Library Review
Last month the school board revised AA440-Library Media Selection and Review. The board directive (I looked it up: directive- an official or authoritative instruction) is that every student should have access to a media center that offers a “variety of materials to support classroom instruction, provides opportunity for research, and meets differing educational and recreational needs and interests.”
As an elementary and middle school student I was in the library as much as possible. In elementary school we were able to go once a week with our class. There was an illustrated book about Greek mythology that really captured my imagination. I checked out and read every available book by Lois Lenski and Beverly Cleary. In middle school I would frequently check a book out in the morning, read it throughout the school day (sorry Mr. Funk and others), finish it at home, and exchange it for a new book the next day.
I can’t remember ever checking out a book to read for fun as a student at West Jordan High School. I think I have been in the WJHS library more often as an adult for my kids’ team meetings and banquets (and giving blood) than as a student at the school.
The library media specialist and the principal of the school, working in cooperation with school staff, are responsible for the selection of materials for the media center. Parents are invited to consult with the library media specialist to find appropriate materials for their child. Parents can also request and receive their child’s check out history.
I might have mentioned once or twice that I work at Joel P Jensen Middle School. I am in the media center several times a month. It is an inviting and comfortable space. The media specialist, Ms. Poole knows the names of so many students and is very helpful. There are engaging displays and activities that change throughout the year. My daughter spends a lot of time in the media center with her friends.
Sometimes there is a book in a school media center that parents or employees might think should not be there. A review can be requested to determine whether or not to retain or remove the book. Here is the process super abbreviated:
- Materials (book) review requests may be made by a parent of a student that attends the school, a student who attends the school, or an employee of the school.
- No more than two books per year may be submitted for review by the same individual.
- A review may be based on “sensitive materials” or concerns with age appropriateness.
- Requester must provide all information requested on the review request form.
- Parents may request a list of all materials currently under review.
- Review request will be acknowledged; a case number will be created, and a review committee will be convened within a reasonable amount of time.
-The material (book) will remain in the system during the review process.
-Review committee members will include a facilitator chosen by the school’s administration, at least one administrator or designee, a licensed teacher at the school, parents of current students at the school that number at least one more than the LEA (local education agency) employees on the committee.
-The committee will determine the amount of time needed for the review and will inform the requester of the timeline.
-The committee will receive the materials for review and review them according to the criteria.
After the decision is made through a majority vote by the committee to either retain or remove the book, an appeal may be made with the review process starting again with a new committee. The requester may appeal the second retain or request decision with the Utah State Board of Education doing the third and final review.
-A book that is reviewed and retained will not be reviewed again for three years.
If you have a student at a JSD school and would like to be part of their school’s review committee contact your student’s language arts teacher or the administration of the school.
