Snow Canyon Middle

 

Snow Canyon Middle School

The Libraries, in carrying out their collection development activities, adhere to the principles expressed in the following statements from the American Library Association's Library Bill of Rights:

"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."

Service Parameters

Snow Canyon Middle School (SCMS) is located in Southern Utah.  SCMS serves a student body of approximately 800 students in grades 8-9. There are approximately forty teachers and ten paraprofessional staff members.

 

Mission Statement

The mission of the SCMS library media center program is to ensure that students and staff are effective users of ideas and information. Further, we:

• believe that every student can learn.
• deliver effective information skills instruction through librarian/teacher collaboration.
• support the aims and objectives of the curriculum.
• support reading and reading development.
• integrate technology into the curriculum.
• inform students, staff, parents, and the community of the library's programs.

Role of the Library Media Center Program

The library media program is a center of instruction and inter-disciplinary curriculum support for SCMS. The program will:

• ensure fair and equitable access.
• promote flexible scheduling.
• develop lessons and collections in cooperation with other faculty members.
• meet a variety of learning needs.
• present diverse points of view.
• promote intellectual freedom.
• demonstrate optimal professional standards.
• participate in professional development and training.

 

 

Library/Teacher Collaboration

In order to meet student and teacher needs, the library media program will collaborate regularly with all teachers on media center based lessons and activities. The media center will aim to collect materials and resources to support collaboration. The purpose is to:

• teach information literacy skills.
• integrate technology into lessons.
• promote thematic, real world, and critical thinking activities.
• promote excellence in the use of the media center.

General Collection Development

The core collection consists of a range of age and development appropriate fiction and non-fiction information resources. The core collection should reflect both truth and art and:

• present different points of view to promote critical thinking.
• meet the needs of different learning styles.
• support the Utah State Core.
• display quality in content and appearance.
• replace lost or missing items or add to an established series or favorite author.
• exhibit interesting, challenging, and current titles.

General Guidelines for Selection

Materials selected for inclusion into the SCMS library's collection should reflect the mission statement and:

• be accurate, current, and authoritative.
• be of authentic quality.
• be age appropriate and reading level appropriate.
• reflect a diverse culture free of stereotypes.
• provide different points of view.
• be of optimal educational value.
• meet the needs of different learning styles.
• be in alignment with curriculum needs and standards.
• encourage life-long love of reading and learning.
• cover a range of formats with an emphasis on print.
• support school-wide reading programs and reading development.
• include high interest, low level reading material.
• provide resources to support instruction.
• further the professional development of the staff.

Selection Guidelines in Individual Formats

All formats must conform to the aforementioned selection guidelines. In addition, the following attributes are desirable. The Librarian should make full use of selection tools.

 

Books:

• two reviews from approved selection aid.
• support reading programs and a range of reading levels.
• reflect recommended reading lists. .
• illustrations should be clear and convey meaning.

Newspapers:

• local newspapers should be available for perusal.
• at least one national and international newspaper should be available through any medium.
• reflect an unbiased account of the news and editorials should be clearly identified as such.

Periodicals:

• Magazines should encourage leisure reading.
• Other periodicals should be available via an electronic database for research.
• Should be age-appropriate and have a recommendation from an authoritative source.

Comic books and graphic novels:

• provide age-appropriate palatable reading material.
• encourage reluctant readers.
• promote leisure reading.
• present excellence in illustration and story.
• refrain from gratuitous accounts of violence and inappropriate behavior.

Slides:

• should be of optimal photographic quality.
• contrast and sharpness of the image and its color or grey-scale should provide a clear, easily projected image.

Films & Videos:

• should reflect non-stereotyped and multicultural points of view.
• should be in alignment with the curriculum.
• picture quality should enhance meaning.
• color, sharpness and contrast of images must create a quality visual image.

Pictures:

• should be complete and tidy.
• should meet high standards of pictorial quality and demonstrate intellectual and educational value.

Audio:

• works of classical, artistic, and historical music are desirable.
• should have optimal audio clarity demonstrative of overall artistic merit.
• audio books should be of sound literary value.
• audio books should conform to the standards for print books.

Online:

• Internet is a source of information subject to the same general selection guidelines.
• filtering will be challenged when erroneously deselecting quality Web sites.
• sites of particular educational interest and of lasting appeal will be added to the collection.

Musical scores:

• reflect the needs of the music curriculum specifically.
• should be durable and easy to read.

Maps:

• should be legible and stand up to regular use.
• should cover a range of geographical and historical purposes.

Government documents:

• selected from recognized sources.
• should fit easily into the curriculum-enriched collection.

CD-ROM and laser disks:

• paossess indexing utilities that enable the user to access a particular point of interest.
• have good multimedia aspects that enhance meaning.
• present information in a clear and understandable format that provides instruction.
• have bibilographic links to further study.

Realia:

• should stand up to handling.
• be functional and durable and reflect an educational purpose.

Games/toys

• have high educational value.
• should be complete and durable.
• should instruct and encourage group work.
• toys should be easy to clean and maintain.
• toys should be bright, interesting, and present a challenge.

Software, databases, and electronic resources:

• should be utilitarian in nature.
• contain features like help files, indexing, and searching facilities.
• be interactive and functional.
• should conform to copyright or licensing requirements.
• have a teacher's or user's guide.
• have an 800 number technical support facility.

Responsibility for Collection Development

• The Washington County School Board has the ultimate say on what is appropriate for the library's collection.
• The school principal will carry out the guidelines for learning resources in the school.
• It is expected that the school library media specialist will use professional judgment and expertise to select material appropriate in level and scope.
• A consideration file is available to take suggestions from students, parents, and staff.

Selection Tools

The following selection tools may be used to make informed judgments about collection development.

Reviews: School Library Journal, Booklist, Library Journal, The Book Report, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, National Council for the Social Studies, National Science Teachers Association, National Council of Teachers of English, Media & Methods, International Society for Technology in Education.

Guides: Best Books for Young Adult Readers, Best Books for Junior High, Young Adult Reader's Adviser, Books in Print, Reading in Series, Guide to Multicultural Resources, Books by African-American Authors and Illustrators for Children and Young Adults, Magazines for Young People, Magazines for Kids & Teens!

Reading Lists: Accelerated Reader,  NCTE, Book Forum, BookPage

Awards: Newbery, Caldecott, Coretta Scott King, ALA Best Books for Young Adults, Beehive Book, Nobel Prize for Literature, Notable Children's Trade Books.

Testimonials: recommendations from well-known authors, educators, professionals, parents, students, etc.

Vendors

The following list comprises a list of regularly used vendors. Other vendors exist, and at time it may be more expedient to use other sources.

 

Perma-Bound:	617 E. Vandalia Rd.
	Jacksonville, IL 62650-3599 Tel: 217-243-5451 Fax: 217-245-2105 E-mail: perma-bound@worldnet.att.net Web site: www.perma-bound.com
Follett	1340 Ridgeview Drive
	McHenry, Illinois 60050 Tel: 888-511-5114 Fax: 800-852-5458 Customer Service: 800-435-6170 Web site: flr.follett.com
Scholastic	Clinton County Industrial Park
	100 Plaza Drive, 4th Floor Secaucus, NJ 07094 Tel: 1-800-SCHOLASTIC www.scholastic.com
Highsmith	W5527 Highway 106
	PO Box 800 Fort Atkinson, WE 53538-0800 Tel: 800-558-3899 Fax: 800-835-2329 Web site:www.highsmith.com
EBSCO	PO Box 1943
	Birmingham, AL 35201-1943 Tel: 205-991-6600 Fax: 205-995-1636 Web site:www.ebsco.com

 

Methodology for Collection Evaluation

Collection evaluation is an ongoing process. Note the following before beginning an evaluation:

• Purpose of the evaluation.
• Individual objectives.
• Evaluation tool should match need.
• Evaluate the collection often.
• Compile results neatly and legibly and retain for future reference.

 

Weeding and Deselection

Deselection of materials is a natural part of the library's life cycle. Materials ripe for deselection are those that:

• no longer meet curriculum needs.
• are beyond reasonable repair.
• are inaccurate or inappropriate.
• are obsolete.
• are unused or unnecessary volumes or sets.
•  

Decision process for deselection includes:

• collection analysis
• valuation of the title's worthiness
• historical importance
• availability of more appropriate or accurate material on the same subject
• use of volume
• physical condition
• curriculum worthiness.

Deselected books may be offered to other teachers, libraries, groups, individuals, or for sale to benefit the library funds. Deselected books should be clearly marked as discarded or withdrawn.

 

Preservation of the Collection

Reasonable care should be taken to ensure optimal environmental conditions for materials.

• Store away from direct heat and light.
• Shelve comfortably in an upright position where possible.
• Store in a climate-controlled environment when possible, routinely avoiding extremes.
• Handle with respect and care.

 

Repair and Replacement

Print:
Where possible, repair may be carried out in the media center. Good quality vinyl non-acidic tape and library glue may be used with expert care and attention. Paper dust jackets should be laminated and attached firmly to the book to prevent damage.

Non-print:
Equipment should be cleaned and maintained regularly to prevent damage to materials. A damaged resource may be repaired if this is deemed possible to bring it back to selection quality.

Censorship and legal issues

SCMS library carries out the policy of the Washington County School Board with regard to censorship, intellectual freedom and copyright.

Intellectual Freedom

In accordance with the US Constitution and the policy of the Washington County School Board, the Library Media Center supports Intellectual Freedom. The library has adopted the American Association of School Librarian's interpretation of the American Library Association's Bill of Rights. In selection of resources and access to information, the library strives to:

• Allow access to information from diverse points of view.
• Present materials that are unbiased.
• Select materials according to collection development policy.
• uphold the First Amendment rights of all citizens.

Acceptable Use of the Internet

The Internet is a wealthy source of reference information and is an acceptable method of electronic transfer of information as required by state educational guidelines. Students and staff must take care to use the Internet with the highest level of responsibility conforming to the Acceptable Use guidelines posted in the media center and available on the Washington County School District website.

Copyright

It is the intention of the library to adhere to the copyright laws. In order to prevent infractions of the US Code, the following guidelines have been developed:

• School employees must conform to the Copyright Act of 1976, Title 17 of the US Code.
• School employees must also conform to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, 1998.
• Illegal copies may not be made or used on school equipment.
• The school principal is responsible for establishing policies that enforce this policy.
• Washington County School District is responsible for enforcing and upholding copyright laws and policies.