SELECTION PROCEDURES FOR SCHOOL LIBRARY MATERIALS

I. Selection Objectives

The library collections of King George County Schools are developed to support curriculum goals and to provide for the diverse needs and interests of our students.  Our school libraries endeavor to provide comprehensive, carefully curated collections of current and high-quality materials.

Library materials are defined as all electronic, print, and non-print resources, excluding textbooks, used by students and teachers for the Division’s educational program.

Because school libraries are viewed as places for voluntary inquiry, library materials must be treated differently from instructional materials used in the classroom.   Library media specialists professionally select a wide range of materials with respect to the diverse needs and special interests of their student population; however, the responsibility for students’ reading ultimately rests with their parents or legal guardians.  

II.  Responsibility for Selection

The responsibility for the selection and purchase of all library materials is delegated to the professional library media specialist(s) on staff through the superintendent and school administration.  Selection is based upon evaluation and recommendation by the professional library staff through the consideration of available resources and curriculum needs, and consultation of reputable, professionally prepared reviewing sources.

III. Criteria for Selection

The following general selection criteria will apply to all materials, including electronic, print and non-print resources.

1. Materials should be selected to enrich and support both the curriculum and the personal needs of our students and faculty, taking into consideration diverse interests, abilities, socioeconomic backgrounds, maturity levels, and students’ extracurricular interests.  Materials selected should encourage an appreciation for both informational and recreational reading, viewing, or listening.

1. Library materials shall be appropriate for the subject area and the age, emotional development, ability level, learning style, and social development of the students for whom materials are selected. Policy IIA, in particular,  will be used to help guide selection of materials.

2. Materials should contribute to a breadth and diversity of viewpoints on controversial issues, encouraging individual analysis. Library materials concerning controversial issues should inform rather than influence, contribute to multicultural and pluralistic awareness, and assist in developing students as critical thinkers.

3. The value of any work must be examined as a whole.  The impact of an entire work will be considered, transcending individual words, phrases and incidents.

4. In selecting materials, library media specialists will evaluate available resources and curriculum needs and will consult reputable, professionally prepared aids and other appropriate sources for review of purchased materials.  KGCS librarians use Titlewave to access professional reviews through BookList, School Library Journal, and Kirkus Reviews and consider other resources as needed.

5. When selecting titles using professional reviews, the average recommended age range of students will be considered.  

6. Our objective is to provide quality materials that entertain, interest, educate, and inspire our students.  We recognize that professional reviews can be subjective and use them as a guideline, along with other resources, when selecting books.

7. Non-print materials will be selected to represent the above-mentioned criteria, as well as purchasing materials that are compatible with available technology.

8. Gifted materials will be evaluated by the criteria outlined above and be accepted or rejected in accordance with those criteria.

IV. Weeding / Deselection

Weeding is the removal of materials from a library collection in a systematic and deliberate way.  It is an ongoing part of collection development, a planned and thoughtful action that will ensure library materials are current, enticing, and relevant.

The library’s collection will be continually reevaluated in relation to evolving curriculum, new material formats, new instructional methods, and the current needs of the KGCS community.    Weeding is essential to maintaining a relevant and attractive collection. Lost and worn materials of lasting value should be replaced.

When selecting materials for weeding, several factors must be considered.  Materials may be removed due to the length of time since last checked out, number of circulations, and/or based on the copyright date.  In general, fiction titles that have not circulated for five (5) years will be considered first for the deselection process. Librarians will establish a rotation schedule that allows for systematic weeding over the school year.  

The fiction collection will be reviewed yearly.  Factors such as copyright, content, physical condition and number of circulations will be considered.  Fiction materials will be removed from the collection ten (10) years after copyright date unless other factors apply, such as classics and award winners, titles on current reading lists and/or part of the curriculum, high student interest, and out of print titles that are still useful.  

The nonfiction collection will be reviewed every other year.  Factors such as copyright, relevance and currency of content, and physical condition will be considered. Nonfiction materials will be reviewed for copyright dates based on the following guidelines:  000-200 (2-10 years), 300-700 (5-10 years), 800 (flexible), and 900 (15 years).

V.  Public Review

Parents and members of the community can review all book titles by accessing the online card catalog through each school’s website.

Book purchases will be processed quarterly. Lists will be posted on the first day of each marking period.  Parents and members of the community can review lists of potential book purchases at the middle and high school through the Library tab on each school’s website.  Lists will be posted for fifteen (15) days before orders are processed.

The Community Feedback Form is linked on each potential book purchase list and available through the school’s Library tab as well.  All feedback will be reviewed by the Deputy Superintendent in accordance with Policy KLB.