Student Borrowing Policy | Staff Borrowing Policy | Collection Management Policy
Students May Borrow
• A maximum of 10 items at one time for a period of 3 weeks. This includes fiction, and nonfiction.
• Newspapers are available for reading in the library.
• Magazines are also available for reading in the library and may be borrowed overnight. Please take your selection to the circulation desk for checkout.
• All items, with the exception of movies, can be reserved for you. Please inquire at the circulation desk.
• Items may be renewed, unless there is a prior reservation for it.
Overdue Items
• Items that are more than 3 weeks late will be declared overdue.
• If an item is declared overdue, the student will be notified by a notice given to their homeroom teacher.
• ALL STUDENTS WITH OVERDUE MATERIALS WILL BE CHARGED A FINE OF 10¢ PER DAY
Lost or Damaged Items
• Items that are more than 4 months overdue will be declared lost.
• If an item is declared lost or damaged beyond repair, the borrower will be asked to pay a replacement cost calculated as follows: The replacement cost + processing cost.
• Letters requesting return or payment will be issued through student’s homeroom. If the matter is unresolved, a subsequent letter will be sent home.
• Non payment of account will result in student report cards being withheld until all fines are resolved.
• Seniors will have both report card and cap and gown withheld until all fines are resolved.
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Staff May Borrow
• All fiction, non fiction and reference materials. Any printed materials may be reserved. Please inquire at the circulation desk.
• Fiction and non fiction may be borrowed for an unlimited period of time as long as there is not a prior reservation.
• Other items available for loan are television with VCR/DVD player, cd/tape player, Proxima, overhead projector, slide carousel and video tapes. Borrowed materials should be returned to the library staff at the circulation desk for checking.
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Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to articulate the procedures followed and the criteria applied in the selection of materials to be included in Library Media Center collection.
User Groups
The Library Media Center aims to support the educational and recreational needs of 2 basic groups:
• Students
• StaffGoals of the Collection
The library media center takes as the goals of its collection those of the American Association of School Libraries Bill of Rights:
• To provide materials that enrich and support the curriculum, taking into consideration the varied interest and abilities of the students served.
• To provide materials that will stimulate growth in factual knowledge, literary appreciation, aesthetic values and ethical standards.
• To provide a background of information which will enable students to make intelligent judgments in their daily life.
• To provide materials on opposing sides of controversial issues so that young citizens may develop, under guidance, the practice of critical reading and thinking.
• To provide materials representative of the many religions, ethnic and cultural groups, and their contributions to our heritage.
• To place principal above personal opinion and reason above prejudice in the selection of materials of the highest quality in order to assure a comprehensive collection appropriate to the users of the library and in addition
• To encourage and promote reading for pleasure.
Material Selection Principles
Responsibility for Selection
• Selection is primarily the responsibility of the Co-ordinator of Library Media Services however:
• Classroom teachers, Supervisors, Heads of Departments and specialist teachers will be consulted to ensure the relevance of the collection to the curriculum.
• Recommendations for fiction purchases are invited from staff and students.
Formats incorporated
Formats include books, video recordings, periodicals, DVDs, online databases.
Duplicate copies
Duplication of resources is to be avoided except in the case of very popular or heavily used titles. Some duplication however may occur in order to encourage cross-curricular use.
Other resource collections
The Library Media Center is a member of JerseyCat. This is New Jersey’s virtual catalog and interlibrary loan system that is available to the faculty of our high school. It offers faculty the ability to borrow library materials from other New Jersey libraries and out-of-state libraries throughout our JerseyCat+ service. There is NO CHARGE to MTHS library patrons for using this service.
Any resources borrowed utilizing JerseyCat must go through the Co-ordinator of the Library Media Center (LMC). Any items borrowed will be with the understanding that any costs incurred for overdue, lost or damaged items will be the responsibility of the individual not the LMC staff or MTHS.
• Access books, DVDs, CDs, audio books, videos and other items not owned at the home library.
• Access magazine and journal articles not owned at the home library.
Criteria for Selection
Materials for purchase are considered on the basis of:
• Accuracy, currency and appropriateness of information
• Contribution to the overall balance and quality of the collection
• Contribution to the curriculum
• Interest to students and/or staff
• Reputation of publisher, author/producer, etc.
• Good value for money
Donations and gifts
Donations will be accepted on the conditions that they are subject to the same selection criteria as new resources.
Acquisition Policy
The following selection aids will be used:
• Professional review journals such as Library Journal, School Media Connection, etc.
• Current guides to YA literature such as School Library Journal, Book List, etc.
• Suggestions from staff, students, professional colleagues
• Professional library organizations, i.e. ALA, AASL, etc.
• Publisher catalogues and booksellers
All acquisitions are dependent on the availability of adequate funds from the annual budget.
Acquisitions will include a variety of formats. If choices are to be made, for example, between electronic and print resources, materials will be selected on the basis of need, immediacy of supply, cost comparison and accessibility.
Collection Evaluation Policy
Collection appraisal
Ongoing evaluation of the collection will be undertaken to:
• Identify areas of strength and weakness within the collection
• Identify resource provision required for new programs
• Determine priorities in budget considerations.
Tools for appraisement
Methods for appraisal may include formal and informal user surveys, evaluation of specific areas in response to research topics, analysis of usage patterns and collection mapping.
Deselection
To ensure the collection remains in good condition, relevant and attractive to its users, items will be removed from the collection if they meet any of the following criteria:
• Physical condition - worn, unattractive, damaged beyond repair
• Content – inaccurate, out-of-date
• Pattern of use – declining due to changing interests or curriculum needs, non-existent despite promotion
Teaching staff is encouraged to aid in the weeding process by reviewing sections of the library relevant to their subject needs as directed.
Challenges to Library Materials
Despite the care taken to select material appropriate to student and staff use, it is recognized that members of the school community may raise occasional objections.
In the event a complaint is made the following procedures will apply:
- The complaint shall be heard by the Co-ordinator of Information Resources and Services.
- If the matter is not resolved the complainant will be asked to complete a “Request for Review of Library Materials” form outlining the nature of the objection.
- This form shall be considered by a Review Committee comprising the Principal, the Co-ordinator of the library media center and others as appointed by the principal.
- The Review Committee shall ecamine the material presented and determine its fate with reference to aforementioned selection criteria, reviews (to check general acceptance), the School Library Bill of Rights and Freedom to Read.
- The decision of the committee shall be forwarded in writing to the complainant.
- No materials shall be removed from use until the committee has made a final decision.
- Co-operation will be given to any parent wishing to restrict his or her own child from using materials which are objectionable to the parent. Library staff will try to work out a solution with the parent that will keep that family’s children from borrowing such materials, while still allowing free access for other children.
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