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District 95 Collection Development Procedure
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Lake Zurich Community Unit School District 95

Collection Development Procedure


Mission

The District 95 Literacy/Learning and Innovation Hubs prepare students for future experiences by empowering every learner to achieve personal excellence through inquiry, creativity, innovation, and global collaboration while providing flexible learning spaces that inspire student self-direction and enrich the reading lives of the school community.

Support for Intellectual Freedom

The school libraries of this district are guided by the principles set forth in the Library Bill of Rights and its interpretative statements, including “Access to Resources and Services in the School Library Program” and The Students’ Right to Read statement of the National Council of Teachers of English. See Appendix B for the Library Bill of Rights and The Students’ Right to Read statement.

Objectives

The educational philosophy of Lake Zurich Community Unit District (CUSD) 95 is reflected in its selection of educational materials. The primary objectives are:

Selection Responsibility

 

The library information specialist may work independently and consult staff, students, other professionals, and community members for their suggestions regarding selection and recommendations. Staff may also be asked to view resources, though the final decision on selection rests with the library information specialist, who can ensure the selection meets the collection needs.

 

Selection is based upon evaluation by:

The collection will be developed systematically, ensuring a well­ balanced coverage of subjects, opinions, and formats and a wide range of materials on various levels of difficulty supporting the diverse interests, needs, and viewpoints of the school community.

Selection Criteria

It is the primary objective of the Literacy/Learning and Innovation Hub is to implement, enrich, and support the school's educational curriculum. Selection emphasis is placed on providing a wide range of fiction and nonfiction materials that promote a lifelong love of reading, support the instructional program, and contribute to the professional goals of its staff. Materials reaching beyond the academic curricula, but meeting the community's cultural, career, recreational, and information needs are also considered. It is the responsibility of the Literacy/Learning and Innovation Hub Specialist to provide a wide range of materials on all levels of difficulty, with the diversity of appeal and the presentation of different points of view. Materials are selected to reflect our diverse community's cultures, beliefs, and viewpoints.

General Criteria:

Selection Procedure

The library information specialist, in conjunction with teachers and administrators, will be responsible for the selection of materials. In coordinating this process, the library information professional will do the following:

 

Review Sources

Tools used in selection include professional journals, trade journals, subject bibliographies, publishers’ promotional materials, and reviews from reputable sources. Suggestions from stakeholders are welcome and provide library information specialists with useful information about interests or needs that may not be adequately met by the collection.

Evaluation

The collection needs to be constantly evaluated to ensure that it meets the needs of its users. In coordinating this process, the library information specialist will do the following:

 

Deselection

In compliance with American Library Association guidelines, the Literacy/Learning and Innovation Hub collection will be continually reevaluated in relation to evolving curriculum, new formats of materials, new instruction methods, and the current needs of its users. Materials no longer appropriate should be removed from the collection. The library information specialist assumes the responsibility for deselection or weeding the collection. Weeding is an ongoing process practiced throughout the year by the library professional staff to make space available for valuable items; to provide a more appealing, up­to­date collection; to make the library easier for patrons to use; and to provide reliable information. Resources will be removed from circulation using the following criteria:

 

Gifts and Donations

Gifts and donations to the Literacy/Learning & Innovation Hubs are accepted with the understanding that the decision for use and disposition of the materials and/or funds will be determined using the same selection criteria as purchased materials. All materials should support the curriculum and needs of library users. Gifts and donations, like purchased resources, will be removed from the collection at the end of their useful life.

Collection Maintenance and Weeding

Annually, the school library media specialist will conduct an inventory of the Literacy/Learning & Innovation Hub collection and equipment. The inventory can be used to determine losses and remove damaged or worn materials which can then be considered for replacement. The inventory can also be used to deselect and remove materials that are no longer relevant to the curriculum or of interest to students.

Guidelines in Weeding Fiction and Nonfiction

Non-Fiction Materials

10 years from copyright date

Exceptions:

  • Science/Technology 3 to 5 years
  • Customs, Travel, Cooking and Folklore - Keep standard works; weed according to use
  • Professional Development texts – Keep volumes related to current district initiatives

Fiction Materials

10 years from copyright date

Replace classics, as new, more attractive editions become available.

Reference 

5 years from copyright date

Almanacs 3 to 5 years

Atlases 3 years

Maps - 3-5 years except historical maps

Special Considerations

Consider keeping:


Lost and Damaged Items

Overdue items should be returned as soon as possible or renewed. Students who have overdue books will receive an overdue notice to remind them to return the book; however, students will not be fined nor limited from checking out additional books. Please note that fees may be assessed for books that are significantly damaged/not returned in their original condition or lost.

Discarding Materials

Items that are discarded because they are worn out, outdated, biased, etc., must be disposed of according to the following procedures. Items that meet district criteria, but are discarded from the library collection because they no longer circulate, may be placed in a classroom for further use by teachers and students.

1. Change home location to Discard/Withdrawn in the library automation system.

2. Remove barcode and spine label

3. Stamp “DISCARD” over the school library stamp.

4. Box the discard materials and label box with school name.

5. Clearly mark the box “Scarce/Recycle” or “Donation”

6. Print a list of the discarded items using the List Item report and place in box(es)

7. Email a copy of the List Item report to the office of Curriculum & Instruction

8. Put in a work order to arrange for transfer of box(es) to the central processing office.

Reevaluation of Materials

Lake Zurich CUSD 95 recognizes the student’s right of free access to many different types of materials. Lake Zurich CUSD 95 also recognizes the right of teachers and administrators to select materials in accord with current trends in education and to make them available in the schools. Once an item has been accepted as qualifying under the selection criteria, it will not be removed at the request of those who disagree with its inclusion unless it can be shown that retention of the item would be a violation of that criteria.

Selection of resources will not be made on the basis of any anticipated approval or disapproval. The choice of library materials is an individual matter. While a person may reject materials for oneself, he or she may not restrict access to those materials by others. Selection will be based solely on the merits of the work as outlined in this document.

Procedures for Reevaluation of Materials

The Literacy/Learning & Innovation Hub subscribes in principle to the philosophy expressed in the American Library Association's Library Bill of Rights, its supporting documents, The Students’ Right to Read statement of the National Council of Teachers of English. See Appendix A for the Library Bill of Rights and Appendix B for The Students’ Right to Read statement.

Copies of these documents are attached as a part of this procedure.

The Literacy/Learning & Innovation Hub also recognizes that occasionally materials selected may be challenged or questioned, despite the care taken in selecting them.  Any resident, employee, or student of the school district may express an informal concern or formal request for Reevaluation of a library resource. A procedure for processing and responding to criticism of approved material has been established and shall be followed. This procedure shall include a formal signed Request for Reevaluation of Library Materials (Form A) and a committee appointed by the curriculum department to reevaluate the material in question.

The following procedures have been established to provide a system for receiving, considering and acting upon complaints regarding instructional materials used by the District:

Informal Reevaluation

Persons with a complaint about library print or digital resources should state their concerns to the school librarian or principal. The librarian and/or principal will listen attentively to the concerns and attempt to resolve the issue informally. As part of the discussion, the school employee will explain the library’s selection procedure, selection criteria, diversity of the collection with resources from many points of view, and the selection process. Additionally, each parent/guardian has the right to determine the appropriateness of library resources for their children and should accord the same right to other families.

If the complaint is not resolved informally, the librarian or principal will explain the formal Reevaluation process and provide the individual with a copy of the school district’s library selection policy with Reevaluation procedures and a Request for Reevaluation of Library Materials (Form A). If there is concern about multiple items, a separate form must be completed for each item. All complaints to staff members shall be reported to the building principal, whether received by telephone, letter, or in personal conversation. No library resources should be removed or restricted from use as a result of the informal complaint.

If the completed and signed formal request for Reevaluation form has not been received by the principal within ten (10) business days, the matter shall be considered closed.

Formal Reevaluation

  1. A complainant can file a formal challenge using a Request for Reevaluation (Form A), provided by the principal.
  2. The completed form must be submitted to the principal within ten (10) business days.
  3. If not submitted within the deadline, the matter is considered closed.
  4. Upon receipt of the form, the principal should notify and provide a copy of the Request for Reevaluation (Form A) to the Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, Director of Innovation, and School Library Media Specialists.
  5. Form B will be shared with every Library Media Specialist within the district to determine the circulation and use of the material.
  6. The work in question will remain in circulation until a formal decision is made.
  7. Professional reviews will be sent to the Reevaluation Committee.
  8. The Request for Reevaluation will be referred to the Reevaluation Committee for reevaluation of the material. The committee will consist of various representatives including district authorities, librarians, teachers, parents, and students (middle or high school level only).
  9. The Reevaluation Committee will schedule a formal Reevaluation meeting within 10 school days after the principal receives the written request for Reevaluation.
  10. The committee will operate under guidelines established for handling the Reevaluation process.
  11. Decisions on reconsidered materials will stand for five (5) years before new requests for reevaluation of those items will be entertained.

Resolution

Within thirty (30) school days, the committee will accomplish the following tasks:

  1. Read the challenged material in its entirety.
  2. Read provided professional reviews of the materials
  3. Read selection policy guidelines
  4. Determine whether challenged material meets selection criteria
  5. During the initial or subsequent meetings, the committee will make its decision determined by the simple majority to retain, move the resources to a different level, or remove the resource.
  6. Submit a recommendation for retaining or removing challenged material via Form C,  which shall be sent to building principals, and Library Media Specialists. The committee's written decision shall be presented to the complainant within five (5) school days after the decision is made.
  7. If the complainant is not satisfied with the decision of the committee, a written appeal can be made within ten (10) school days to the superintendent who will communicate with the Board of Education.

Appeal to the Board of Education

The procedures for an appeal to the Board of Education will be as follows:

  1. An appeal of the decision made by the committee must be made in writing to the Superintendent who will contact the Board of Education within ten (10) days of the Reevaluation Committee decision.
  2. A decision on the complaint will be made at the next regular meeting or special meeting within thirty(30) days of the written request to the superintendent.
  3. The board reserves the right to use outside expertise if necessary to help in its decision making.
  4. The chairperson for the Reevaluation Committee will present the committee's decision to the board.
  5. The complainant or designee will present the petitioner’s position.
  6. The board decision will be final, and the superintendent will implement the decision.
  7. Decisions on reconsidered materials will stand for five (5) years before new requests for Reevaluation of those items will be entertained.


APPENDIX A

Library “Bill of Rights”

 


APPENDIX B

Freedom to Read Statement

 


Reevaluation Committee: Form A

Lake Zurich Community Unit School District 95 Request for Reevaluation of Library Materials

This form is part of the procedure in place for handling challenged or questioned books and/or materials at Lake Zurich Community Unit School District 95. It should be completed in full and submitted to the school's Library Media Specialist. Books and/or materials will only be considered for evaluation once this form has been filled out in full and submitted to the school's Library Media Specialist and building principal.

Name _______________________________________________________________________

Date ________________________________________________________________________
Address _____________________________________________________________________
City  ________________________________________________________________________
State ____ Zip ________________________________________________________________
Phone  ______________________________________________________________________

Request is from:

Organization Name _____________________________________________

Where is this resource located?

___Elementary                ___Middle School                ___High School

  1. Resource on which you are commenting:

_____ Book                                ____ Textbook                                    ____ Video

_____ Display                        ____ Magazine                                    ____ Library Program

_____ Audio Recording                ____ Newspaper                        ____ Electronic Information

_____ Other, please specify: ________________________________

        Title: ___________________________________________________________________

        
        Author/Producer: _________________________________________________________



2. What brought this resource to your attention?


3. Have you examined the entire resource?


4. What concerns you about the resource? Please be specific: cite pages in books, URLs for a website, etc. (Use other side or additional pages if necessary)


5. What do you feel might be the consequence of a student using this resource in a learning context?


6. Are you aware of professional evaluations of this material? (Please list references when possible)



7. What do you believe is the theme of this material?



8. What would you prefer the school do about this material?

        ___ Do not assign or recommend it to my child

        ___ Withdraw it from all students in

                __ Elementary School

                __ Middle School

                __ High School

        ___ Other, please specify: _____________________



9. What other material do you recommend that would convey additional perspectives on the subject treated?

Signature of individual completing form: ____________________________Date:____________

Reevaluation Committee: Form B

To be given to all Library Media Specialists who hold this resource.

To be filled out by the Reevaluation Committee:

Date of Challenge: ____________  Complainant's School: _____________________________

Title of challenged material: ______________________________________________________

 Reasons given: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Library Media Specialist: Please fill out the following information

  1. Reasons for purchasing the resource (Check all that apply)

_____

professional reviews

____

reputation and significance of the author, producer, and publisher

_____

popular subject

_____

validity, currency, and appropriateness of material

_____

student/teacher request

_____

 contribution the material makes to breadth of representative viewpoints on controversial issues

_____

educational significance

_____

high degree of potential user appeal

_____

Contribution the subject matter makes to the curriculum and to the interests of the students

_____

high artistic quality and/or literary style

_____

favorable reviews found in standard selection sources

_____

quality and variety of format

_____

favorable recommendations based on preview and examination of materials by professional personnel

_____

value commensurate with cost and/or need

_____

integrity

_____

timeliness or permanence

2.  How many copies of this resource do you have? ___

3.  Circulation Statistics:

4.   In your opinion, should your Literacy/Learning & Innovation Hub retain this book?                   

Yes                No

Additional Notes:

Library Media Specialist _______________________________________  Date ____________

This form is due to the Director of Innovation and Superintendent by_______.


Reevaluation Committee: Form C

Reevaluation COMMITTEE REPORT

Title: ____________________________________________

Author: __________________________________________

Has every member of the committee read the material entirely?  If not, why?

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

Resources consulted: (include policies, procedures, articles, reviews etc.)

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

After reviewing the material, the committee’s recommendation is to:

𝥷 Retain                 𝥷 Remove

the material from Learning & Innovation Hub at the following levels:

𝥷 Elementary                𝥷 Middle                𝥷 High School

Justification and comments: (include majority and minority positions)

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

Signatures of Reevaluation Committee Members:

 

Date: ______________________

This recommendation should be sent to the Superintendent, Principals and Library Media Specialists.

Revised August 2022