Albuquerque Public Schools
Selection of Library-Media-Print/Non-Print Material January 2016
Notice: This policy was reviewed, revised, and/or renamed. We provide this revision for historic purposes only. Please see our current policies and procedural directives.
Personnel Involved in the Selection Criteria Process
It is difficult to legally remove materials once they have been placed into the library collection, therefore it is imperative that personnel conducting the selection process exercise quality judgment throughout the process. Materials shall be current and comprehensive, reflective of the student body, representative of current trends in youth and children’s literature, and available in a variety of formats, thus creating a balanced collection.
District library-media staff shall facilitate the selection process. The certified teacher-librarian at each school shall seek input from the school community when selecting materials. The certified teacher-librarian shall use a variety of professional materials to make selections, including reviews, award lists, and current bibliographies, as well as criteria listed below.
When there is no certified teacher-librarian at a school, the principal shall form a committee of certified teachers to work with Library Services to select materials.
The Board of Education provides support in the selection of materials for instruction and assistance to school library-media specialists and District library-media staff through the Board of Education policy on controversial issues.
Selection Criteria
Interrelated criteria for the selection of library-media material, regardless of format, shall be the following:
- Capacity to reach the personal interest level and ability of students.
- Appropriate reading comprehension level for students.
- Age appropriate content.
- Capacity of the material to support the curriculum needs of the school.
- Importance of the subject matter for current or lasting interest.
- Consideration of literary content:
- Quality of the writing;
- Logical development of plot;
- Continuing presentation of concepts or theme throughout the work;
- Careful, consistent development of main theme;
- Strong, realistic characterization;
- Diversity of ideas, perspectives, and cultures;
- The historical or literary significance of the author.
- Physical characteristics of the item(s):
- Appropriate binding and/or packaging of each item;
- Sound is clear and color reproduction is true;
- Appropriate size of print type and quality of paper;
- Equipment is available for use with material when required;
- Ease of access for electronic resources;
- Short and long term compatibility with infrastructure and equipment.
Library-media material shall not be excluded solely because of the race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, nationality, political, or religious view of the author or producer.
Print/non-print material that meets the selection criteria shall not be proscribed or removed from the classroom or library-media center except through the Procedures for Meeting Concerns about Library-Media Print and Non-Print Material. Outdated materials or those in poor condition will be removed.
Selection criteria shall apply to all gifts and donations of library-media materials.
Administrative Position: Chief Academic Officer
Department Director: Director of Library Services
References:
Legal Cross Ref.: §22-15-1 et. seq. NMSA 1978
NMAC 6.75.2
Board Policy Cross Ref.: IH - Instructional Program
IJ – Instructional Resources and Materials
I.09 Teaching about Controversial and Sensitive Issues
Procedural Directive Cross Ref.: Controversial Issues and Outside Speakers
NSBA/NEPN Classification: IJJ
Revised: May 1995
Revised: April 1996
Revised: June 1997
Reviewed: January 13, 2016
Revised: January 15, 2016