Books are selected for the Spartan Library by student request, best seller lists, other librarian suggestions and librarian choice. Public written reviews help guide the selection of books, as well as looking at what other similar schools in our district have on their shelves. Books with graphic sexual scenes, adult content or other objectionable content is not purchased for the library. However, being sensitive to the wide variety of students we have in our school, books are chosen to appeal to diverse students. Students are taught that if a book is objectionable to them they should stop reading, shut the book and return it to the library. We realize that not all books are for all students.
CHALLENGED LIBRARY MATERIAL PROCEDURES A parent desiring action beyond restricting their own child's access to a particular book or material contained in the library media center of the school his/her child attends may challenge the placement of the item through the Challenge of Library Media Materials process.
SCHOOL LEVEL CHALLENGE
1. The parent must submit a completed School Level Challenge of Library Media Materials Form to the school’s library media professional. The Form may be obtained from the school's library professional or from the district website.
2. Upon receipt of the completed Form, the library professional will notify the District Supervisor of the request and call a meeting of the Collection Evaluation Committee (“School Committee”) to introduce the request.
3. The material in question will remain in use during the challenge process.
4. The school library professional will provide School Committee members access to the challenged material as well as public written reviews of the material from professional review sources. The School Committee members will be assigned to read, view, or listen to the material in its entirety as well as the reviews.
5. After being afforded time to review the material and reviews, the School Committee will reconvene, at which time the parent has the option to meet with the School Committee to present his/her views. The School Committee will then dismiss the parent.
6. The School Committee will deliberate the issues and reach a decision. A decision is made by a majority vote. The School Committee will decide whether to retain the material in the library media center, relocate the material within the library media center, or remove the material from the library media center.
7. The parent will be notified of the School Committee's decision in writing within a reasonable time period.
8. The same material cannot be challenged at that particular school for at least three years.
