Collection Development Policy: Lamar Consolidated Independent School District

Analysis of a Collection Development Policy

The Collection Development Policy which is being considered was written for Lamar Consolidated Independent School District. This policy begins strongly by showing its stakeholders that the LCISD school district supports the American Library Association’s Code of Ethics and intellectual freedom policies.

The purpose of this policy is shared under the heading, “Goals of Selection.” But since the policy is written to encompass many schools within the district, it fails to define who fits within the community. It states that each library will look different according to its needs or individual purpose. Bishop (2013) says that the collection should be the result of the community’s characteristics

One would assume that the money from these items would be placed in the general library budget and would be used in accordance to the purchasing criterion for all other items. However, for the sake of clarity, it would be helpful if the policy would clearly state how to handle these extra funds. There may be some of who wish to donate money for a personal agenda which may not support the goals set forth for the collection. A policy stating that the librarian would have final say on what is purchased may be an important clause to have in a policy. In addition, what one person may view as treasure, may be trash in the eyes of another. The question then arises what one is to do with items that are donated but are not complimentary to the collection based on content, merit, or condition. To improve the policy, these items should be

Having a policy that clearly explains the steps a librarian should follow in this situation is a priority to avoid creating a problem. Bishop (2013) recommends consulting an advisory board and creating a policy for these types of situations. The policy should contain multiple steps before an item is removed. The first step is to share with the patron the selection process that the school uses for acquiring items. Then, a written complaint must be submitted for a formal complaint to be filed. At this time, the librarian should give the patron a written copy of the policy that’s been developed for reconsideration and notify the principal. The principal would then submit the formal complaint to the superintendent and form a reconsideration committee composed of a teacher, administrator, librarian, and student if age appropriate. This committee would read the complaint, study the material, and make a decision within ten days of receiving the complaint. The principal will provide the complainant and the superintendent with a copy of the committee’s decision. There should be an appeal process available for the complainant. The challenged material should continue to circulate until a decision has been made (p. 50). This seems like a crucial policy that should be included in a collection development