Adobe Bluffs Elementary School

COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT POLICY 2015

This library collection policy reflects the needs for Adobe Bluffs Elementary School in San Diego, California, part of the Poway Unified School District. Adobe Bluffs serves approximately 400 students, from preschool to fifth grade.
I. The purpose of the school library media center is to provide developmentally appropriate instructional materials and recreational materials so that each student has the potential to develop to the best of his or her ability, mentally exploring the widest possible opportunities. The collection should support the curriculum in all disciplines as well as provide a common body of knowledge.
II. Selection
A. Book purchase requests may be made by faculty, parents, or students. The final purchase decision will be made by the library media technologist after consulting a variety of selection aids.
B. Criteria for selection will be made considering the following questions:

• Does the item support the curriculum?
• Is it age/developmentally appropriate for the patrons?
• Is the material timely? Will it be outdated quickly?
• Is the material accurate, written/edited by an authority?
• Is the scope of the material adequate?
• Is the material visually pleasing and readable?
• Are the illustrations supportive of the text?
• Are there user aids (bibliography, glossary, or index)?
• Is there a need in this area of the current collection?
• Will the material be widely used?

III. Collection maintenance (weeding)
A. Materials that have disfigurements beyond repair will be discarded.
B. Materials that are outdated or obsolete will be removed from the collection.
C. Materials that are age or developmentally inappropriate will be removed.
IV. Controversial material
A. Any patron or parent may challenge a selection by completing a “Citizen’s Request for Materials Review” form C-8, available in the principal’s office.
B. Challenged titles will be evaluated by the District Review Committee consisting of one grade level teacher, one Library Media Technologist, one principal, one member of the District Administration staff, three parents and four students. The committee’s final decision may be that the material be continued for general circulation or assignment to students, be circulated or assigned to students only after parental permission is obtained, or be removed from general circulation or assignment to students.