Library Selection Policy

Library Materials Selection Policy

Our Mission
The mission of the Bess Chin Library is two-fold:
we build and maintain a diverse collection of materials in various media to support the curricular and personal needs of students and staff;
we build and maintain a user community adept at the use and creation of these materials. Specifically we develop users who are information literate, who are independent learners, and who exhibit social responsibility. (Information Power. AASL, 1998)

The Bess Chin Library selects, organizes, preserves and makes available materials that contribute to the cultural, educational, and recreational enrichment of our diverse community. The Library provides information and a public forum for the exchange of ideas, and affirms each individual's freedom to read and access all library materials and use library services.

1. Principles of Selection

"The Board of Trustees endorses the School Library Bill of Rights as drawn by the American Library Association which asserts that the responsibility of the school library is:

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 standards.
To provide background information which will enable students to make intelligent judgments in their daily lives.
To provide materials on opposing sides of controversial issues so that young citizens may develop under guidance the practice of critical reading and thinking.
To provide materials representative of the many religious, ethnic and cultural groups and their contributions to our American heritage.
To place principle above personl opinion and reason above prejudice in the selection of materials of the highest quality in order to assure a comprehensive collection appropriate for the users of the library.

The Library Bill of Rights is interpreted in the ALA's Access to Resources and Services in the School Library Media Center, Diversity in Collection Development, and The Universal Right to Free Expression documents.

The library does not serve as censor of the reading of any member of the community. The library does not endorse opinions expressed in the materials that are stocked. Indeed, since materials often hold diametrically opposite views, this would be impossible.
It should also be recognized that some materials chosen may be offensive to some patrons but may be meaningful and significant to others. Works being considered should be viewed as a whole, not in isolated parts.

2. Selection Criteria

Selection decisions are made on the basis of reviews in the standard review media and other factors, such as collection needs, public demand, community interest, cost, space, and format. Variety and balance of opinion are sought in selection decisions.

1. Books. Books are selected to create a balanced collection that reflects a diversity of subjects and opinions, as specified in Article II of the Library Bill of Rights.
2. Reference Materials. Factors considered in the selection of reference materials are currency of information, authority, reliability, scope, objectivity, arrangement, ease of use, format, cost, community interests, holdings of the Marin County Free Library and other libraries in the Bay Area.
3. Electronic Resources. Electronic resources are evaluated for purchase using the same general criteria as reference materials (see 2.). Other criteria include search capabilities, ease of connection, system compatibility, frequency of updates and the configuration of user licenses. Additional factors for evaluation include whether the electronic resource is unique, a duplication or a supplement to an existing source, and whether the resource will be utilized by the entire school or limited to a single department.
4. Periodicals. Magazines are purchased in accordance with the wide range of interests of patrons and to supplement the book collection. Local and representative national newspapers are purchased within budget and space limitations. Online periodical databases are acquired as funding allows (see 3.).
5. Audio and Visual Media. Materials are considered for purchase on the basis of published reviews and the basic standards of technical quality, timeliness, social significance, and public demand, including formats for the disabled. Materials are purchased in a variety of subject categories.
6. Gifts. The Library's Selection Policy is applied to all gift materials. The Library reserves the right to accept or refuse conditions placed upon gifts of materials or funds.

Special Areas of Purchase. Branches may choose to collect in specific areas of interest to create greater depth of coverage.
In providing materials for student use the library will not purchase multiple copies of individual books or textbooks for school assignments, nor can it duplicate subject materials extensively.
Placement of Materials. Placement of materials within each library is generally based upon assigned classification and appropriate age groupings.
The public has free access to all library materials. Those items which themselves need protection because of rarity, cost, high demand, susceptibility to loss or damage, fragility or format unsuited to heavy use are available on a limited basis.
Patrons can request materials not selected by the library through Inter-Library Loan services.
Deselection criteria. Items are discarded from the collection in accordance with the library's deselection policy.

3. Responsibility for Selection

The ultimate responsibility for selection of materials rests with the Director of County Library Services. (California Education Code Section 19146). The responsibility for selection of books and other materials is shared by every professional member of the staff. All staff recommendations and suggestions from patrons are always welcome and given serious consideration.

DONATED LIBRARY MATERIALS POLICY AND PROCEDURES
The Bessie Chin Library strives to provide a collection of new and classic, exciting and relevant materials which support the curriculum, are age appropriate, and meet the district's curriculum standards.
While there is currently support from both the state and the district for the purchase of materials, the library does welcome donations as long as they meet the criteria outlined below. Materials which are donated but do not meet the following criteria will be given to a non-profit organization for their use or sale. Currently, the Bessie Chin Library gives materials it cannot use to the Hospice of Marin for use in their regular used books sales.

Materials donated to the Bessie Chin Library must meet the same criteria used for selecting all library and instructional meterials as outlined in the Policies and Procedures of the Tamalpais Union High School District.

Other criteria and procedures include the following:

Books which are in poor or damaged condition will not be accepted.

Books which poor quality bindings may or may not be accepted, depending on the condition and the reparability of the binding.

Materials which are accepted will be catalogued into the circulation system and shelved in their regular shelf order. No special collections of donated materials will be created.

If requested by the donor, a book plate may be affixed into donated items citing the name of the donor and/or one in whose memory the item has been donated.

Persons wishing to help with collection development can always make a monetary donation. Checks should be made out to: Redwood High School (with a note in the memo area noting the donation to the library).

Other policies affecting patron use of the library and library materials include: the Internet Policy and the Library Bill of Rights (and associated interpretive documents.)