1.             School Library Media Center Mission Statement

 

The mission of the library media program is to ensure that every individual has access to needed information at the time needed and in a format the individual can utilize, through provision of library andinformation services.

 

     • All individuals have equal access to libraries information services

 

• Instruction in information use is available to all

 

• Library media center collections are developed, managed, and preserved to provide access for users to the full range of available knowledge and information.

 

 

 

2.    Selection Policy

 

 

 

Statement of Policy

 

The primary objective of the school’s library/media center is to implement, enrich, and support the educational program of the Coosada. We believe the purpose of education is to help all students acquire the skills, understandings, and attitudes that will promote sound character, responsible citizenship, intellectual proficiency, and personal fulfillment in our ever-changing society. Materials selected for the library/media center shall support this purpose.

 

 

 

 Objectives of Selection

 

• Will introduce students and teachers to information literacy by integrating lessons such as copyright, bibliographic formats, Internet evaluation, etc. into library lessons and workshops.

   

• Will include programming that will make reading fun for both students and teachers.

   

• Will maintain an updated schedule/calendar for teachers to consult when planning lessons.

   

• Will use the suggestions of peers, teachers, administration, and other various selection tools (including state standards and district curriculum maps) to select materials that are appropriate to the curriculum of the school. Will also use these suggestions to purchase materials that make reading fun and enjoyable for the learning community.

   

• Will provide professional materials to help teachers plan lessons that are appropriate to the curriculum of the school.

   

3.    Collection Development Policy

 

  Criteria for Selection

 

-      To provide materials that will enrich and support the curriculum, taking into consideration the varied interests, abilities, and maturity levels of the students 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 lives.

 

 

 

-      To provide materials on opposing sides of controversial issues so that young citizens may develop 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.

 

 

 

-      To place principles above personal opinion and reason above prejudice in selection of materials of the highest quality in order to assure a comprehensive collection appropriate to the users of the libraries/media centers.

 

 

 

  Procedures for Selection

 

 

 

  Material Organization and Maintenance

 

1.  Weeding

 

In order to maintain a collection that meets the needs of the learning community, weeding is essential. LMC weeding guidelines should include the rationale and established criteria for weeding. Items that are weeded should be disposed of as indicated in the system library media policy and procedures manual.

 

The Texas State Library’s Crew method, MUSTIE, is a good tool to use for weeding. The following standards are used to discard an item:

 

• M = Misleading; factually inaccurate

 

• U = Ugly; book is worn and torn, in disrepair

 

• S = Superseded by a new edition (almanacs, etc.)

 

• T = Trivial; of no real discernable value

 

• I = Irrelevant to the needs and interests of your community

 

• E = Elsewhere available

 

1.  Inventory

 

Inventory is used for the following purposes:

 

§ assist in collection development and facilities planning

 

§ identify items that should be repaired, replaced, or removed

 

§ identify loss

 

§ have records for emergencies

 

§ have records for budget justification

 

§ make more effective use of facilities as a whole

 

Inventory will be held once per year.

 

4.    Acquisition Policy

 

 Gift Books and Book Fair and Other “Free” Books

 

 The Library accepts donations of books and materials from students, staff, and the community, but does not guarantee that donations will be cataloged and processed into the collection. County guidelines will be used to determine if the item will be added to the collection.

 

 

 

5.    Reconsideration and/or Challenge Policy

 

 i.    Citizen Complaint Form

 

REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION

 

NOTE: No materials will be reviewed until the entire form is completed.

 

 PLEASE PRINT:

 

Initiated by ____________________________________________________________ Telephone_________________ Address___________________________________

 

Teacher ___________ Parent__________ Other___________

 

 

 

Representing:

 

 Self _______________ Organization_____________________________________________

 

 (Identify Please)

 

 Materials Questioned: (Check the type of material)

 

Book: Author_______________________________ Title________________________________

 

__________________________________________ Copyright date_______________

 

AV Material: Kind of Media _________________________________________

 

(Videos, CD’s, audiocassettes, etc.) Title__________________________________________________________________

 

1. Did you read or view the entire material? _____________________________ If not, what parts? ___________________________________________________________________

 

2. What reviews of this material have you read?______________________________________________________________________ 

 

3. To what do you object? Please be specific.__________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

 

 

 

6. For what age group would you recommend this material?_________________________________  

 

7. What are the good points of this material? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 FORM: Page 1 of 1 (Revised November, 2000)

 

 

 

 ii.    Reconsideration Panel or Committee

 

 Appoint a County reconsideration committee including the following membership as appropriate:

 

• One member of ECBOE Central Office staff chosen by the Superintendent,

 

 • One member of the school teaching staff chosen by the school staff;

 

 • One member of the ECBOE media center professional staff;

 

 • Two parents whose students attend the school,

 

 • Two students chosen by the principal (optional),

 

 • A school administrator.

 

iii.    Material Review Process

 

Purchases are based on school needs and are decided with input from school staff, students and the school media committee.

 

 

 

 

 

 iv.    Procedure for Handling Complaints

 

Complaints will be directed to follow the procedures located in the counties policy and procedures manual.

 

 

 

 v.    Statement of Responsibility

 

The principles of freedom to read, see, and hear are the professional responsibility of the staff and must be defended, rather than the material. This procedure is for the purpose of considering the opinions of those persons in the schools and community who are not directly involved in the selection process.

 

 

 

6.    Collection Evaluation Policy

 

                   Through periodic and yearly evaluation of the collection by weeding and performing an inventory will ensure an up-to-date collection.

 

 

 

7.    Copyright Policy

 

It is the policy of the Coosada Elementary School Media Center to adhere to existing copyright laws and maintain ethical standards in the use of copyrighted materials for instructional purposes. We support the laws as defined by the courts and the Alabama State Board of Education as summarized in the publication “The Copyright Law and its Implications" (August 1985). A copyright workshop at the beginning of each school year for the CES staff will be held

 

 

 

 i.    Print Items

 

 ii.    Audiovisual Items and Electronic Items

 

Teachers may check out as many materials as needed. Creating book baskets that you rotate in and out of your classroom library is encouraged! Teachers may check out any materials including equipment and audiovisuals. Teachers may set their own due dates. However, if the materials are needed, the teachers will be notified to return the needed materials. Students who are sent to check out materials in a teacher's name must have a signed request from that teacher before the materials may be checked out in the teacher's name. 

 

 

 

iv.    Periodicals and Newspapers

 

These items are used only in the library. They are not allowed to be checked out by anyone.

 

 

 

 

 

8.    Circulation Policy

 

 i.    Access

 

Coosada’s media center operates on a fixed and flexible schedule that allows all students to access reading materials and computers. Classes have fixed schedules on Monday through Thursday. Flexible time and small group is offered when classes are not scheduled. The schedule allows for planned large and small group activities. Classes will be made up on Fridays due only due to holidays. The flexible time can be used to conduct a special class or for a guest speaker. A notebook is located near the exit door to sign-up a week prior to the activity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.  Hours of Operation

 

The media center will be open from 8:00- 2:30. Students may visit the center throughout the day to return and check out books.

 

 

 

2.  School Hours

 

Coosada’s hours are from 7:15-3:00 daily.

 

 

 

3.  Extended Service Hours

 

The media center doesn’t offer extended hours for students but the LMC is opened to faculty until 3:15.

 

                              

 

        ii.    Confidentiality of Information/Privacy

 

     To protect the policies of the media center and the patrons of the    library provides permission forms are kept on file in the center. If additional forms are needed you may ask the staff. The back of the form deals with mature content books. This form is to make parents aware that there may be literature in the media center that they find too mature for their children. The letter “M” on the spine will indicate mature content books. The county policy states that students do not read books more than two years above the students’ current grade.

 

9.    Acceptable Use Policies

 

 i.    Internet and Technology

 

 

 

We expect you to have consideration for the personal and material rights of others. In other words, bullying others, destroying property, and stealing from others are totally unacceptable behaviors. In order to apply this to ElmoreNET, we need only remember that information is a form of property, and electronic mail (E-mail) is a form of speech. In this light, it should be clear that electronic mail couldn’t be used to harass others. It should also be obvious that obtaining a password or rights of another’s directory or E-mail on the network is a form of theft just as real as using a stolen key to enter someone’s room. Taking advantage of a student who inadvertently leaves a computer without logging out is no different from entering an unlocked room and stealing, reading a personal letter, or destroying their property. The rules of conduct concerning the use of electronic mail require some special attention. Elmore County Public Schools treats electronic mail similar to ordinary paper mail. We respect the entire Elmore County Public Schools community to respect the privacy of E-mail messages – both for students and faculty. No one will read personal mail unless the recipient gives permission. On the other hand, the recipient of an E-mail message may choose to share it with others. As a matter of manners, one should not, however, share an E-mail message with a wider audience unless the author has agreed. Similarly, the contents of one’s files on the network will be considered private. Elmore County Public Schools reserve the right to inspect user directories and/or e-mail. “Junk mail” or other nuisance electronic mail should be deleted and not re-sent to other members of the Elmore County Public Schools community.

 

                    

 

Book Donation Criteria:

 

            The following criteria are used in evaluating a book donation:

 

 

 

1. In general, is it appropriate for a community college library?

 

 

 

2. Is the level of difficulty appropriate for the students we serve?

 

 

 

3. Does it have a place in the curriculum and the courses taught here?

 

 

 

4. Is the material in the book current and useful, or is it dated?

 

 

 

5. Do we already have the book?  Do we need additional copies?

 

 

 

6. Is it a paperback book or a hard cover book?

 

 

 

7. Is it a spiral binding?   Is it in 3-ring binder format?

 

 

 

8. Is it a textbook?

 

 

 

9. Is it clean, free of mold, dirt, etc.?

 

 

 

10. Is it free of markings, underlining, highlighting, etc.?  Are there handwritten notes in the margins, etc.?

 

 

 

11. Is it in good physical condition, or are there loose pages, missing pages, etc.?

 

 

 

Books that are not accepted for inclusion in the collection will be given to the Friends of the Elmore County Library for sale.