Library Policy
WCSD BOE Policy towards School Libraries
The Board of Education recognizes that a school library is an essential and integral part of the school system, and shall strive to provide adequate facilities, resources, and personnel for all elementary and secondary students in the public schools of the district.
The legal responsibility for the school library rests with the Board, but the administration and the Board entrust the responsibility of selection, organization and maintenance of library materials to the school librarians.
In the organization of such services, the teaching program and the resources of the school library, as well as in the selection of library personnel, the Board will use the standards suggested for school libraries by the New York State Libraries Association.
The school libraries are to be restricted to the use of district students and school personnel.
The Board of Education, as the governing body of the school district, is legally responsible for the selection of library materials, including the selection and approval of printed and non-printed materials for its use. Since the Board is primarily a policy-making body, it delegates to the following professional personnel of the district the authority for the selection of materials: teachers, Principals, librarians, etc., under the leadership of the Superintendent of Schools.
In order to provide the Superintendent and his/her staff with guidance in the acquisition of instructional resource material, such as library books, references, audiovisuals, maps, etc., the Board endorses the guidelines approved by the American Library Association that such resources:
1. provide materials that will enrich and support the curriculum, taking into consideration the varied interests, abilities, and maturity levels of the students served;
2. provide materials that will stimulate growth in factual knowledge, literary appreciation, aesthetic values, and ethical standards;
3. provide information that will enable students to make intelligent judgments in their daily lives;
4. provide materials on opposing sides of controversial issues so that young citizens may develop under guidance the practice of critical reading and thinking;
5. provide materials representative of the many religious, ethnic, and cultural groups and their contributions to our American heritage; and
6. place principle above personal opinion and reason above prejudice in the selection of materials of the highest quality in order to assure a comprehensive collection appropriate for the users of the library.
The Superintendent shall be responsible for the selection of resource materials within the aforesaid guidelines and for the determination of factual accuracy, readability, authoritativeness, integrity and quality of format. To assist in the selection process, reputable, unbiased professionally prepared aids (such as the Horn Book, School Library Journal, etc.) shall be consulted as guides.
In order to respond to any complaints about, or challenges to, the selection of library materials, the district has adopted regulations (1420-R, Complaints About Curricula or Instructional Materials Regulation) establishing a complaint procedure and providing for a committee to review such complaints or challenges.
If any person wishes to permanently remove materials from a school district library, he/she must seek the formal approval of the Board. The Board may determine that such materials should be removed. Such determination must not be based upon official suppression of ideas, but rather upon the educational suitability of the materials in question. Only the Board and/or the Superintendent may authorize said permanent removal of instructional materials, pursuant to the decision of the Board.
This district supports the following recommendations of the American Library Association:
1. As a responsibility of library service, books and other library materials should be chosen for values of interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community. In no case should library materials be excluded because of the race, gender, nationality or the social, political or religious views of the authors.
2. Libraries should provide books and other materials presenting all points of view concerning the problems and issues of our times; no library materials should be proscribed or removed from libraries because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.
3. Censorship should be challenged by libraries in the maintenance of their responsibility to provide public information and enlightenment.
4. Libraries should cooperate with all persons and groups concerned with resisting abridgment of free expression and free access to ideas.
Hours
Each library in the district will be open for students and staff use on school days during normal school hours. Use after school hours and during vacations will be determined by the librarian and administrator directly involved.
Admission
An open admissions policy shall be followed at all levels, curtailed only by seating capacity.
Fines and Lost Materials
Any user of materials will be expected to pay for lost items and excessive damage with the proviso that a refund will be made if the items are later found. A system of fair and equitable fines will be used.
Circulation
All materials will circulate for various lengths of time depending on their nature and demand.