1.      Objectives of Library Media Services – The primary objective of a school or district media center is to support, supplement and enrich the educational program. It is the responsibility of each center to provide a wide range of materials on all levels of difficulty, with diversity in learning approach, and the presentation of varying points of view.

 

2.      Library Bill of Rights – The Board of Education for the School District of Omaha endorses the tenets set forth in the American Library Association “Library Bill of Rights” and addresses them to the responsibilities of school library media centers as follows:

 

a)      To provide a comprehensive collection of instructional materials selected in compliance with basic written selection principles, and to provide maximum accessibility to these materials.

b)      To provide materials that will support the curriculum, taking into consideration the individual’s needs, and the varied interests, abilities, socioeconomic backgrounds, and maturity levels of the students served.

c)      To provide materials for teachers and students that will encourage growth in knowledge, and that will develop literary, cultural, and aesthetic appreciation, and ethical standards.

d)     To provide materials which reflect the ideas and beliefs of religious, social, political, historical, and ethnic groups and their contribution to the American and world heritage and culture, thereby enabling students to develop an intellectual integrity in forming judgments.

e)      To provide a written statement, approved by the local Board of Education, of the procedures for the challenge of censorship of materials in school library media centers.

f)       To provide qualified professional personnel to serve teachers and students.

 

3.      Responsibility for Selection of Library Media Materials – The Omaha Board of Education is legally responsible for all matters relating to the operation of the public schools. Responsibility for formulating and implementing practices governing the selection of library media materials is delegated to the professional staff. The selection of materials is assisted by committees involving principals, teachers, supervisors, library media specialists, parents, and students. The responsibility for coordinating the selection of library media materials and making recommendations for purchase rests with the Supervisor of Library Services.

 

4.      School Library Media Center – Needs of the individual school, based on knowledge of the curriculum, the student population, and the existing collection, are given first consideration in selecting materials. Materials for purchase are evaluated on the following criteria:

a)      Educational value and significance to the curriculum and needs of students.

b)      Need and value for a balanced, comprehensive collection.

c)      Reputation and significance of author or producer.

d)     Clarity, adequacy, and scope of text or audiovisual presentation.

e)      Validity, accuracy, objectivity, up-to-datedness, and appropriateness of text or audiovisual presentation.

f)       Logical organization and presentation of contents.

g)      High degree of readability and/or comprehensibility.

h)      High degree of user appeal.

i)        Quality format for general usage.

j)        High degree of artistic quality and/or literary style.

k)      Value commensurate with cost and/or need.

Requests from faculty and students are given consideration by library media specialists with assistance, as needed, from the district level staff.

 

5.      Procedures for Selection – In recommending or selecting materials for purchase, school library media specialists evaluate the existing collection and consult:

a)      Reputable, unbiased, professionally prepared selection aids.

b)      Specialists from various curriculum departments and grade levels.

c)      Materials recommended by the district library media selection committees. Any materials ordered for purchase must be recommended by one or more of the above sources or be approved by the library media staff at the district level.

 

6.      Procedures Relating to Specific Types of Materials – The school library media specialist should use the following guidelines:

a)      Gift materials are accepted or rejected for school use by approved selection standards.

b)      Multiple copies of items in demand may be purchased as needed, up to four items per title.

c)      Serials and periodicals should be examined annually to determine their continued value to the collection.

d)     Full-length feature films (over 60 minutes) are not be purchased for the school library collection unless requested by a Curriculum & Learning supervisor.

 

7.      Criteria for the Weeding of Library Media Materials – In order to maintain an active collection of materials which are useful to students and/or staff, it is necessary to pursue a continuous, effective process of weeding materials. The criteria to determine which materials are suitable for weeding include:

a)      Poor physical condition.

b)      Outdatedness of content.

c)      Lack of student appeal.

d)     Unnecessary duplication of materials.

 

8.      Challenged Materials – Occasional objections to an item may be voiced despite care taken to select materials which are appropriate and valuable for student and/or teacher use. The following procedures have been established for receiving, considering, and acting upon written complaints regarding library media materials at the building level.

a)      When a complaint is received, the principal or library media specialist will acknowledge its receipt and will notify the Supervisor of Library Services. A determination will be made whether the complaint should be considered as an individual request or if a review committee should be activated to reevaluate the material for district-wide use.

b)      All complaints must be presented in writing and must be signed and identified.

c)      The Supervisor of Library Services, acting as the designee of the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Learning, shall direct the reviewing process. The review committee will be made up of members from the elementary review committee or secondary review committee, whichever level is appropriate. Information shall be shared with the Director of Elementary Education or the Director of Secondary Education. The review committee will forward its recommendation to the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Learning.

d)     The use of challenged materials shall not be restricted until final disposition has been made by the appropriate review committee.

e)      In its deliberations, the review committee shall consider the educational philosophy of the school district, including the philosophy of Library Services, reviews of the materials, and the objections of the complainant.

f)       The Supervisor of Library Services will notify interested parties regarding the outcome of the review.

g)      If the action is not satisfactory, the complainant may appeal to the Board of Education.