Selection of Library Materials

 

Fort Worth ISD Board Policy EFA(LOCAL):

The District shall provide a wide range of instructional resources for students and faculty that present varying levels of difficulty, diversity of appeal, and a variety of points of view. Although trained professional staff members are afforded the freedom to select instructional resources for their use in accordance with this policy and the state-mandated curriculum, the ultimate authority for determining and approving the curriculum and instructional program of the District lies with the Board.

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OBJECTIVES

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In this policy, “instructional resources” refers to textbooks, library acquisitions, supplemental materials for classroom use, and any other instructional materials, including electronic resources, used for formal or informal teaching and learning purposes. The primary objectives of instructional resources are to deliver, support, enrich, and assist in implementing the District’s educational program. [See EFAA for the selection and adoption process of state-adopted instructional materials.]

The Board shall rely on District professional staff to select and acquire instructional resources that:

• Enrich and support the curriculum, taking into consideration students’ varied interests, abilities, learning styles, and maturity levels.

• Stimulate growth in factual knowledge, enjoyment of reading, literary appreciation, aesthetic values, and societal standards.

• Present various sides of controversial issues so that students have an opportunity to develop, under guidance, skills in critical analysis and in making informed judgments in their daily

• lives.

• Represent many ethnic, religious, and cultural groups and their contributions to the national heritage and world community.

• Provide a wide range of background information that will enable students to develop informed opinions.

 

SELECTION CRITERIA

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In the selection of instructional resources, especially library acquisitions and supplemental materials for classroom use, professional staff shall ensure that materials:

• Support and are consistent with the general educational goals of the state and District and the aims and objectives of individual schools and specific courses consistent with the District and campus improvement plans.

• Meet high standards in presentation, format, readability, content, accuracy, artistic or literary quality, and educational significance.

• Are appropriate for the subject and for the age, ability level, learning styles, and social and emotional development of the students for whom they are selected.

• Are designed to provide information that will motivate students to examine their own attitudes and behavior, to understand their rights, duties, and responsibilities as citizens, and to make informed decisions in their daily lives.

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Recommendations for library acquisitions shall involve administrators, teachers, other District personnel, and community representatives, as appropriate. Gifts of instructional resources shall be evaluated according to these criteria and accepted or rejected accordingly.  Selection of materials is an ongoing process that includes the removal of resources no longer appropriate and the periodic replacement or repair of materials still of educational value.

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CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES

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The selection of library acquisitions on controversial issues shall endeavor to maintain a balanced collection representing various views. Library materials shall be chosen to clarify historical and contemporary forces by presenting and analyzing intergroup tension and conflict objectively, placing emphasis on recognizing and understanding social and economic problems. [See also EMB regarding instruction about controversial issues and EHAA regarding human sexuality instruction.]