The Congressional Schools of Virginia Library Media Program Collection Development Policy and Procedures

The mission of the Congressional Schools Library Program:

The mission of the school library program is to ensure that students and staff are effective users and producers of ideas and information. The school librarian empowers students to be critical thinkers, enthusiastic readers, skillful researchers, and ethical users of information. This mission statement addresses Standards for the 21st Century Learner.

Objectives: The goals of the library media program are: 1. To teach students to access, evaluate, and use information. 2. To collaborate with teachers in order to connect lessons to curriculum content. 2. To maintain a well-balanced collection of media appropriate to the needs of the school. 3. To provide assistance in locating and using instructional materials. 4. To promote instruction in information literacy to students and faculty. 5. To provide instructional materials that will stimulate growth in factual knowledge and literary appreciation. 6. To manage a planned program and a welcoming environment. Media Staff: Jessica Samowitz Volunteers: Volunteers are always welcome (and strongly needed!) in the media center! Please call or stop by and visit if you are interested.

Circulation: During the school day, Lower School classes visit the library for stories and library and information literacy lessons. Fifth and Sixth graders visit the library every other week during their advisory times. Seventh and eighth graders visit the library on a flexible schedule for book checkout, silent reading, and research.
In the Lower School, books may be checked out for one week. Middle school students may check books out for two weeks. All books may be renewed. Students in grades 2 8 may check out magazines. The table below shows the grade level and number of books that a student can have checked out at one time. First Grade Second Grade Third Grade Fourth Grade Fifth - Eighth Grade 3 Books 4 Books 4 Books 5 Books 6 Books

Books must be checked out before they can be removed from the library. Books should be returned or renewed by the due date. Students with overdue books will not be allowed to check out that number of books.

Students are responsible for the care of library materials they check out. The borrower will be charged a replacement fee for any books not returned to the library or damaged beyond repair. Overdue notices will be sent home with students on a monthly basis.

The Early Childhood library is open during the school day for staff and students to use. PreK, JrK and SrK students visit the library on Mondays and Fridays depending on their scheduled class time. Each preschool student can select one book which will be kept in the classroom for a one week period. JrK and SrK hear several stories and then have the opportunity to check out books to take home. JrK and SrK students are allowed to check out books for one week from Friday to Friday. JrK SrK 1 Book 2 Books

Media Center Behavior: Students are expected to respect themselves, others, and property in the library just as they are throughout the school.

Acceptable Use Policy: The computers and the Sharp Board in the library are provided in order to enrich and support the educational program of the school. The computers and the Sharp Board should therefore be used for educational purposes. Students are not allowed to use computers for activities unrelated to the school program. Web surfing, the use of social networking websites (unless specified by a teacher), and non-educational games are prohibited.

Selection Policy: The Congressional Schools of Virginia Library Media Program strives to provide students and staff with materials that will enrich and support the educational program of the school. Selection of materials for the library media program is the responsibility of the library staff. It is the responsibility of the library media program to provide a wide range of materials on different levels of difficulty, with diversity of appeal, and representing different points of view. The inclusion of any item in a collection does not necessarily mean that the media program or school advocates or endorses the contents of that item. Criteria for selection and will be made considering the following: 1. Does the item support the schools mission? 2. Is it age/developmentally appropriate for the students? 3. Is the material timely? Will it be outdated quickly? 4. Is the material accurate? Is it written or edited by an authority on this subject? 5. Is the scope of the material adequate? Are there views not represented? 6. Is the material visually pleasing and readable? Are the illustrations supportive of the text? 7. Are there user aids such as a bibliography, glossary, or index? 8. Is the current collection already heavy in this area? 9. Will the material be widely used? 10. Has the material been reviewed by reliable sources, such as School Library Journal, Booklist, Kirkus Review, or Horn Book?

Criteria for weeding will be made using the CREW method and considering the following: Is the material Misleading (and/or factually inaccurate) Ugly (worn beyond mending or rebinding) Superseded (by a truly new edition or by a much better book/online resource on the subject) Trivial (of no discernible literary or scientific merit; usually of ephemeral interest at some point in the past) Irrelevant to the needs and interests of the community The material or information may be obtained expeditiously Elsewhere through interlibrary loan, reciprocal borrowing, or in electronic format. Materials in the collection will be weeded on a continuous basis. Gifts: Criteria for inclusion and weeding of gifts or donated materials are the same as for purchased materials. If a material that was given as a gift is chosen for weeding, the person who presented the gift will be notified. Request for Media Center Purchases: Because the library program strives to support the curriculum needs of its users, staff members are strongly encouraged to take an active role in media center purchases. Requests for purchases are always welcome. Repairing and Replacing Materials:
Repairs are made when materials, which are still current, can be restored adequately to keep them in circulation. Lost or damaged materials are replaced when the items are still vital to the curriculum and educational needs of students.

Management: Library materials are circulated using the automation program Destiny, which is a part of the Follett Library Management System. The program is web-based and is therefore accessible throughout the building and from home. Titlewave is a program used to analyze the library media programs collection of materials and determine what materials need to be weeded. Request for Reconsideration of Library Materials: The school library media specialist is responsible for selection and evaluation of library resources. As previously stated in the selection policy, it is the responsibility of the library media program to provide a wide range of materials on different levels of difficulty, with diversity of appeal, and representing different points of view. The inclusion of any item in a collection does not necessarily mean that the media program or school advocates or endorses the contents of that item. If you wish to request reconsideration of library resources, please speak to Ms. Samowitz and return the completed form to her. Administrators within the school will be notified of and shown any requests for reconsideration.

Request for Reconsideration Form: Name ___________________________ Date ___________________________ Phone ___________________________ Do you represent self? ____ Organization?__________________________ 1. Resource on which you are commenting: ____ Book ____ DVD ____ Display ____ Magazine ____ CD ____ 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 (use other side or additional pages if necessary)?

5. Are there resource(s) you suggest to provide additional information and/or other viewpoints on this topic?

Revised by the American Library Association Intellectual Freedom Committee

Research Model: The AGOPPE research model will be used in The Congressional School of Virginias library media program. A: Ask Questions G: Gather Information O: Organize Information P: Prepare and Produce P: Present E: Evaluate/Reflect Copyright: Students must give credit to authors when gathering information from books, magazines, computer programs, databases, or from websites. Students must re-write information in their own words. Plagiarism, the act of stealing and passing off the ideas or words of another person as your own, is illegal and is not tolerated at The Congressional Schools of Virginia. To learn more about copyright visit: Copyright Kids. Intellectual Freedom: "Intellectual freedom can exist only where two essential conditions are met: first, that all individuals have the right to hold any belief on any subject and to convey their ideas in any form they deem appropriate, and second, that society makes an equal commitment to the right of unrestricted access to information and ideas regardless of the communication medium used, the content of work, and the viewpoints of both the author and the receiver of information." Intellectual Freedom Manual, 7th edition Library Bill of Rights: I. Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation. Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval. Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment. Libraries should cooperate with all persons and groups concerned with resisting abridgment of free expression and free access to ideas. A persons right to use a library should not be denied or abridged because of origin, age, background, or views. Libraries which make exhibit spaces and meeting rooms available to the public they serve should make such facilities available on an equitable basis, regardless of the beliefs or affiliations of individuals or groups requesting their use.

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