Challenged Material Policies Who?

Where?

Why?
What?

When?

How?

Why? Libraries and librarians:

promote Intellectual Freedom provide access to information to all students select resources that are appropriate for that grade level library shape the resources around the school program

Why?
ALA | Library Bill of Rights

applies equally to all libraries

Why?
Act of 1787 of 2003 Public School Library Media & Technology Act is now law and part of this law requires: 6-25-105 Establishment of guidelines for the selection, removal, and retention of materials. a) Media centers shall have written policies to establish guidelines for the selection, removal and retention of materials. b) The school district shall have a written policy for addressing challenged materials.

Why?
State Standards require that librarians:
16.02 MEDIA SERVICES 16.02.1 Sufficient resources shall be budgeted and spent yearly for purchasing and maintaining an appropriate, current collection. 16.02.2 A process to provide for input from teachers, parents, and students in the acquisition of instructional materials shall be implemented. These materials shall enhance and support the goals of the school improvement plan.

16.02.3 The role of the library media center shall support technology as a tool for learning. Each school with fewer than three hundred (300) students enrolled shall employ at least a half-time, licensed library media specialist. A school with three hundred (300) or more students enrolled shall employ a fulltime licensed library media specialist. Schools enrolling fifteen hundred (1,500) or more students shall employ two full-time, licensed library media specialists. The library media specialist(s) shall ensure that access to records and resource data bases shall be available to students. The media specialist(s) shall assist students in the development and use of research skills.

16.02.4 The school media collection shall consist of a balance of print, nonprint, and electronic media adequate in quality and quantity to meet the needs of the developmentally appropriate curricular program. The minimum book collection, exclusive of textbooks, shall be three thousand (3,000) volumes, or at least eight (8) books per student enrolled, whichever figure is larger. A minimum technology requirement will be one (1) computer per media center with multimedia/networking capacity for administrative purposes only.

Why?
Commissioners Memo ACC-04-012 created 9-22-03 Approved by Local District Board of Education

How?
Check out ALA/AASL website

http://www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Section=oif

Join your state library organizations

Arkansas Library Association AAIM

Look at other schools policies Go to a workshop on developing a policy

Who?
Talk to teachers, principals, superintendents and school board so they will know that this process is in place. This takes the heat off of everyone and puts it on a committee. Talk to your PTA and other organizations about your library (Advocacy) before a challenge happens.

What?
Part of Selection Policy (required by law)

Selection criteria Retention & Continuous Evaluation Challenge Policy

Procedure for Reconsideration

Informal Formal (reconsideration form)

Reconsideration Committee

Procedures and Reporting

Example of a Selection Policy

Statement of Policy:
It is the policy of the Forrest City School District #7 to provide a library media program in each of its schools. The program should provide a wide range of learning resources that supports its educational process. It is the function of the media center to provide both print and non print materials and current technology necessary to the fulfillment of the total curriculum and the independent study and recreational reading of the students. The program ensures equitable access to information while upholding the laws relating to copyright, fair use, censorship and information security and confidentiality.

.Selection Objectives Responsibility for Selection .Selection Criteria Procedures for Selection of Materials (Forrest City SD)

Example of Retention and Continuous Evaluation

Media center materials shall be reviewed regularly to ensure continued appropriateness of the centers collection to the schools curriculum and to maintain the collection in good repair. Those materials no longer meeting the selection criteria, have not been used for a long period of time, or are too worn to be economically repaired shall be withdrawn from the collection and discarded A record of withdrawn media materials including the manner of their disposal shall be maintained for a period of three years. Library media materials should be weeded if they:
u Are in poor physical condition u Have not been circulated in the last five years u Are outdated in content, use, or accuracy u Are mediocre or poor in quality u Are biased or portray stereotypes u Are inappropriate in reading level u Duplicate information which is no longer in heavy demand u Are superseded by new or revised information u Are outdated and unattractive in format, design, graphics and illustrations The final decision to withdraw materials from the library media collection is made by the library media specialist. However, subject-area or grade-level teachers and other faculty members may be invited to review the items marked for withdrawal.

(Warren SD)

Example of a Reconsideration Statement

Challenges:
The parent of a student affected by a media selection, a District employee, or any other resident of the district may formally challenge the appropriateness of a media center selection by following the procedure outlined in this policy. The challenged material shall remain available throughout the challenge process. Before any formal challenge can be filed, the individual contesting (hereinafter complainant) the appropriateness of the specified item shall request a conference through the principals office with a licensed media center employee. The complainant shall be given a copy of this policy and the Request for Formal Reconsideration Form prior to the conference. The meeting shall take place at the earliest possible time of mutual convenience, but in no case later than five (5) working days from the date of the request unless it is by the choice of the complainant. In the meeting, the media specialist shall explain the selection criteria and how the challenged material fits the criteria. The complainant shall explain his/her reasons for objecting to the selected material. If, at the completion of the meeting, the complainant wishes to make a formal challenge to the selected material, he/she may do so by completing the Request for Formal Reconsideration Form and submitting it to the principals office. (cont.) Legal Reference: A.C.A. 6-25-101 et seq. Date Adopted: June 13, 2002 Last Revised: August 14, 2003 ( Paris HS)

Example of a Reconsideration Form

REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION OF LIBRARY/MEDIA CENTER MATERIALS Author: _____________________________ Title________________________________ Publisher (if known)___________________ Request Initiated by__________________________________________________ Telephone_______________________Address_____________________________ City______________________________________________Zip_______________ Complainant _____him/herself _____(if representing an organization-name)_______________________________ 1. Did you read the entire book/view the entire audio-visual material?_______ If not, what parts?__________________________________________________ ________ 2. What do you believe is the main idea of this material?___________________

3. To what in the material do you object? (please be specific: cite pages or scenes)________________
4. What harmful effect do you feel might be/was the result of reading this book/viewing this video or film/listening to this tape?_________________________________________________________________ 5. Do you believe this item serves any of the following purposes? a. Promotes understanding of other cultures and of lifestyles?_____Yes _____No b. Promotes discussion of societal issues? _____Yes _____No c. Provides information about a subject unavailable from another source?_____Yes _____No

6. In its place what book/video or film/tape of equal quality would you recommend that would convey as valuable a picture and perspectives?________________________________________
________________________________________ Signature of complainant ________________________________________ Date Date Adopted: May 13th, 2004 ( Greenwood SD)

Examples of Reconsideration Committee Instructions

Checklist for School Media Advisory Committees Reconsideration of Instructional Material - Fiction & Other Literary Forms

Title________________________Author______________________

A. Purpose
1. What is the purpose, theme or message of the material? How well does the author/producer/composer accomplish this purpose? 2. If the story if fantasy, is it the type that has imaginative appeal and is: suitable for children? _____Yes _____No for young adults? _____Yes _____No

If both are marked no, for what age group would you recommend? ________
3. Will the reading, viewing and/or listening to the material result in more compassionate understanding of human beings? _____Yes _____No.

4. Does it offer an opportunity to better understand and appreciate the aspirations, achievements, and problems of various minority groups? _____Yes _____No. 5. Are any questionable elements of the story an integral part of a worthwhile theme or message? _____Yes _____No.
B. Content 1. Does a story about modern times give a realistic picture of life as it is now? _____Yes _____No. 2. Does the story avoid an oversimplified view of life, one which leaves the reader/viewer/listener with the general feeling that life is sweet and rosy or ugly and meaningless? _____Yes _____No. 3. When factual information is part of the story, is it presented accurately? _____Yes _____No. 4. Is prejudicial appeal readily identifiable by the potential reader/viewer/listener? _____Yes _____No. 5. Are concepts presented appropriate to the ability and maturity of the potential reader/viewer/listener? _____Yes _____No. Committee Checklist, Fiction & other literary forms (1)

Appendices:
Letter to Concerned Patron Patrons Request for Library Bill of Rights Reconsideration of Library Material Instructions to Committee Reconsideration Committee Report Bibliography Instructional TV Policy Request for Reconsideration of Instructional or Supplemental Materials

Example of Letter to Concerned Patron

Greene County Tech School District 5203 West Kingshighway Paragould, Arkansas 72450 (870) 236-6439 Dear _______________: We appreciate your concern over the use of ________________ in our school district. The district has developed procedures for selecting materials, but realizes that not everyone will agree with every selection made.
To help you better understand the selection process, we are sending copies of the districts: 1. Selection of Learning Resources Policy 2. Patrons Request for Reconsideration of Learning Resources If you are still concerned after you review this material, please complete the Request for Reconsideration of Learning Resources form and return it to me. If I have not heard from you within two weeks, we will assume you no longer wish to file a formal complaint. Sincerely,

Principal

should these policies be posted?

WHERE

Policy Handbook
Student Handbook Posted on School District Website

WHEN?
ASAP

Law already in effect!

Approved by Board

List of Schools with Policies

Greene Co Tech LRSD Rogers Paris Lake Hamilton Greenwood Nettleton Mansfield Warren Lakeside

And many more districts have policies.

SOURCES
ALA/AASL Website http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/ statementspols/statementsif/ interpretations/challengedmaterials.htm Margaret Amps

ADE mcrank@arkedu.k12.ar.us