Archmere Academy Library Process Manual: Material Selection Policy

SELECTION RESPONSIBILITY

The head librarian is responsible for the selection of materials. Materials are chosen by the librarian with assistance provided by faculty, staff, and students.

SELECTION TOOLS

The following selection lists and reviewing media will be consulted in the selection of materials; selection is not limited to their listings. Selection will be based on at least one positive review.

• Booklist
• School Library Journal
• VOYA – Voice of Youth Advocates
• Follett TITLEWAVE
• We Need Diverse Books website
• Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Best Books for Young Adults
• Various Young Adults awards lists, e.g. The Coretta Scott King Award, the Michael L. Printz Award, The Stonewall Award, the Alex Award, and others.

SELECTION OF MATERIALS ON CONTROVERSIAL TOPICS

The Archmere Academy Library and administration subscribes to the principles expressed in the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights. It is the responsibility of the school to provide a wide range of materials on different levels of difficulty and representing different points of view. School library professional staff will provide materials on opposing viewpoints on controversial issues to enable students to develop necessary critical thinking skills to be discriminate users of information and productive members of society.

GENERAL SELECTION CRITERIA

Materials selected, purchased, loaned, or donated to Archmere Academy Library will be reviewed by the following criteria:
 

• Support and enrich the curriculum (Appendix A) and/or students’ personal interests and learning.
• Be appropriate for the subject area and for the age and social, emotional, and intellectual development of the students for whom the materials are selected.
• Incorporate accurate and authentic factual content from authoritative sources.
• Earn favorable reviews in standard reviewing sources and/or favorable recommendations based on preview and examination of materials by professional personnel.
• Represent differing viewpoints on controversial issues.
• Provide a global perspective and promote diversity by including materials by authors and illustrators of all cultures.
• Include a variety of resources in physical and virtual formats including print and non-print such as electronic and multimedia (including subscription databases and other online products, e-books, and other forms of emerging technologies).
• In selecting learning resources, professional personnel will evaluate available resources and curriculum needs and will consult reputable, professionally prepared aids to selection, and other appropriate sources (See SELECTION TOOLS). The actual resource will be examined whenever possible.

• Recommendations for purchase involve administrators, teachers, and students, as appropriate.
• Selection is an ongoing process that should include removing materials that are no longer used or needed, adding materials, and replacing lost and worn materials that still have educational value (refer to Collection Maintenance and Weeding).