(Changes to 871 rule)
I. The Board of Education, although finally responsible for all book purchases, recognizes the students’ right of free access to many different types of books. The Board also recognizes the right of teachers and administrators to select books and other material in accord with current trends in education and to make them available in the schools. Therefore, it is the policy of the Board to require the material s selected for our schools is in accord with the selection policy of the district (361 rule).
II. Statement of Policy
Any resident or employee of the school district may formally challenge learning resources used in the district’s educational program on the basis of appropriateness. This procedure is for the purpose of considering the opinions of those persons in the schools and the community who are not directly involved in the selection process.
III. Request for Informal Reconsideration
A. The school receiving a complaint regarding a learning resource shall try to resolve the issue informally.
1. The principal or other appropriate staff shall explain to the questioner the school’s selection procedure, criteria, and qualifications of those persons selecting the resource.
2. The principal or other appropriate staff shall explain the particular place the questioned resource occupies in the education program, its intended educational usefulness, and additional information regarding its use, or refer the party to someone who can identify and explain the use of the resource.
3. If the questioner wishes to file a formal challenge, a copy of the district Selection of Learning Resources policy and a Request for Reconsideration of Learning Resources form shall be handed or mailed to the party concerned by the principal.
IV. Request for Formal Reconsideration
A. Preliminary Procedures
1. Each school will keep on hand and make available Request for Reconsideration of Learning Resources forms. All formal objections to learning resources must be made on these forms.
2. The Request for Reconsideration of Learning Resources form shall be signed by the questioner and filed with the principal or someone so designated by the principal.
3. The request for reconsideration shall be referred to a reconsideration committee at the school level for reevaluation of the resource.
4. Requests for reconsideration of materials in district collections shall be referred to the school resource center consultative committee for reevaluation of the resource. This committee may involve additional personnel as appropriate.
B. The Reconsideration Committee
1. Upon receipt of a request for formal reconsideration of a learning resource, the principal shall:
a. Appoint a reconsideration committee including the following membership as appropriate:
One member of the district staff chosen by the area assistant superintendent;
One member of the school teaching staff chosen by the school staff;
One member of the resource center professional staff chosen by the resource center professional staff;
One community member
Two students chosen by High School Student Council.
b. Name a convener of the reconsideration committee.
c. Arrange for a reconsideration committee meeting within 10 working days after the complaint is received.
2. The reconsideration committee may choose to consult district support staff and/or community persons with related professional knowledge.
3. The reconsideration committee shall review the challenged resource and judge whether it conforms to the principles of selection outlined in the district’s Selection of Learning Resources policy.
C. Resolution
1. The reconsideration committee shall:
a. Examine the challenged resource;
b. Determine professional acceptance by reading critical reviews of the resource;
c. Weigh values and faults and form opinions based on the material as a whole rather than on passages or sections taken out of context;
d. Discuss the challenged resource in the context of the educational program;
e. Discuss the challenged item with the individual questioner when appropriate;
f. Prepare a written report.
2. The written report shall be discussed with the individual questioner if requested.
3. The written report shall be retained by the school principal, with copies forwarded to the superintendent
4. Written reports, once filed, are confidential and available for examination by trustees and appropriate officials only.
5. The decision of the reconsideration committee is binding for the individual school.
D. Guiding Principles
1. Any resident or employee of the school district may raise objection to learning resources used in a school’s educational program, despite the fact that the individuals selecting such resources were duly qualified to make the selection, followed the proper procedure, and observed the criteria for selecting learning resources.
2. The principal should review the selection and objection rules with the teaching staff at least annually. The staff should be reminded that the right to object to learning resources is one granted by policies enacted by the Board of Trustees.
3. No parent has the right to determine reading, viewing, or listening matter for students other than his or her own children.
4. School District #1 supports the Library Bill of Rights, adopted by the American Library Association. (A copy of the Library Bill of Rights is attached to this policy.) When learning resources are challenged, the principles of the freedom to read/listen/view must be defended as well.
5. Access to challenged material shall not be restricted during the reconsideration process.
6. The major criterion for the final decision is the appropriateness of the material for its intended educational use.
7. A decision to sustain a challenge shall not necessarily be interpreted as a judgment of irresponsibility by the professionals involved in the original selection and/or use of the material.
Reconsideration of Library Resources
(Attach a sheet if necessary)
Name __________________________________________________________________
Date _________________________
Address ________________________________________________________________
Phone ________________________
Do you represent self?____________Organization? ______________________
Title of work in question: ___________________________________________________
Author/ Producer _________________________________________________________
To what part(s) in the work do you object? (Please be specific. Cite pages, sections, passages, etc.)
What has brought this resource to your attention?
What would you like the library to do about this work (e.g. restrict circulation to certain grades, prohibit use by my child, etc.)?
Are there resource(s) that you suggest to provide additional information and/or other viewpoints on this topic?
Have you filled a request for reconsideration before? yes no
Have you read or viewed this work in its entirety? yes no
Are you aware of judgments of this work by media or literary yes no
reviewers?
Have you read the School Library Bill of Rights? yes no
Are you familiar with present policy regarding book and materials? yes no
Signature _______________________________________________________________
Reconsideration Policy
LMC Vision
- Kathy Carlson
- I have learned SO much in the past two years as the Library Media Specialist! This Book Talk blog has been created with the hopes of sharing the love of books and reading with each other!
