LIBRARY MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the Lutheran South Academy Libraries (prek-12th Grades) is to foster a love of reading in students of all ages that will encourage empathy to one another, and to the community that surrounds us. The library supports LSA’s academic curriculum with books, online resources and library lessons that connect literature to curricular topics.
Goals of the LSA Libraries are to:
- Create a safe, welcoming environment that allows our students to achieve, to question, to be creative and to pursue personal interests through reading and research.
- Provide a current and comprehensive body of resources to support classroom instruction, student assignments and projects, and independent inquiry;
- Provide the means and methods by which students can become life-long independent learners prepared to live in a world where the Christian is surrounded by the influences of secular ideas.
- Promote a carefully chosen selection of Christian and mainstream fiction and nonfiction from all suitable genres;
- Empower students to be critical thinkers, effective and ethical users and producers of ideas and information.
OBJECTIVE OF SELECTION POLICY
Materials are thoughtfully selected for appropriateness and effectiveness in meeting educational goals at Lutheran South Academy. Resources are chosen that will enrich and support the curriculum, taking into consideration students’ varied interests, abilities, learning styles, and maturity levels. It is the school’s desire to teach students to critically evaluate what they read. It is important for parents to know that they should be actively involved in helping their children evaluate what they read and discuss the issues presented.
RESPONSIBILITY FOR SELECTION
The Library Media Specialist holds the primary responsibility for selection of library materials but will consult, as appropriate, with school administrators, staff and faculty and may also consult students and parents.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Generally, materials are selected based on these criteria.
- Christian worldview
- Educational significance
- Contribution the subject makes to the curriculum and to the students’ interests
- Favorable reviews found in selection sources
- Approved national, reputable, unbiased, professionally prepared selection aids will be often, though not always, consulted as guides. Some of these include Booklist, Book Review, School Library Journal, Christy Awards, Follett Titlewave.
- Texas award winning books
- Texas Bluebonnet, Lone Stars, 2x2s, Tayshas, Mavericks
- Reputation and significance of the author, producer, and publisher
- Contribution the material makes to the breadth of representative viewpoints on controversial issues
- High aesthetic quality and/or literary contribution, including:
- keen awareness of the subtleties of thought and language that promote the students’ creative use of language.
- characters and plot that are convincing, with evidence of growth and character development
- sensitivity to others and their needs that gives insight to personal relationships and feelings
- Quality and variety of format
- Timeliness or permanence
- Is the item high in literary merit and/or factual content and presentation?
- Grade-level or age/appropriateness.
DONATIONS/GIFTS
Donations/Gifts of resource materials are accepted with the understanding that the resources will be evaluated for conformity to the selection criteria. If a resource does not align with the policy, the donation may be given to a more appropriate library or charitable organization. No special conditions or restrictions can be placed on the gift by the donor.
TREATMENT OF CONTROVERSIAL TOPICS
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.” – Romans 12:2
Literature Selection will contribute to the breadth of representative viewpoints on controversial issues and noted for strengths rather than rejected for weaknesses. We live in the world and imperfect problems are part of our real lives. We don’t imitate the problems but look to Christ for true hope and wisdom. God works through the renewal of our mind so we don’t have to be afraid or hide from sin – but confront it. Much of literature deals with issues or human qualities not recommended as ways for a Christian to live or act; but, are identified as important for students to understand within the storyline or the catalyst for change. Parents should be aware that not all items selected for the curricular goals will be Christian or comfortable to every family.
Materials dealing with profanity, sex, drugs, suicide, diverse lifestyle, violence, etc. will be evaluated by these questions:
- Is the element informative or sensational?
- Is it instructively descriptive or explicitly descriptive?
- Is it infrequent, or appropriate in context?
- Is it functional and necessary to the story?
- Is it accepted as the norm?
- What is the moral tone of the work?
The Lutheran South Academy Library supports the principles of intellectual freedom inherent in the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States, although the school’s mission statement and core values guide the practice of these principles.
RECONSIDERATION OF MATERIALS
Materials will be chosen with thoughtful attention to their appropriateness for a Christian school. The school should provide a wide range of resources on all levels of difficulty with a diversity of appeal and different points of view. If there is a complaint by a parent, staff member, or community member, the objection with be treated respectfully. The complainant will be given a Request for Reconsideration Form to be filled out completely and returned to the Library Media Specialist. Action only occurs when the reconsideration form has been returned.
- When the fully form is returned, a committee is formed composed of three staff members. completed
- All memoranda written to the committee members, the original challenge and copies of reviews taken from journals mentioned in the Selection Policy will be kept.
- A formal meeting is set with the committee and the complainant, usually within two weeks, to allow for all members to read the challenged material.
- The meeting is conducted so that the person objecting knows that the committee is dedicated to providing the best possible materials for the library, and that the committee is committed to a full, positive, respectful discussion. If the committee concludes that the material is not objectionable, a statement supporting the inclusion of the material in the collection is written. If the committee feels that the item should be withdrawn, then it is removed from the collection.
- If the committee feels the material is better suited to a different audience, it will be moved to a different library. This is a committee decision; the authority for this decision rests solely with the entire committee.
- If the complainant wishes to appeal the decision of the committee, then complainant can make a written appeal to the Head of School. The Head of School will be provided the original challenge form and the committee’s decision. The Head of School will render a final decision on the appeal.
- Challenged material may remain in circulation until this review and appeal process is completed.
