Bucknor, Kristian / Library Policy

WCSD Library Policy

WCSD Library Policy

The Board of Education recognizes that a school library is an essential and

integral part of the school system, and shall strive to provide adequate

facilities, resources, and personnel for all elementary and secondary

students in the public schools of the district.

The legal responsibility for the school library rests with the Board, but

the administration and the Board entrust the responsibility of selection,

organization and maintenance of library materials to the school librarians.

In the organization of such services, the teaching program and the resources

of the school library, as well as in the selection of library personnel, the

Board will use the standards suggested for school libraries by the New York

State Libraries Association.

The school libraries are to be restricted to the use of district students

and school personnel.

The Board of Education, as the governing body of the school district, is

legally responsible for the selection of library materials, including the

selection and approval of printed and non-printed materials for its use.

Since the Board is primarily a policy-making body, it delegates to the

following professional personnel of the district the authority for the

selection of materials: teachers, Principals, librarians, etc., under the

leadership of the Superintendent of Schools.

In order to provide the Superintendent and his/her staff with guidance in

the acquisition of instructional resource material, such as library books,

references, audiovisuals, maps, etc., the Board endorses the guidelines

approved by the American Library Association that such resources:

1. provide materials that will enrich and support the curriculum, taking

into consideration the varied interests, abilities, and maturity levels of

the students served;

2. provide materials that will stimulate growth in factual knowledge,

literary appreciation, aesthetic values, and ethical standards;

3. provide information that will enable students to make intelligent

judgments in their daily lives;

4. provide materials on opposing sides of controversial issues so that young

citizens may develop under guidance the practice of critical reading and

thinking;

5. provide materials representative of the many religious, ethnic, and

cultural groups and their contributions to our American heritage; and

6. place principle above personal 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 Superintendent shall be responsible for the selection of resource

materials within the aforesaid guidelines and for the determination of

factual accuracy, readability, authoritativeness, integrity and quality of

format. To assist in the selection process, reputable, unbiased

professionally prepared aids (such as the Horn Book, School Library Journal,

etc.) shall be consulted as guides.

In order to respond to any complaints about, or challenges to, the selection

of library materials, the district has adopted regulations (1420-R,

Complaints About Curricula or Instructional Materials Regulation)

establishing a complaint procedure and providing for a committee to review

such complaints or challenges.

If any person wishes to permanently remove materials from a school district

library, he/she must seek the formal approval of the Board. The Board may

determine that such materials should be removed. Such determination must not

be based upon official suppression of ideas, but rather upon the educational

suitability of the materials in question. Only the Board and/or the

Superintendent may authorize said permanent removal of instructional

materials, pursuant to the decision of the Board.

This district supports the following recommendations of the American Library

Association:

1. As a responsibility of library service, books and other library materials

should be chosen for values of interest, information, and enlightenment of

all people of the community. In no case should library materials be excluded

because of the race, gender, nationality or the social, political or

religious views of the authors.

2. Libraries should provide books and other materials presenting all points

of view concerning the problems and issues of our times; no library

materials should be proscribed or removed from libraries because of partisan

or doctrinal disapproval.

3. Censorship should be challenged by libraries in the maintenance of their

responsibility to provide public information and enlightenment.

4. Libraries should cooperate with all persons and groups concerned with

resisting abridgment of free expression and free access to ideas.

Hours

Each library in the district will be open for students and staff use on

school days during normal school hours. Use after school hours and during

vacations will be determined by the librarian and administrator directly

involved.

Admission

An open admissions policy shall be followed at all levels, curtailed only by

seating capacity.

Fines and Lost Materials

Any user of materials will be expected to pay for lost items and excessive

damage with the provision that a refund will be made if the items are later

found. A system of fair and equitable fines will be used.

Circulation

All materials will circulate for various lengths of time depending on their

nature and demand.

-- Wappingers Central School District Board of Education