Collection Development Policy – IC Libraries

I. Statement of Policy

The policy of IC Libraries is to provide a wide range of resources, in many formats, at varying levels of difficulty, with wide-ranging appeal and different points of view to meet the needs of students and staff.

II. Objectives of Collection Development

Resources are placed in IC Libraries which:

• provide students and staff with opportunities for research, pleasure reading, and lifelong learning

• support and enrich the curriculum in the three languages of instruction.

III. Responsibility for Selection of Learning Resources

While many people (teachers, students, administrators, advisors, parents, and community figures) may make suggestions for the library collection, responsibility for selection rests with the librarians at each library, in consultation with the Head Librarian. Selection is coordinated through the LMC by means of catalogs and reviewing tools. Librarians are expected to work with Department Heads and teachers when making selections that support the curriculum. Suggestions from students are encouraged at all levels.

 IV. Criteria for Selection of Library Resources

• Library resources support the educational goals of IC.
• Library resources enrich the curriculum of IC and the personal needs of users.
• Library resources are consistently high in quality when judged by artistic merit and/or literary style, authority, accuracy, currency, physical format, and readability.
• Library resources are appropriate to the subject areas, emotional development, reading ability, learning styles, and social development of students.
• Library resources are free of bias and stereotype.
• Library resources reflect the pluralistic nature of society.
• Library resources on controversial subjects represent a variety of points of view.
• Library resources are cost effective in terms of use.

 V. Procedures for Selection of Library Resources

• When selecting library resources, library professional staff will consult reputable guides to collection development (available at the LMC) and current reviews from professional journals (both print and online). 
• Teachers, administrators, students, and parents should be involved in collection development whenever it is appropriate.
• Gift materials are judged by normal selection criteria and retained or rejected on the basis of these criteria. Donors will be asked what they wish done with items which are rejected (e.g., recycle or return to donor). Donations which are accepted are given a special label inside the book acknowledging the donor.
• Selection is a continuous process, and one which requires “de-selection” or weeding of materials which no longer fit the selection criteria. Worn out or lost items which still meet the criteria are replaced. IC Libraries follows the CREW method of weeding library collections (Continuous Review, Evaluation and Weeding). Weeding is carried out by professional staff according to clear CREW guidelines. Ultimate responsibility for weeding decisions rests with the Head Librarian. When weeding Arabic materials, which are the most difficult resources to collect, professional staff are asked to proceed carefully and consult with all teachers who work in Arabic.
• Weeded materials are either recycled or donated to impoverished schools.

 VI. Procedures for Dealing with Challenged Materials

Any parent, student or employee of IC may challenge materials held by IC libraries.

 INFORMAL RESOLUTION

When a complaint is received, the Head Librarian will endeavor to deal with the challenge informally. A quick resolution may be found if the material is examined and judged to be inappropriate. In this case, the item in question may be moved to another IC library. However, if the item is considered appropriate, the Head Librarian must review the Collection Development Policy of IC Libraries with the challenger and explain how the item fulfills an educational use in that library. If the challenger still wishes to have the item removed, a formal challenge process must be followed.

 FORMAL RESOLUTION (BOOK CHALLENGE)

Though commonly called a “book challenge”, any item within any IC library may be challenged. If someone wishes to pursue a formal challenge, the following procedure is followed:

1) The challenger is asked to write a formal letter to the Head Librarian. He or she will be asked to include:

a) his or her name, address, phone number, the date.

b) whether or not they represent themselves or an organization

c) what book or other material they object to

d) the reasons behind the request for reconsideration of this item

e) whether or not they have read the entire book

f) whether or not they have read a review of this book

2) A Book Challenge Committee shall be struck which includes at least one parent, one student, one graduate, one administrator, one teacher, and one librarian.

3) A formal hearing of the challenged item will be set within two weeks of receipt of a complaint.

4) ALA guidelines for the reconsideration of library material will be followed:

a) During the first meeting, committee members will be asked to read, view, or listen to the challenged material, if possible in its entirety.

b) At this meeting, the Selection Development Policy of IC Libraries will be reviewed.

c) A date will be set for the hearing within the next two weeks.

d) The hearing will be publicized so that any interested parties can attend.

e) Committee members will be asked to check reviews and recommended lists during the interim, if at all possible.

f) The hearing will be held to discuss the challenge.

g) At this hearing, the committee members will be asked to voice their considered opinions.

h) Comments and questions will be invited from the audience.

i) A vote will be taken for the removal, retention, or replacement of the item in question.

j) The Head Librarian will write a report on the decision of the Book Challenge  Committee, sending copies to the challenger and the committee members.

IC Libraries held a formal book challenge hearing on February 12, 2001. This file should be used as a model for any future challenges to library materials. Whenever possible, people who have already served on a challenge committee should be asked to serve as committee members.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

• Any parent, student, or employee of IC may challenge a library resource.
• The Selection Development Policy should be reviewed and approved every year by the Head Librarian in consultation with the Library Committee.
• No parent has the right to determine what IC students read, other than his or her own children.
• IC Libraries support the following documents from the American Library Association: Library Bill of Rights, Access to Resources and Services in the School Library Media Program: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights, and the American Library Association Code of Ethics, all of which are attached to this document.
• Access to challenged material is not restricted during the reconsideration process.
• The most important criterion for the committee’s final decision is the appropriateness of the item for its intended educational use.
• A decision to remove an item does not necessarily imply a criticism of the professional library staff.