Frenchtown Library Media Center
Collection Development Policy
Mission
The mission of the Frenchtown School Library Media Center is to provide
materials and services that support and enrich the school curriculum and
stimulate the children's interests and appreciation for reading and learning.
The Library serves as an information and educational resource for the school.
The Library Media Center strives to support the mission of the school and to
provide a safe, caring environment where quality educational opportunities
are available for all students.
Current Collection
The current collection consists of over 10,000 books, as well as
educational videos available to teachers for circulation. The collection
includes picture books, easy readers, transitional chapter books, fiction in
hard cover and paperback, non-fiction, professional books, children's
periodicals and non-circulating reference material.
Collection Maintenance
As the collection ages, periodic weeding of outdated material and material in
poor physical condition will maintain the quality of the collection. Weeding
will be facilitated by the computerized cataloging system used in the LMC.
Obsolete material can be quickly identified and evaluated for weeding. The
Sunlink website (www.sunlink.ucf.edu/weed) also provides suggestions and
guidelines useful to the weeding process. Materials identified for discard
are first made available to classroom teachers and then are given to
disadvantaged organizations.
Controversial Materials
Parents, staff and other members of the Frenchtown community may object to
some of the material selected for inclusion in the collection. These
objections will be addressed by the Library Media Specialist, the Principal
and, if necessary, the Superintendent of Schools. In compliance with the
Board of Education policy I/IIA, a Request for Reconsideration form should
be completed and submitted to the Principal. Copies of the form are available
in the Library Media Center.
Gift Policy
The Frenchtown Library Media Center accepts gifts from the community that are
consistent with the collection development policy. Material submitted as a
gift is subject to the same standards for inclusion and weeding as are
purchased materials.
POLICIES FOR SELECTION
Responsibility
The professional library staff is responsible for selection of library
materials based on staff recommendations and requirements and direction and
guidance from the administration and the curriculum department.
General Criteria
Replacements for worn, damaged, or missing materials basic to the collection
will be purchased, as funds are available. New material that will maintain
the high quality of the current collection will be selected. Standards for
selection include:
a.educational significance
b.physical format
c.presentation, including special features, such as indexes, table of
contents, illustrations, photographs, maps, charts, graphs
d.readability
e.authenticity/accuracy in factual content
f.artistic quality or literary style
g.technical production/construction that is well crafted, durable,
manageable, and attractive
h.cost
i.literary excellence
In addition, the following resources are used in the selection of materials:
Booklist
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Elementary School Library Collections
Horn Book
Kirkus Reviews
Library Journal
New York Times Book Review
School Library Journal
Award listings (e.g. Nutmeg, Orbis Pictus, Caldecott)
Specific Collection Development Policies
Picture Books: Newly published titles are selected based on favorable
reviews and teacher requests. Multiple copies of standard and popular titles
will be collected when possible
Easy Readers: Multiple copies of popular titles are required. Worn or dated
books will be replaced.
Transitional Chapter Books" Multiple copies of popular series in hardcover
and paperback will be included when possible.
General Fiction: Fiction is selected based on age appropriate content and
illustrations, with an emphasis on critically acclaimed materials highlighted
by awards and reviews. Selections in this collection include classics
and "modern" classics that will be replaced as needed. Mysteries, fantasy,
science fiction, and ghost stories will all be added to the collection.
Multiple paperback copies of all titles on the Nutmeg Children's Book Award
list and other popular titles will be purchased.
Periodical: Subscriptions to popular, educational children's periodicals
will be maintained.
Non-Fiction: Selection of non-fiction titles is driven primarily by the
curriculum. Materials are selected with an understanding of reading levels,
timeliness of the data, appropriateness and relevancy of the subject to the
curriculum, quality of the illustrations and durability of the book itself.
There is a heavy demand for biographies in all grades since students study
explorers, scientists, athletes and historical figures. This collection will
be developed and kept current as titles become available.
Reference: Reference materials are selected based on favorable reviews in
addition to cost, content, currency and ease of use. The current year Almanac
and a new set of general encyclopedias will be purchased regularly.
Professional Books: A non-fiction collection available for staff-only will
continue to be developed based on the needs of the staff.
Other - A variety of videos and CD-ROM products in support of the curriculum
will be selected based on recommendations from review sources and
supplemental value to the collection.
