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.
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.
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:
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:
|
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
Resolution
Within thirty (30) school days, the committee will accomplish the following tasks:
Appeal to the Board of Education
The procedures for an appeal to the Board of Education will be as follows:
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
_____ 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
_____ | 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 CTitle: ____________________________________________
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