BP 6163.1 — Library Media Centers

Section: 6000 - Instruction
Status: Active

Adopted: 2020-02-13

Revised: 2024-04-18

Policy text

LIBRARY MEDIA CENTERS

The Board of Education recognizes that school libraries support the educational program by providing access to a variety of informational and supplemental resources that can help raise the academic achievement of all students. The Board desires all school libraries to be stocked with up-to-date books, reference materials, and electronic resources that promote literacy, support the California state standards and prepare students to become lifelong learners and readers.

The Superintendent or designee shall, in consultation with the teacher librarian(s), classroom teachers, administrators, parents/guardians, and students as appropriate, develop and regularly update a plan for school libraries that describes the district’s goals for school libraries and how funds will be distributed to school sites to support libraries. As appropriate, the plan will address staffing, facilities, selection and evaluation of materials, prevention of loss or damage of library materials, prioritization of needs, and other related matters. The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that the library strategic plan is aligned with the district’s local control and accountability plan and other district and school goals.

Staffing

The district may employ one or more teacher librarians who possess appropriate credentials issued by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing. The Superintendent or designee may assign teacher librarians to perform the following duties in accordance with the authorizations of their credential:

Instruct students in accessing, evaluating, integrating, originating, and using information and resources in the library program and/or provide departmentalized instruction in research, information literacy, digital literacy, and digital citizenship
Plan and coordinate school library programs with the district’s instructional programs through collaboration with classified library personnel and teachers
Select and evaluate library materials for school and district libraries 4
Develop and deliver staff professional development programs on school library services, research, information and digital literacy, and digital citizenship
Coordinate and/or supervise library programs at the school or district level
Plan and conduct a course of instruction for students who assist in the operation of school libraries
Provide direction to classified personnel assigned school library duties
Develop procedures for and management of the school and district libraries
Coordinate the purchase and distribution of instructional (textbooks) and supplemental (workbooks) materials for the district.

To staff school libraries, the district may employ classified employees to serve as library media specialists or library media assistants.

The Superintendent or designee may assign library classified employees to perform the following duties:

Provide a library orientation for teachers and students covering organization, layout, and proper use, and use of online catalog
Plan and coordinate school library events, displays, and bulletin boards related to literacy, collections, and/or in collaboration with school or district staff
Assist with the selection and evaluation library materials for the school library
Assist with the ordering and distribution of instructional materials
Develop guidelines or procedures for substitutes and/or volunteers

Selection and Evaluation of School Library Materials

School library materials shall include print and electronic books and resources that align with the curriculum and student interest and are accessible to students with varying cognitive or language needs.

Library materials shall be evaluated and selected through a process that invites recommendations from administrators, teachers, other staff, parents/guardians, and students as appropriate.

Library materials shall be continually evaluated in relation to evolving curricula, new formats of materials, new instructional methods, and the needs and interests of students and teachers. Materials that contain outdated subject matter or are no longer appropriate shall be removed.

The use of any book or other resource in a school library shall not be rejected or prohibited by the Board or district on the basis that it includes a study of the role and contributions of any individual or group consistent with the requirements of Education Code 51204.5 and 60040, unless such study would violate Education Code 51501 or 60044. (Education Code 243)

All gifts and donations of school library materials shall be subject to the same criteria as materials selected for purchase by the district.

Complaints regarding the appropriateness of library materials shall be addressed using the district’s procedures for complaints regarding instructional materials.

Fees

Students shall be allowed to borrow school library materials at no charge for use in the library and classrooms as well as out of school.

Students shall be encouraged to return library materials in a timely manner, but no charge shall be assessed for the late return of materials. After a reasonable period of time materials not returned will result in a “replacement fee” being assessed.

Library Instruction

Teacher librarians and/or classroom teachers shall provide library instruction to develop students’ media and information literacy skills. Such instruction shall be aligned with the state academic standards for library instruction and shall prepare students to:

Access information by applying knowledge of the organization of libraries, print materials, digital media, and other sources
Evaluate and analyze information to determine appropriateness in addressing the scope of inquiry
Organize, synthesize, create, and communicate information
Integrate information literacy skills into all areas of learning and pursue information independently to become lifelong learners Teacher librarians may also provide support to teachers, administrators, and other staff by identifying instructional materials that will aid in the development of curriculum and instructional activities and by providing information about effective and ethical uses of school library services and equipment.

Program Evaluation

The Superintendent or designee shall annually assess and report to the Board regarding the condition and use of school libraries. The assessment shall evaluate, at a minimum:

Access of students and staff to school libraries during school hours and, as appropriate, access outside the school day
The process and frequency by which students are allowed to check out library materials
Staffing levels, qualifications, and number of hours worked
The quality of the collection at each library, including, but not limited to, the total number of books in the collection, number of books per student, amount expended during the year for the purchase of new resources, and the number of resources discarded and added during the year
Any special programs offered at the school to encourage reading and/or library use
The adequacy of the facility space and equipment designated for the school library
The source(s) and adequacy of funding for school libraries

The district shall, on or before August 31 each year, report to the CDE on the condition of its school libraries for the preceding year ending June 30.