JEFFERSON MIDDLE SCHOOL LIBRARY

Collection Development Policy

Mission Statement

The mission of the Champaign Unit #4 School District, in partnership with the community, is to guide all students in gaining knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to direct their lives, improve a diverse society, and excel in a changing world by providing dynamic, resource-rich learning environments and experiences in which people and lifelong learning are valued.
 

Target Audience

Jefferson Middle School Library serves nearly 800 sixth, seventh and eighth-grade students from a variety of backgrounds.  According to the 2020 Illinois School Report Card, the ethnic and racial backgrounds of the students are 32% White, 37% Black, 14% Hispanic, 9% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander and 0.1% Native American, and 8% two or more races.  The low-income rate at Jefferson is 63% and 9% of the students are identified as English Learners. 
 

Library Mission Statement

The mission of the library media program is to ensure that students and staff are effective users of ideas and information..  

This mission is accomplished by:

• Providing intellectual and physical access to materials in all formats.

• Providing instruction to foster competence and stimulate interest in reading, viewing, and using information and ideas.

• Working with other educators to design learning strategies to meet the needs of individual students.

 

BACKGROUND STATEMENT

The Jefferson Middle School Library serves the staff and students of Jefferson Middle School.  The library participates in Inter-Library Loan throughout the district.   The collection development policy will be updated by the librarian as needed but at least every two years. 
 

PROGRAM AND PATRON NEEDS:
 

SELECTION RESPONSIBILITY

The Jefferson Middle School Librarian is responsible for the selection of materials with oversight by the building principal.  
All library materials shall be chosen by the librarian in cooperation with staff and students. 
 

Criteria for Selection
Materials selected for inclusion shall include the following:

• Materials selected shall support the curriculum and meet the educational and emotional needs of all students.

• Materials shall meet the highest criteria in the following:

     *physical format
     *treatment of subject
    *accuracy and currency of information

     *arrangement and organization

     *literacy style

  

• Materials shall be appropriate for the age and emotional development of Jefferson’s students.

• Materials shall represent differing viewpoints.

• The librarian will purchase multiple copies of popular titles based on student demand or if a title is on the Golden Jaguar Book Award Nominee list.

COLLECTION INFORMATION:

The Jefferson library will submit the library’s collection for analysis using Follett’s Titlewave at least once per quarter and will do an extensive analysis using Resource Alignment every five years.  

The librarian will collect a variety of fiction and non-fiction books at the sixth through eighth-grade levels.  In addition, the librarian will select books at lower and higher reading levels that meet the needs and interests of our special education and gifted students.  

Fiction needs include but are not limited to: 

·         realistic fiction

·         mystery

·         adventure

·         horror

·         sports

·         fantasy

·         science fiction

·         graphic novels

·         short stories

 

Non-fiction needs include but are not limited to:

• support social studies, math, science, art, and music curriculum

• provide basic information on a variety of additional topics

• an array of biographies

• a broad collection of general encyclopedias and reference materials.

Selection Tools

The librarian will use the following resources to aid in selection:

   §  School Library Journal

   §  Bulletin of The Center for Children’s Books

   §  YA Literature Blogs

   §  Award Lists (ALA, National Book Award, etc)

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The librarian will also consider recommendations from staff and students.
 

ELECTRONIC RESOURCES

The library will provide internet access to information beyond the confines of the collection.  The library’s website will include links to various resources to support and enhance classroom curriculum.  

The library will provide access to eBooks using Destiny Discover and WorldBook Online. 

The internet is ever-changing and unpredictable.  Due to the library’s limitations, the user is responsible for selecting and using resources that are accurate, valid and appropriate. The librarian will instruct students on the evaluation of websites and online information.

The librarian will conduct instruction of using various reader’s advisory databases and websites during library check out.

 

PRESERVATION

The library will make every effort to control temperature and humidity the library as supported by the district.  
All paperback books with contact paper prior to circulation.  
Every effort will be made to repair damaged books (broken binding or lose pages) before discarding.  If a book cannot be repaired than library will replace any damaged book that is in high demand by students.  
The librarian will conduct mini-lessons for students on the care and handling of materials at least twice each year.  
The librarian will refer to ALA’s Disaster Response fact sheet in case of an emergency.

 

GIFTS

The Jefferson Middle School Library welcomes gifts.  The librarian will use the selection criteria listed above to determine whether the book will be added to the library’s collection.  Books not selected for submission will be donated the Champaign Public Library for use in their book sale.   The library does not appraise gifts for tax or estate purposes.  Each title donated to the Jefferson Library will include a book plaque on the inside front cover of the book indicating the person or family that made the donation.  

  

DESELECTION

The Jefferson Library understands the importance of maintaining a current and useful collection. With this in mind, there will be times when books will need to be removed from the collection.  The collection will be monitored continuously for damaged or worn books that need to be removed and replaced.  The collection will be analyzed using Resource Alignment: Providing Curriculum Support in the School Library Media Center by Karen R. Lowe every five years to target weeding of each Dewey area. 

The librarian will use the following criteria to when deselecting:

• Physical Condition

• Last date of circulation (five years except for classic works of fiction)

• Duplicates

• Timeliness (out-of-date materials, lack of demand, old edition)
   

INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM

The Jefferson Library upholds the American Library Association’s Bill of Rights and the American Library Association’s Freedom to Read but understands there may be cases when materials may be questioned.  In this case the library will follow Champaign Unit 4 district policy 645.07 as follows:
 

Challenged Materials

Despite the care taken to choose valuable materials for student and teacher use, occasional objections to a selection may be made by the public.  When objections are raised, the following procedures are to be followed: 

    1.  Citizens of the school community who register a complaint about material with the building librarian or principal are to be given the “Request for Reconsideration of Library Media Center Materials” form. 

    2.  The complaint shall be referred to a standing committee composed of:

        a. One high school teacher

        b. One middle school teacher

        c.  One elementary school teacher

        d.  One librarian/media specialist

        e.  One building administrator

        f.   Two high school students (nominated by respective student      
            government body)

        g. Two parent representatives (selected by the PTA council)

        h. Assistant Superintendent for Support Services

     3. The committee may call in representative persons who might bring
       particular knowledge and competencies to bear on the specific
       complaint.

     4. The Standing Committee will be responsible for:

        a. Examining the material referred to it as a whole, not passages pulled
          out of context.

        b. Checking recognized selection aids for evaluation of materials.

        c. Weighing strengths and weaknesses and forming opinions based on
          selection criteria and relevance to curriculum.

        d. Meeting to discuss the materials and prepare a report

        e. Notifying complainant of the decision and sending a formal report and
          recommendation to the school principal and the Superintendent.

     5. The Superintendent shall forward the committee’s report and the
       complaint to the Board of Education for final disposition.

     6. The material may remain in use pending the committee’s recommendation
       and Board action.

     7. An appeal may be made to the Board of Education in the event that

        complainant is not satisfied with the decision of the committee.

     8. No decision in regard to the removal of any challenged library materials

        may be made without the approval of the Board of Education.

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Updated September 14, 2021