Library Selection Policy

SSD School Library Selection Policy and Reconsideration Procedures

Information Sources

ALA Selection & Reconsideration Policy Toolkit for Public, School & Academic Libraries

Senate Bill 25-063

 

Summit School District School Library Selection Policy and Reconsideration Procedures

I. LIBRARY MISSION

The school library operates as an inclusive, student-centered hub within a collaborative learning community, empowering all students and staff to become critical thinkers, skillful researchers, ethical users of information, and enthusiastic, lifelong readers. Through access to a rich and varied collection—spanning print, digital, and multimedia resources—the library enriches and supports the curriculum, nurtures literacy in all forms, and encourages inquiry, informed decision-making, and the exploration of multiple perspectives.

The school library serves as an inclusive, student-centered hub that supports the district's instructional philosophy and Graduate Profile. Through a rich collection of print, digital, and multimedia resources, it fosters inquiry-based, deeper learning and empowers students to become critical thinkers and skilled researchers. The library's programs and collection of materials are intentionally designed to enrich and support the curriculum and build the five Graduate Profile skills.

SSD Libraries Mission Statement:

“Summit School District librarians and libraries energize learners, teachers, and the educational community to deepen learning and critical thinking through inquiry into a wide range of information, experiences, and interests.”

II. SUPPORT FOR INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM

The school libraries in this district are guided by the principles of intellectual freedom as protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, affirmed in Board of Education v. Pico, 457 U.S. 853 (1982), and by Article II, Section 10 of the Colorado Constitution.

III. SELECTION OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the school library collection are:

  • To provide students and faculty with materials that enrich and support the curriculum and meet the needs of the students and faculty served
  • 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
  • To select materials that present various sides of controversial issues, giving students an opportunity to develop analytical skills resulting in informed decisions
  • To select materials in all formats, including up-to-date, high-quality, varied literature to develop and strengthen a love of reading

IV. RESPONSIBILITY FOR SELECTION

The elected Board of Education shall delegate to the superintendent of schools the authority and responsibility for selection of library materials in all formats. Responsibility for actual selection rests with professionally trained personnel using the board’s adopted criteria and procedures. 

V. SELECTION CRITERIA

The following criteria will be used as they apply to guide school library professionals in selection of materials:

  • 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, ability level, 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
  • Provide a global perspective and promote diversity by including materials by authors and illustrators of all cultures
  • 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

VI. ACQUISITION PROCEDURES

  • 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.

VII. 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.

VIII. COLLECTION MAINTENANCE AND WEEDING

Collection maintenance is a continuous and thoughtful process that includes the removal (weeding) of materials based on the following criteria:

  • Poor physical condition
  • Outdated or obsolete content
  • Lack of alignment with current curriculum or student interests
  • Low circulation over an extended period

Routine collection maintenance and weeding does not require the reconsideration process as established in this policy.

IX. RECONSIDERATION OF LIBRARY RESOURCES

A. Guiding Principles for Reconsideration Procedures

The following principles shall guide the reconsideration process:

  • Libraries have diverse materials reflecting differing points of view, and a library's mission is to provide access to information to all users
  • Students have a First Amendment right to read, view, and listen to library resources
  • Any parent or guardian of a student enrolled in the school has the right to express concerns about library resources and expect to have the objection taken seriously in alignment with SSD Policy KEC-Public Concerns Complaints about Instructional Resources
  • A questioned item will be considered in its entirety, not judged solely on portions taken out of context
  • Parents or guardians have the right to guide the reading, viewing, and listening of their children but must give the same right to other parents/guardians
  • Questioned items will remain in circulation during the reconsideration process
  • The reconsideration process should be completed in its entirety and not subverted or ended prematurely, leaving the library open to legal challenge.

B. Statement of Policy

Despite the careful selection of library resources and the qualification of those involved in the selection process, objections to library resources may occur. Any parent or guardian of a student enrolled in the school may express an informal concern or formal request for reconsideration of a library resource.

The school library shall not remove, discontinue, or restrict a library resource as the result of a request for reconsideration until the determination regarding the library resource has been made available to the public.

C. Informal Complaints

Persons with a complaint about library print or digital resources should state their concerns to the school librarian or principal. The librarian or principal will listen attentively to the concerns and attempt to resolve the issue informally.

As part of the discussion, the school employee will explain the library's selection policy, selection criteria, and the selection process.  Our schools serve students and families with diverse beliefs, values, and cultures, and what is appropriate for one family may differ from another. Each parent/guardian has the authority to determine what library resources are appropriate for their own child, while respecting that other families have this same right to make different choices for their children.

If the complaint is not resolved informally, the librarian or principal will explain the formal reconsideration process in alignment with SSD Policy KEC-Public Concerns Complaints about Instructional Resources. The librarian or principal will provide the individual with a copy of the school district's library selection policy with reconsideration procedures and a request for reconsideration of library resources form. If there is concern about multiple items, a separate form must be completed for each item.

All complaints to staff members shall be reported to the building principal, whether received by telephone, letter, or in personal conversation. No library resources should be removed or restricted from use as a result of the informal complaint.

If the completed and signed formal request for reconsideration form has not been received by the principal within two weeks, the matter shall be considered closed.

D. Formal Reconsideration

The following procedures should be followed if, after discussing the questioned resource, no resolution is made:

  1. The complainant should be referred to the principal. Any parent or guardian of a student enrolled in the school may request formal reconsideration of a library material.
  2. A parent/guardian who is dissatisfied with earlier informal discussions will be offered a packet of materials which includes the library's mission statement, selection policy, and a request for reconsideration of library resources form.
  3. The complainant is required to complete and submit the reconsideration form to the principal within ten business days.
  4. If a completed reconsideration form is not submitted within ten business days, the matter is considered closed.
  5. Upon receipt of the form, the principal shall notify and provide a copy of the reconsideration form to:
    1. Superintendent
    2. Reconsideration Committee
    3. School librarian
    4. Teacher librarian
    5. Chief Academic/Transformation Officer
  6. The work in question will remain on library shelves and in circulation until a formal decision is made.
  7. The Reconsideration Committee will be appointed by the principal and consist of:
    1. A teacher from the school
    2. A building level administrator
    3. A teacher librarian 
    4. A reading specialist or language arts teacher
    5. A member of the community
  8. The school district will secure copies of the resource for the committee to review.
  9. The librarian will provide the reviewing committee with a short formal Intellectual Freedom training that explains a packet of materials, which includes the library’s mission statement, selection policy, the Library Bill of Rights, the completed reconsideration form, reviews of the resource being considered, and a list of awards or honors, if any. This packet should be created with assistance from the Colorado State LIbrary and the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom. 
  10. The Reconsideration Committee should schedule a formal reconsideration meeting within 10 school days after the principal receives the written request for reconsideration. The principal shall notify the superintendent and the Chief Academic/Transformation of this schedule.
  11. The Reconsideration Committee shall follow these procedures:
    1. At the initial meeting, the principal and committee will review reconsideration committee guidelines and procedures.
    2. A member of the committee shall keep minutes.
    3. All committee members shall fully read or view the entire work before voting.
    4. The committee reserves the right to use outside expertise if necessary to help in its decision-making process.
    5. The complainant is not a member of the Reconsideration Committee but may make an initial verbal presentation or may choose to share the written form. The complainant is asked to provide sources for quotes used during this presentation.
    6. The complainant may not participate in or observe the committee's deliberations. The committee chair may choose to give committee members time to ask questions.
    7. During the initial or subsequent meetings, the committee will make its decision by the simple majority vote to retain, move the resources to a different level, or remove the resource. This will be a secret ballot vote
    8. The committee's written decision (including a minority report if needed) shall be presented to the complainant, the superintendent of schools, and the Chief Academic/Transformation Officer within five school days after the decision is made.
    9. The written decision, including an explanation of how it aligns with the standards outlined in Subsection (3) of SB25-063, will be made publicly available.
    10. If the complainant is not satisfied with the decision at the school level, a written appeal can be made within 10 school days to the superintendent of schools.
  12. The procedures for an appeal to the Superintendent will be as follows: 
    1. An appeal of the decision made by the Reconsideration Committee must be made in writing to the superintendent within 10 days.
    2. The superintendent or designee will review all materials related to the complaint and initial decision and will make a final decision within 10 days of receiving the written request.
    3. The superintendent’s decision will be final and the school librarian will implement the decision.
    4. The superintendent's written decision shall be presented to the complainant and shared with the Board of Education within five school days after the decision is made.
    5. Decisions on reconsidered materials will apply to all of the associated grade levels and will stand for five years before new requests for reconsideration of those will be considered.
  13.  Request for Reconsideration Form

 

Request for Reconsideration of Library Resources

A digital form for submission is posted on the Summit School District Website and linked here. 

X. PROTECTION OF LIBRARY STAFF

A public school library staff member shall not be subject to termination, demotion, discipline, or retaliation for:

  • Refusing to remove a library resource before it has been reviewed in accordance with this reconsideration policy
  • Making decisions that the school library staff member believes, in good faith, are in accordance with this policy

XI. POLICY AVAILABILITY

This policy and all procedures for the selection and reconsideration of library resources shall be made available to the public both in a conspicuous place within the library and online on the school's website.