Wolcott High School Library Resource Center

Policy on Selection of Instructional Materials

(Other than textbooks or workbooks)

All instructional materials selected for the Wolcott High School Library Resource Center, (other than textbooks and work books) shall be selected by the Library Resource Center Staff. The selection of materials shall be made in cooperation with, and input from the members of the professional staff of Wolcott High School.

The Library Resource Center staff shall be responsible for ordering, cataloging, storage and distribution of the instructional materials.

It is the policy of the Wolcott High School Resource Center to select materials in accordance with the School Library Bill of rights drawn up by the American Library Association. The School Library Bill of Rights asserts that the responsibility of the School Library media Center is:

To provide materials that will enrich and support the curriculum, taking into consideration the varied interests, abilities and maturity levels of the pupils served.

To provide materials that will stimulate growth in factual knowledge, literary appreciation, aesthetic values and ethical standards.

To provide a background of information which will enable students to make intelligent judgments in their daily life.

To provide materials on opposing sides of controversial issues so that students may develop the practice of critical reading and thinking.

To provide materials representative of the many religious, ethnic and cultural groups and their contributions to our American heritage.

To place principle above personal opinion and reason above prejudice in the selection of material of the highest quality in order to assure a comprehensive collection appropriate to the users of the Library Resource Center.

The following criteria shall be used for selection of instructional materials by the Library Resource Center staff and the Professional Staff of Wolcott High School.

1.  Two basic factors, truth and art, shall be considered in the selection of materials. The first, is factual accuracy, authenticity, balance and integrity. The second is a quality of stimulating presentation, imagination, vision, creativeness, style, vitality and distinction.

2. Consideration shall be given to the technical quality of the material, and the appropriateness of the medium for the use intended.

3.    Gifts of instructional materials to Wolcott High School shall be accepted only on the condition they are found to meet the above criteria in all respects. Gifts to the school may be accepted only with the understanding that the disposition of such gifts becomes the prerogative of the Wolcott High School Library Media Staff.

Complaint Procedures

Despite the care taken to select worthwhile materials, occasional objections may arise. The following complaint procedures have been established to give the opportunity to resolve these conflicts.

1.    The complainant will identify themselves /and the specific nature of the complaint.

2.    The complainant will dialog with the Director of the Wolcott High School Library Resource Center seeking resolution of the issue.

3.    The complainant will file, failing satisfactory resolution of the issue with the Wolcott

High School Library Resource Center Director, a formal written complaint on the form entitled, “Request for Reconsideration of Materials.”

4.    The building principal will seek resolution of the formal complaint with the complainant and the Director of the Wolcott High School Library Resource Center.

5.    If the issue remains unresolved, the building principal will submit the written complaint and his/her recommendations to the Superintendent of Schools.

6.    Within 14 days of receiving the written complaint, and the building principle’s recommendation, the Superintendent will render a disposition in writing to the parties involved in the complaint.

7.    Complainant or educators desiring to appeal the Superintendent’s disposition to the Board of Education must do so within 30 days of the date on which the complainant was rendered the Superintendent’s disposition.