Media Selection
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Transcript of Media Selection
MEDIA SELECTIONPolicies and Procedures
The Same…but Unique
No two library centers will have the same collection and they shouldn’t!
The media center should reflect the specific needs of the school it serves.
But all media centers share three basic goals….
Library Media Center’s Three Primary Goals
1. Satisfy the needs of students for curriculum related materials.
2. Fulfill students’ wishes concerning materials for recreational purposes.
3. Provide teachers with professional information.
To Reach These Goals
Coalesce all decisions into a policy manual to serve as guide.
What do you need in order to make decisions?
You Need Background Knowledge Community Students Faculty Curriculum Media
Bibliographic and Review aids
Existing collection
Budget
Knowledge of Community Community
Ethic and religious background Occupations Economic, educational status Business and transportation Libraries and cultural resources
Knowledge of Students Students
Age groups Reading ability Test scores Technology skills Interest and activities
Hobbies Sports Jobs?
Knowledge of Faculty
Teaching assignments Classroom use of media/technology Teaching methods Media center use by department In-service needs
Knowledge of Media Availability and Use of:
Educational and Technology materials Characteristics Strengths Limitations Potential
Site Licenses for Integrated Library System like Follett?
Knowledge of Bibliographic Tools Bibliographies
American Historical Fiction Basic Book Collection for Elementary Grades The Best in Children’s Books Children and Books Children’s Catalog Elementary School Library Collection European Historical Fiction and Biography Guide to Sources in Educational Media Junior High School Catalog Reference Books for School Libraries Subject Guide to Children’s Books in Print Subject Index to Books for Intermediate Grades Subject Index to Books for Primary Grades
Knowledge Reviewing Tools Current reviewing media:
AASA Science Books and Films American Film & Video Association Evaluations Booklist Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books Horn Book Kirkus Reviews School Library Journal
Knowledge of Existing Collection Size Strengths and weaknesses Age and physical condition Basic usefulness
How to find out?? 1. Use computer shelf list and inventory
records to ascertain.2. Browse the shelves
Knowledge of the Budget Budget allotments for the current year Additional funds?
Federal, state and local
Plan expensive purchases especially on a 3 -5 year schedule?
Knowledge of Databases and Research Sources
Do you need full-text periodical databases like ProQuest or Ebsco? Site Licenses
Overall the Media Specialist at the school level should:
Organize and administer the reviewing procedures at the school.
Route catalogs, bibliographies and other selection aids to faculty asking for purchase suggestions
Involve as many people as possible Attend faculty and departmental
meetings Conduct interest surveys and inventories
of students and faculty Maintain a file of current commercial
catalogs of materials and equipment
Why Create a Media Selection Policy? It is the foundation of the media center
program, it serves many purposes:
Criteria and selection procedures for the collection
Blueprint for future growth of the collection Prevents haphazard collection development Prevents unnecessary disputes involving
controversial material
What Should the Policy Manual Contain? The selection policy should include:
Mission/philosophy statement of school Goals and objectives of the school Broad universal principals of the profession
Freedom to Read Statement (ALA) The School Library Bill of Rights (AASL)
All groups affected by the policy should participate in its formation. Faculty, administration, students and the
community (PTO) It should be officially adopted by these groups
Materials Selection Policies
Elements are listed in the Morris text on page 302.
Websites: ALA Componets of Selection Policy
http://www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Section=Dealing_with_Challenges&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=11173
Policy Manuals for School Libraries http://falcon.jmu.edu/~ramseyil/libpolicy.htm
Standards
Specify norms for quantities and in some cases, quality of the center’s collection
SLMS should be familiar with at the State federal, and district levels
Should be included in the policy if appropriate
Selection Aids Both primary and secondary sources
Primary – the item itself is examined before purchase Preview materials from publishers Preview materials at conventions and exhibits On approval purchases
**The explosion of information and materials make hands-on examination neither possible nor practical for the vast majority of LMS’s!
Selection Aids Secondary selection aids – reviewing
sources Bibliographies Catalogs Indexes Review periodicals Best lists
“The proper interpretation, evaluation and understanding of these aids is one of the essentials of effective selection.”
Retrospective aids Very helpful in building the initial
collection and in filling in gaps in the existing collection. These contain time tested general recommendations for general and specific needs. Children’s Catalog Senior High School Library Catalog
(Wilson) Middle School Library Catalog Elementary School Library Collection
(Brodart)
Current Selection Aids
Primarily for new materials: Booklist (ALA) School Library Journal (ALA) English Journal (NCTE)
Baltimore County Public School, Resources for Information Specialist Role http://www.bcps.org/offices/lis/office/infospec.html
Criteria for Choosing Selection Aids Authority
Who are the reviewers and their qualifications
Scope What types of material are listed?
Books, AV software, equipment For adults, children, or everyone Certain ages, languages, time periods
How often up-dated Directions for use
Criteria for Choosing Selection Aids Arrangement
Alphabetical, classification or subject Index
Annotations or Reviews Descriptive, critical or both Detailed or broad Basic to collection or supplemental Consistent in treatment Comprehensive Reviewer checked for accuracy and reliability
Practical Points to Aid Selection Participation in the Selection Process
Input from you the LMS is essential Diversity in Material – get something on
everything Diversity in Students – get something for
everyone – including Non-users Selection, Not Censorship!
Practical Points to Aid Selection
Subjectivity vs Objectivity Make purchases from the user’s point of
view…. not only what the student should be reading or using but also what the student wants and is capable of using.
Media and Messages Is the medium the most appropriate to
convey the contents to the student? Duplication
User demand
Practical Points to Aid Selection Use many selection aids Cooperative Acquisitions
Schools within a district decide areas of concentration
Out of Print Materials If still needed for faculty & students, find a
source. Publishers’ and Manufacturer’s Catalogs
Use cautiously
Practical Points to Aid Selection Gifts and Free materials
Policy should clearly state: Only items appropriate to the collection will be
kept LMC may dispose of the material in any way.
Professional Library Sample textbooks, workbooks Curriculum guides File of web sites for lesson plans
Practical Points to Aid Selection Local History Collection
Internet Resource Materials How web sites will be selected
http://207.238.25.30/library/libraryinfo/InternetCollection.htm
Censorship and the SLMC Complaints involving out of date material
at the school level are not usually subject for concern and settled easily.
Complaints from parents or groups are more complex and not easily solved. Usually involves sex, race, religion,
profanity, drugs or sex-role sterotypes.
Dealing with Censorship
A sound Selection Policy Committe appointed by superintendent
to hear complaints PTA Teacher, LMS, administrator, community Educational personnel
Dealing with Censorship Citizen’s Request Form for Reevaluation
of Learning Resource Center Materials Identify complainant, group or organization Identify the work in question Statement that the complainant has read or
seen the work in question Identify or supply critical reviews of the
work in question Recommendation of the eventual
disposition of this material Signed by complainant
Sequence of Steps to Follow in Handling a Complaint1. Explanation of the selection procedures and
policies2. Criteria used in selection3. May supply reviews or recommendations4. If it is still not resolved, then the complainant
should file the full complaint form.5. Do not remove the item in question during this
reevaluation process.6. Refer to the reevaluation committee with all
pertinent data and reviews.7. Decision of the committee is usually sent to the
superintendent for review.8. Decision is given to the complainant.9. Include a regulation that the item will not be
reevaluated for a given period – usually three years.
Court Decisions To prevail you must have:
1. Detailed, explicit and widely distributed set of policies and procedures.
2. The support of the school board and administrators at all levels.