EWSD Vision and Theory of Action

Vision: Growing hearts and minds for a better today and tomorrow: every day, every way, every one.

Theory of Action: When we deepen our commitment to each other and to continuous growth for everyone, then our practices create equitable, authentic, inclusive learning experiences that benefit all students. 

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The EWSD school libraries strive to be radically inclusive spaces that provide resources that disrupt the status quo by creating a diverse collection created by BIPOC authors and artists that speak to a culturally and racially diverse audience.

Supporting Intellectual Freedom

The school libraries of this district are guided by the principles set forth in the Library Bill of Rights and its interpretative statements, including “Access to Resources and Services in the School Library Program” and  The Students’ Right to Read statement of the National Council of Teachers of English. See Appendix (in this procedure) for the Library Bill of Rights, “Access to Resources and Services in the School Library Program,” and  The Students’ Right to Read statement.

Objectives

• To provide faculty and students with materials that enrich and support the curriculum and meet the needs of students and faculty, including those who are part of historically marginalized communities
• To provide students with a wide range of educational materials on all levels of difficulty and in a variety of formats, with diversity of appeal, allowing for the presentation of many different points of view, and to also provide an abundance of materials written by and for members of the BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, ability diverse, ethnically and linguistically diverse communities as well as representation of historically underrepresented communities
• To select materials that present various sides of controversial issues, giving students an opportunity to develop analytical skills resulting in informed decisions, while also eradicating hate speech in all its forms, raising awareness of bias and assuring that harm is not done to those who have been historically marginalized by the white majority
• To select materials in all formats, including up-to-date, high quality literature to develop and strengthen a love of reading, including works by historically marginalized individuals and groups

Responsibility for Selection

The authority and responsibility for selection of library materials in all formats rests with the professionally trained library personnel using this set of selection criteria and procedures.

Selection Criteria

General Criteria:

• Support and enrich the curriculum and/or students’ personal interests and learning
• Meet high standards in literary, artistic, and aesthetic quality; technical aspects; and physical format
• Be appropriate for the subject area and for the age, emotional development, ability level, learning styles, and social, emotional, and intellectual development of the students for whom the materials are selected
• Incorporate accurate and authentic factual content from authoritative sources
• Earn favorable reviews in standard reviewing sources and/or favorable recommendations based on preview and examination of materials by professional personnel
• Exhibit a high degree of potential user appeal and interest
• Represent differing viewpoints on controversial issues, while rejecting hate speech and words and ideas that further harm historically marginalized communities
• Provide a global perspective and promote diversity and inclusion by increasing/expanding  materials  written and created by BIPOC and LQBTQ authors and illustrators 
• Include a variety of resources in physical and virtual formats including print and non-print such as electronic and multimedia (including subscription databases and other online products, e-books, educational games, and other forms of emerging technologies)
• Demonstrate physical format, appearance, and durability suitable to their intended use
• Balance cost with need

Top Five Recommended School Library Reviewing Sources:

• Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) Notable Children’s Books
• Booklist
• School Library Journal
• We Need Diverse Books website
• Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Best Books for Young Adults

Acquisitions Policies

• In selecting learning resources, professional personnel will evaluate available resources and curriculum needs and will consult reputable, professionally prepared aids to selection, and other appropriate sources. The actual resource will be examined whenever possible.
• Recommendations for purchase involve administrators, teachers, students, district personnel, and community members, as appropriate.
• Gift materials shall be judged by the selection criteria and shall be accepted or rejected by those criteria.
• Selection is an ongoing process that should include removing materials that are no longer used or needed, adding materials, and replacing lost and worn materials that still have educational value.

Gifts and Donations

Gifts and donations to the school library are accepted with the understanding that the decision for use and disposition of the materials and/or funds will be determined using the same selection criteria as purchased materials. All materials should support the curriculum and needs of library users. Gifts and donations, like purchased resources, will be removed from the collection at the end of their useful life.

Collection Maintenance and Weeding

Annually, the school librarian will conduct an inventory of the school library collection and equipment. The inventory can be used to determine losses and remove damaged or worn materials which can then be considered for replacement. The inventory can also be used to deselect and remove materials that are no longer relevant to the curriculum or of interest to students. Additionally, school librarians should develop a collection maintenance plan that includes systematic inspection of materials that would result in weeding outdated, damaged, or irrelevant materials from the collection.

Reconsideration

Despite the careful selection of library resources and the qualification of those involved in the selection process, objections to library resources that are deemed offensive or inappropriate may occur. Any resident, employee, or student of the school district may express an informal concern or formal request for reconsideration of a library resource. A request for reconsideration must be submitted to both the librarian and school principal, using the formal reconsideration form.

For a copy of the Request for Reconsideration Form, please contact your school librarian and/or school principal.

Appendix

• Library Bill of Rights

• Access to Resources and Services in the School Library: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights

• The Freedom to Read Statement

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