School district implements new library policy

Crook County School District (CCSD) has updated its policy for evaluating the books that are available in the school libraries.

Recognizing the right of the individual parent to request that their child not read a specific book, the policy sets up a system whereby a book can be challenged and removed, but kept at Central Office to be loaned out with parental permission.

“Community members and staff are still able to challenge books in much the same manner as previously stated in the policy. Book challenges have become popular in some portions of the country so we are working to stay current with our practices,” says Superintendent Mark Broderson. 

“We are still in the business of working in a partnership with parents to provide appropriate materials for students. Parents are the child’s first teacher and they need to have a voice in what they consider to be appropriate for their child.” 

The new policy revamps the review committee that will consider objections made to specific items within the library collection.

“The past policy called for a committee to be established each year for challenged books. This was not practical – since we seldom have challenged books, there was little need to establish a committee each year,” Broderson says. 

“The way the policy now reads, a committee will be established on an as-needed basis when a book is challenged.” 

The new policy alters the standard by which the committee can decide to remove a book.

“It requires a unanimous vote by the Board of Trustees. Previously, the policy called for a majority vote,” Broderson says.

The policy update also addresses the methods by which librarians should review books that are chosen for the library shelves.

“The past policy also requested all controversial books be proof read by the librarian and or staff members. With today’s demands on time and the volume of books available, this is not feasible,” he says. “We now have search filters that will critique books for librarians prior to ordering books, which is more efficient.”

In addition, he says, parents have the option to keep an eye on their child’s reading choices.

“Librarians will also keep a log of books a child checks out for parents to review if they wish to see what types of books their child is reading,” Broderson says.

The new policy was approved last week by the Board of Trustees and becomes effective immediately.

“The Board assumes final responsibility for all books and instructional materials it makes available to students; it holds its professional staff accountable for their proper selection,” states the policy.

“The Board also recognizes the rights of individual parents with respect to controversial materials used by their own children while respecting students’ right to information and the freedom of teachers to teach. The Board also recognizes that no parent, or group of parents, has the right to determine the reading matter for students other than their own children.”

Selecting Books

According to the policy, selecting materials for the library is the responsibility of library personnel and is a cooperative process that should involve staff and students. Teachers are “subject specialists”, it says, with added knowledge of the needs, interests and abilities of their students.

When selecting materials, the policy requires that certain criteria are used: relevancy or permanent value, accuracy, authoritativeness, clear presentation/readability and support from reputable, unbiased review and selection aids.

Factors that should influence selection include school needs, the curriculum, requests from faculty and administrators or students, community interests, providing an objective view of all sides of an issue and the development of a balanced collection.

If a book might be of a “questionable nature”, the policy states that it should be thoroughly researched through reviews from reputable sources, such as School Library Journal and Kirkus Horn Book.

“Sensational books will be avoided, but if limited amounts of profanity or unpleasant incidents are used to portray a way of life or a manner of thinking in a realistic fashion, the value of the book will be given consideration,” the policy states.

“The worth of the book and the contribution it can make to the curriculum and the philosophy of the school will determine whether or not it will be purchased.”

Challenging Books

“The Board recognizes the right of an individual parent to request that his own child not read a given book,” states the policy.

“When such a request is presented, the teacher or school administrator should resolve the situation by arranging for the use of alternative material meeting essentially the same instructional purpose.”

If someone makes an objection to a piece of material from the library, they will be invited to make an official complaint on a prescribed form.

The superintendent will then call together an appointed review committee and distribute copies of the complaint and materials. The committee will include the superintendent, a principal, library personnel, two teachers and two members of the community.

The committee will be asked to read the materials in their entirety and will then act on the complaint and decide whether to withdraw the material from circulation pending their decision.

If the person who complained does not agree with the committee’s decision, the matter will be placed on the agenda for the next meeting of the Board of Trustees.

To remove a book from circulation requires a unanimous vote from the board. All board members must read the material in its entirety.

If the decision is to remove the book from the libraries, it will be made available at Central Office. A student must provide a permission form from their parent or guardian in order to check the book out, at which point it will be transferred to their school.

Library Philosophy

The policy also outlines the philosophy and objectives of the school library system, which begins with enriching and supporting the curriculum. It is the responsibility of the library to provide materials that will stimulate growth in factual knowledge, literary appreciation, aesthetic values and ethical standards as well as provide a background of information that will enable students to make intelligent judgments in their daily lives.

It is also the library’s responsibility to provide materials on opposing sides of controversial issues to help young citizens develop under guidance the practice of critical reading and thinking, provide materials that represent the many religious, ethnic and cultural groups and their contributions to our American heritage and to, “place principle above personal opinion and reason above prejudice in the selection of materials of the highest quality in order to ensure a comprehensive collection appropriate for the users of the library”.

Updating for the Times

The policy update has been ongoing for a couple of months, according to Broderson.

“We regularly review and update policies with many of them requiring an update in language to fit today’s practices with little change in the true meaning. This policy contained some dated practices, so we reviewed the policy and shared it with the board,” he says.

Community members who would be interested in getting involved with the work of the review committee will have the opportunity to volunteer.

“Mr. Wolfskill recently created a team of volunteers throughout the district to provide input on all policies being reviewed for nine weeks. At the end of this nine weeks, the opportunity will be given to a new group of volunteers,” Broderson says.  

“This committee will serve for nine weeks and a new group of volunteers will be selected each quarter. If a community member wishes to volunteer to serve on the policy review committee, they may reach out to Mr. Wolfskill for consideration.”