Westwood Elementary School Library Collection Development Policy

This book selection policy reflects the student/teacher needs for Westwood Elementary School in Fairview, Tennessee.  The Title I school serves approximately 410 students in a mostly blue-collar, middle income, rural/suburban setting.

I.    The purpose of the school library media center is to provide developmentally appropriate instructional materials and recreational materials so that each student has the potential to develop to the best of his or her ability, mentally exploring the widest possible opportunities.  The collection should support the curriculum in all disciplines as well as provide a common body of knowledge.

II.     Selection

A.     Book purchase requests may be made by faculty, parents, or students. The final purchase decision will be made by the library media specialist after consulting a variety of selection aids.

B.     Criteria for selection will be made considering the following questions:

1.      Does the item support the curriculum?

2.      Is it age/developmentally appropriate for the patrons?

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 Will it be outdated quickly?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?

III.   Collection maintenance (weeding)

A.           Materials that have disfigurements beyond repair will be discarded.

B.           Materials that are outdated or obsolete will be removed from the collection.

C.           Materials that are age or developmentally inappropriate will be removed.

IV. Controversial material

A.     Any patron or parent may challenge a selection by completing a “Request for Reevaluating Media Materials” form.

B.     Challenged titles will be reevaluated by a committee composed of parents, teachers, media specialist, and the principal.

C.     The media specialist will be responsible for researching other challenges for the same title.