Instructional Materials Selection
- 4.64 Board Policy on
- Educational Media Materials Selections
1. Objectives of Selection - The primary objective of the school's educational media center is to implement, enrich, and support the educational program of the school. The center shall provide a wide range of materials on all levels of difficulty, with diversity of appeal, and the representation of different points of view. The School Board asserts that the responsibility of the media center is to provide:
a. materials which, support and provide continuity to the curriculum, taking into consideration the varied interest, abilities and maturity levels of the students;
b. materials which will stimulate growth in factual knowledge, literary appreciation, aesthetic values, and ethical standards.
c. a background of information enabling students to make intelligent judgments in their daily life;
d. materials representative of the many religious, ethnic, and cultural groups and their contributions to the American heritage; and
e. a comprehensive collection appropriate for the users of the media center which places principle above personal opinion and reason above prejudice in the selection of materials of the highest quality.
2. Criteria for Selection of Educational Materials -
a. The standards to determine the propriety of the educational materials shall be pursuant to Section 233.165, Florida Statutes.
b. First consideration shall be given to the needs of the individual school based on knowledge of the curriculum, of the existing collection, and of the needs of children and youth. Request from users of the collection (i.e. administrators, faculty, parents, and students) shall be given high priority.
c. Materials shall be considered on the basis of accuracy of content, overall purpose, timeliness, importance of the subject matter, quality of the writing / production, readability and popular appeal, authoritativeness, comprehensiveness of material, reputation of the publisher / producer reputation and significance of the author / artist / composer / producer, etc.; and, format and price.
d. Gifts of media or money shall be accepted with the understanding that thier use or disposition shall be determined by those persons having the responsibility for acquisitions, according to the same selection criteria and procedures as purchased materials.
3. Procedures for Selection -
a. In selecting materials for purchase, the school media specialist shall evaluate the existing collecton and shall consult with:
 | reputable, unbiased, professionally prepared selection aids. |
| media staff, curriculum consultants, faculty, students, and community representatives. |
b. In specific areas, the media specialist shall:
| purchase materials which are outstanding and frequently used; |
| replace periodically worn or missing basic items; and, |
| withdraw out of date or unnecessary items from the collection. |