our selection policy and procedure
Selection Policy:
In the process of selecting new materials for the SMMHS media center, special attention will be given to stay consistent with the stated mission and goals of our school and library. These goals are in line with those of the AASL which state that the "AASL works to ensure that all members of the school library field ...prepare students for life-long learning, informed decision-making, a love of reading, and the use of information technologies." These will be the driving motivations behind the selection of materials in this library. Additionally, the guidelines set for all libraries through the AASL as well those listed in the CCSS will be followed.
Guiding Principles
Aside from curricular needs, the following considerations will be given to potential "picks" for our library (these include print, non-print, and online sources):
Selection Procedures
The following sources will be consulted as tools for selection:
American Library Association. (2007). Standards for the 21st-century learner. American Association of School Librarians. Retrieved from
http://www.ala.org/aasl/sites/ala.org.aasl/files/content/guidelinesandstandards/learningstandards/AASL_LearningStandards.pdf.
National Governors Association Center for Best Practices, Council of Chief State School Officers. (2010). The standards. Common Core State Standards Initiative. Retrieved from http://www.corestandards.org/the- standards.
In the process of selecting new materials for the SMMHS media center, special attention will be given to stay consistent with the stated mission and goals of our school and library. These goals are in line with those of the AASL which state that the "AASL works to ensure that all members of the school library field ...prepare students for life-long learning, informed decision-making, a love of reading, and the use of information technologies." These will be the driving motivations behind the selection of materials in this library. Additionally, the guidelines set for all libraries through the AASL as well those listed in the CCSS will be followed.
Guiding Principles
Aside from curricular needs, the following considerations will be given to potential "picks" for our library (these include print, non-print, and online sources):
- selections which are of high interest to our students, teachers, and/or administration
- selections which are of high quality in content, currency, and/or contribute to artistic, scientific, literary, or social value
- those materials which are at the appropriate reading and maturity level for students at SMMHS
- selections which support the emotional and social development of students in grades 6-12
- attention will also be given to selections which are culturally diverse in nature in an effort to meet the many needs of our changing population as we seek to teach our students to become global citizens
Selection Procedures
The following sources will be consulted as tools for selection:
- Student and staff recommendations
- Collection analysis tools through BTSB and Titlewave
- Highly reputed magazines and journals: School Library Journal, The Horn Book, Booklist, VOYA, Library Media Connection, Kirkus Reviews.
- Sources which list books of distinction: YALSA, Scholastic, Flamingnet, and TASL.
- Subject area favorites: The National Science Teacher's Association, Notable Social Studies Trade Books (published by the National Council for the Social Studies)
- The Charleston Advisor - providing critical reviews of web products for information professionals
- RUSA - The MARS list of Best Free Reference Web Sites
- The Scout Report - a publication which evaluates quality websites
American Library Association. (2007). Standards for the 21st-century learner. American Association of School Librarians. Retrieved from
http://www.ala.org/aasl/sites/ala.org.aasl/files/content/guidelinesandstandards/learningstandards/AASL_LearningStandards.pdf.
National Governors Association Center for Best Practices, Council of Chief State School Officers. (2010). The standards. Common Core State Standards Initiative. Retrieved from http://www.corestandards.org/the- standards.