Policy: IFA
Selection of Instructional Material
The Superintendent or designee shall establish procedures
for selection of materials for classrooms and classroom libraries.
Selection of materials purchased by the Converse Free Library,
which operates as both the town’s and school’s
library, follows the Collection Development Policy adopted
by the Library Board.
School Selection of Textbooks and Classroom Collections
Materials for classrooms and classroom libraries shall be
recommended by the appropriate professional personnel in consultation
with administration. Textbooks must meet the goals of the
curriculum and, wherever possible, must be acquired as part
of a content team decision. Final decision on all material
purchases shall rest with the School Board.
Student Access to Lyme Town Library Books and Materials
The Lyme School has a long-standing and unique relationship
with Lyme’s town library, the Converse Free Library.
The town library also serves as the school library and as
a result Lyme students have access to library materials (which
have been purchased by the library according to the library’s
Collection Development Policy) via (1) temporary classroom
collections of library materials (for example, books made
available for specific units of study), (2) the “free
choice” bookshelves located in the school lobby, and
(3) regularly scheduled class library time. While the school
library coordinator oversees the selection of books for temporary
classroom collections and for the school lobby’s free
choice shelves, the selection and purchase of those materials
falls under the jurisdiction of the public library. Students’
choice of books from the library shelves during school time
is governed by the American Library Association’s Library
Bill of Rights (appended).
Objections to Materials
Objections to instructional materials or to library materials
accessed by students during school time or on school grounds
shall be reviewed in accordance with the following procedures.
Note that objections to materials purchased by the school
for classroom use need not involve town library personnel,
whereas objections to library materials used by students (as
outlined in Student Access to Lyme Town Library Books and
Materials, above) would involve both school and library personnel.
All objections must be made in writing to the Principal (with
a copy sent to the Superintendent), who will respond to the
complaint within 10 days.
If objections remain, the Principal will appoint a review
committee, which may include teachers, the town librarian,
the school library coordinator, an administrator, and members
of the community. Within a period of 30 days, the review committee
shall:
read and examine the materials referred to in the objection;
evaluate the acceptability of the materials referred to in
the objection by reading reviews and consulting other relevant
resources;
evaluate the materials as a whole and not passages of the
materials out of context;
meet to discuss the materials and to prepare a decision regarding
the objection;
file a copy of the decision in the school and with the Superintendent;
provide an opportunity to appeal the decision to the Superintendent
(within 10 days);
provide an opportunity to appeal the decision to the School
Board (within 30 days).
Revised: November 1999
Revised: July 1998
Revised: June 18, 2009
ADOPTED: 16 January 1974
REVIEWED: 24 August 2000, July 2004
REVISED: July 1998, November 1999, June 18, 2009, December
17, 2009
Library Bill of Rights
The American Library Association affirms that all libraries
are forums for
information and ideas, and that the following basic policies
should guide
their services.
I. Books and other library resources should be provided for
the
interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of
the
community the library serves. Materials should not be
excluded because of the origin, background, or views of
those contributing to their creation.
II. Libraries should provide materials and information
presenting all points of view on current and historical issues.
Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of
partisan or doctrinal disapproval.
III. Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment
of
their responsibility to provide information and
enlightenment.
IV. Libraries should cooperate with all persons and groups
concerned with resisting abridgment of free expression and
free access to ideas.
V. A person’s right to use a library should not be denied
or
abridged because of origin, age, background, or views.
VI. Libraries which make exhibit spaces and meeting rooms
available to the public they serve should make such facilities
available on an equitable basis, regardless of the beliefs
or
affiliations of individuals or groups requesting their use.
Adopted June 18, 1948.
Amended February 2, 1961; June 28, 1967; and January 23, 1980,
inclusion of “age” reaffirmed January 23, 1996,
by the ALA Council.
