JCBE/POLICY FILE: 347.31

Approved: 1/29/76

Revised: 3/25/82

LIBRARY MEDIA CENTER PHILOSOPHY

Because the Board emphasizes individually oriented, teacher-directed study and because it attempts to serve the local school community through readily accessible learning resources, the Board shall plan, organize and locate the school library media center so that the library media center functions as the nucleus of the school.

Each school shall have a library committee consisting of, but not limited to, the school's library media specialist, the principal, a teacher, a student, a classified person, a citizen from outside the school and a parent, which shall advise and assist the library media specialist and principal in carrying out the functions and responsibilities of the library media center.

In accordance with the philosophies, goals and objectives of the Jefferson County Board of Education, the library media center shall have the following responsibilities:

1. The library media center shall provide materials which support and supplement the curriculum with consideration given to the varied interests, capabilities and maturity levels of the students; the requests of teachers, administrators, parents and the students themselves.

2. The library media center shall provide materials which will stimulate the student's development of factual knowledge, literary appreciation, aesthetic values and ethical standards.

3. The library media center shall make available a broad range of information representing opposing views of controversial issues comprehensive of materials from various religious, ethnic and cultural groups in order to aid the student in the practice of critical reading and thinking.

4. The library media center shall avoid personal opinion and prejudice in the selection of materials which have been currently reviewed by reputable, professional sources whose suggestions shall serve as selection guidelines.

5. The library media center shall work toward a continuous critical evaluation of materials in initial selection, replacement, duplication and withdrawal.

The library committee, working with the library media specialist shall, according to the above criteria, make recommendations to the Board on the acceptance and use of gifts to the library media center.