined.  Gift materials will be measured against the above criteria and will be accepted or rejected

                 accordingly.  Resource selection will include the routine removal of outdated and inaccurate materials, as well as the replacement of lost and worn

                 items still of educational value.

 

 

                             iii.    Material Organization and Maintenance

 

1.    Weeding

     Library materials should be weeded if they:

      - are in poor physical condition

      - have not been circulated in the last five years

      - are outdated in content, use or accuracy

      - are mediocre or poor in quality

      - are biased or portray stereotypes

      - are inappropriate in reading level

      - duplicate information which is no longer in heavy demand

      - are superseded by new or revised information

      - contain information which is inaccessible because they lack a table of contents, adequate indexing and searching capabilities

      - are outdated and unattractive in format, design, graphics and illustrations

      - are not selected in accordance with general selection criteria

 

 

 

4.    Acquisition Policy

             i.    Gift Books

         Items, whether print or non-print, which are presented as gifts to the LMC must meet the same standards as those materials purchased before the 

         gift item will be added to the collection.

             ii.    Book Fair and Other “Free” Books

             Materials that are acquired through book fairs will be based on above criteria.  Donations will be pre-screened for appropriateness before being 

          placed on the shelves for circulation.

 

5.    Reconsideration and/or Challenge Policy 

            i.    Citizen Complaint Form

 

          

CITIZEN'S REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION

 

 

OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIAL

 

                                                       Author:_______________________________________________________________________

                                                       Type of Instructional Material:_____________________________________________________

                                                       Title:_________________________________________________________________________

                                                       Publisher (if known):____________________________________________________________

                                                       Request initiated by:_______________________________________Telephone:_____________

                                                       Street Address:_________________________________________________________________

                                                       City:____________________Zip Code: _________________

                                                       Curriculum area and grade of item:__________________________________________________

                                                       Complainant represents:___________________________________________________________

                                                       Please circle : self (name of organization) (identify other group)

                                                       1. To what in the item do you object? (Please be specific)

                                                       2. What do you feel might be the result of using this item? 

                                                       3. For what age group would you recommend this item?

                                                      4. Do you feel there is any value in this item?

                                                      5. Did you examine the entire item?What parts?

                 

                                                      6. Have you had an opportunity to discuss the proposed use of this item with a staff member?

                                                          __________________________________________________Date____________________

                                                          Signature of Complainant 

                                                          Please send this request to:

                                                          Thurgood Marshall Middle School

                                                          Library Media Center

                                                          428 Reynolds Avenue

                                                          Evergreen, Alabama 36401

 

                               ii.    Reconsideration Panel or Committee 

                 Upon receipt of a request for formal reconsideration of a learning resource, the principal shall:

1. Appoint a reconsideration committee including the following members as appropriate: One member of the faculty; one Library Media Specialist; one

    parent, one student.

2. Arrange for the reconsideration committee to meet within 10 working days after the complaint is received.

3. The reconsideration committee may choose to consult district support staff and/or community persons with related professional knowledge.  The reconsideration      

                                  committee shall review the challenged resource and its recommendation to the Principal based on whether it conforms to the principles of selection outlined in the

                                  district’s Selection of Learning Resources policy. The principal shall notify complainant of the decision and send a formal report and recommendation to the

                                  Superintendent. In answering the complainant, the principal shall explain the book selection system, give the guidelines used for selection, and cite authorities used in

                                  reaching decisions. If the committee decides to keep the work that caused the complaint, the complainant shall be given an explanation. If the complaint is valid, the

                                  principal will acknowledge it and make recommended changes.   If the complainant is still not satisfied, he or she may ask the Superintendent to present an appeal to the

                                  School Committee, which shall make a final determination of the issue. The School Committee may seek assistance from outside organizations such as the American Library

                                  Association, the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, etc., in making its determination. 

  Members of the Reconsideration Committee are asked to:

  1. Bear in mind the principles of the freedom to learn and to read (http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/statementspols/statementspolicies.htm) and base their decision on these   

                                   broad principles rather than on defense of individual materials. Freedom of inquiry is vital to education in a democracy.

  2. Study thoroughly all materials referred to them and read available reviews. The general acceptance of the materials should be checked by consulting standard

                                    evaluation aids and local holdings in other schools.

  3. Consider passages or excerpts in context.The values and faults should be weighed against each other and the opinions based on the materials as a whole.

                                    The principal will present the committee’s report to the complainant at the conclusion of the reconsideration process.

                             iii.    Material Review Process

The reconsideration committee shall:

1. Examine the challenged resource.

2. Determine professional acceptance by reading critical reviews of the resource.

3. Weigh values and faults and form opinions based on the material as a whole rather than on passages or sections taken out of context.

4. Discuss the challenged resource in the context of the educational program.

5. Discuss the challenged item with the individual questioner when appropriate.

6. Prepare a written report.

The written report shall be discussed with the individual questioner if requested. The written report shall be retained by the school principal, with copies forwarded to the assistant superintendent of curriculum services and the area assistant superintendent. A minority report also may be filed. Written reports, once filed, are confidential and available for examination by trustees and appropriate officials only.

The decision of the reconsideration committee is binding for the individual school.

Notwithstanding any procedure outlined in this policy, the questioner shall have the right to appeal any decision of the reconsideration committee to the School Committee as the final review panel.

 

                              iv.    Procedure for Handling Complaints

                 I. Informal Reconsideration

                                v.    Statement of Responsibility

                      Responsibility for the selection of all library materials is delegated to the LMS through the principal.  The selection process involves opportunities

                 for consultation with faculty and students.  Selection is based upon professional school library tools and review media.

 

            A. Persons wishing to make a complaint regarding library resources will be asked to bring their complaint to the principal or the librarian.

            B. Internet resources are not subject to reconsideration under these guidelines. The internet is largely unregulated, and not all of the information it carries is suitable for school children. Although the district subscribes to a filtering service that blocks much inappropriate material, the Technology     Use Policy and the Guidelines for Acceptable Use of the Internet represent an understanding on the part of the student and his/her parent(s) or guardian(s) that the Hopkinton School District does not control the contents of the internet.

            C. Upon meeting with the complainant, the principal or librarian will first attempt to resolve the issue informally.

              1. The identity of the complainant shall remain confidential during the informal process (only.)

              2. Commitments should not be made until the issue has been thoroughly explored.

              3. The complaint should be treated in a courteous, objective and unemotional manner.

              4. The principal or librarian will listen to all concerns, and try to resolve the issue informally. This might include explaining the library's selection procedures and    

                  criteria, the intended audience and educational uses of the item in question, or relevant sections of the American Library Association's Access to Resources and

                  Services in the School Library Media Program.

              5. If the complainant then wishes to proceed with a formal request for reconsideration, the principal will follow up the discussion with a letter. The letter will include:

                  - the district's Selection of Instructional Materials and Reconsideration of Instructional Materials policies

                  - the Guidelines for the Selection of Library Resources and Collection Development Plan for the appropriate school library

                  - the ALA's Access to Resources and Services in the School Library Media Program

                  - the Guidelines for the Reconsideration of Library Materials and the Request for Reconsideration of Library Resources form

               6. In the event that the complainant is the principal, the superintendent of schools will perform the role of the principal in the above process.

                 II. Formal Reconsideration

            A. In the event of a formal request for reconsideration, these steps will be taken:

                1. Persons wishing to make a formal request for reconsideration must complete the Request for Reconsideration of Library Resources form and submit it to the principal or 

                    LMS; in the event that more than one item is involved, a separate form must be completed for each item.

                2. The superintendent of schools will be informed of the request for formal reconsideration.

                3. The school's reconsideration committee will convene to reevaluate the material(s) in question.

6.    Collection Evaluation Policy

7.    Copyright Policy

             i.    Print Items

         The making of single copies of printed material by teachers and students is permitted for research, teaching, or preparation for    

          teaching. Making multiple copies for students is acceptable provided certain tests are met:

    Brevity - How much of the work is being copied. One chapter of a book may be okay, but one page of a poem may be too much.

    Spontaneity - If the decision by a teacher to use a certain work in class is so close to the time it will have to be used that there

    is no reasonable possibility of obtaining permission, then copying is permitted on a one-time basis.

    Cumulative Effect - The copying is not a substitute for the purchase of books and periodicals. The copying will be done on a one-time-only basis.   

         Future uses of that material will require the teacher to obtain permission or to purchase the material.

    ii.    Audiovisual Items

The use of audiovisual materials, video recordings, or television for entertainment or reward is a violation of the Copyright Law unless public

        performance rights were purchased for the program. Under the Fair Use Guidelines, a program can be used for educational purposes without the purchase

        of the public performance rights under certain circumstances:

        The performance must be presented by instructors or pupils; and

   The performance must occur in the course of face-to-face teaching activities; and

   The performance must take place in a classroom or similar place of instruction in a non-profit educational institution; and

   The performance must be of a legally acquired copy of the work.

8.    Circulation Policy

                  -Teachers may check out books or resource materials for 14 days.  Reference materials may be checked out for one day only by teachers.

               -Students may check out 2 books for a two-week period.

                   -Teachers and students may renew materials unless another patron has placed a reserve on the material.

                   -Overdue notices will be provided weekly through the homeroom teachers.

                   -Students may only use reference materials in the media center.

                   -No fines will be charged however, a student will not be allowed to check out or reserve another additional material until the book is returned or  

                 replacement cost is paid.

                                 i.    Access

 

1.    Hours of Operation

    Hours of operation for Thurgood Marshall Middle Library are 7:30 - 3:00 Monday - Friday.

 

2.    School Hours

    The normal school hours for Thurgood Marshall Middle School are 7:10 - 3:15.

 

3.    Extended Service Hours

    Extended service hours do not exist unless otherwise posted by the LMS.

 

                               ii.    Confidentiality of Information/Privacy

                      Use of Thurgood Marshall Middle School's Library Media Center and the materials circulated will maintain privacy of the patron.

 

 

9.    Acceptable Use Policies

                  The library will adhere to the Internet and Technology policies that are issued at the beginning of the school year for all students.  They will only be

               allowed to access the internet and use technology once the county acceptable use policies have been signed and returned.