Approval Date: December, 2021
Amended: September 13, 2022

EEG- School Library Media Selection and Review

Purpose

The Board of Education assures that every student has access to a library that offers a variety of materials to support classroom instruction, provides opportunities for research, and meets differing educational and recreational reading and interests. Students are encouraged to use library materials to expand their knowledge, understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment of the world in which they live.

Definitions

“Teacher Librarian” means a licensed employee with a degree or endorsement in library science, assigned to teach at a school.
"District Patron” includes a student enrolled in the Logan City School District; a parent or guardian of a student enrolled in the Logan City School District; or an individual who resides within the boundaries of the Logan City School District.
“Media Specialist” means an Education Support Professional working under the supervision of a principal or district director, assigned to manage the library.
“School Media Review Committee” means a committee, appointed by the building principal, that includes the principal, a teacher, a parent at the school who is not the complainant, and the school’s media specialist or librarian. At the high school level, a student representative will also be included.
“District Media Review Committee”: The District Media Review Committee shall include the Director of Elementary or Secondary Schools, a member of the Board, a principal, licensed teacher, librarian or media specialist representing the school level the challenge comes from, and two parents other than those who participated on the School Media Review Committee. The District Committee will be established according to need, and appointed by the Director of Elementary or Secondary Schools.
“Weeding”: the systematic removal of resources from a library based on selected criteria.
Media materials include, but are not limited to, the following items, whether provided in person, online, or through other means:

Text materials (i.e. books, magazines, essays, theatrical works, etc)
Video
Music (both audio presentations as well as printed music)
Photographs and other images
Three-dimensional art

“Sensitive material” means an instructional material that is pornographic or indecent material as that term is defined in Section 76-10-1235 of Utah Code.

Expectation for Appropriate Materials

The Logan City School District shall not adopt, use, distribute, provide access to, or maintain in the school setting, sensitive materials as defined in Section 76-10-1235 of Utah Code. Utah Code §76-10-1235

Management of Library Collection

Selection, review, and removal of all purchased or donated library materials shall be based on a combination of three or more of the following criteria:

Educational significance
Contribution to the curriculum
Validity, currency, and appropriateness
Accuracy, timeliness, and permanence
Favorable reviews, recommendations, and/or award nominees found in standard selection sources or from professional personnel
Potential appeal and interest
Recreational reading needs of students
Artistic quality and literary style
Reputation and significance of author, producer, or publisher
Uniqueness, diversity and /or heritage of the state, region, or community
Support of second language learners
Support of special needs students

The selection, review, and removal of library materials at the school level is under the direction of the school library staff. While library staff are responsible for the selection of library materials, it is not possible for library staff to read or view all library materials. In making selections for materials, input from reliable sources is considered.

Student Selection of Library Materials

Library materials are available to students on a self-selection basis. Library staff or other school personnel may assist in recommending library materials. Reading lists are available from many sources, and are not necessarily endorsed by the teacher librarian, school administration, or district personnel.

Responsibility for reading, listening, and viewing library materials rests with the individual student and their parent/legal guardian. Library staff are available to consult with students and their parent/legal guardian to find appropriate materials. Staff is not responsible for the final selection made by the student and their parent/legal guardian.

Requests for Restriction of Individual Student Access

The District recognizes the rights of parents under state law to restrict their child’s access to materials the parent deems inappropriate. However, no parent has the right to make that decision on behalf of other students. A parent desiring to restrict their own child’s access to specific library materials shall submit the request in writing to the librarian or media specialist at the school the child is attending.

Utah Admin Rules 53G-10-202
Utah Admin Rules 53G-10-203
Utah Admin Rules 53G-10-205

Objection to Materials

District patrons or employees have the right to file a complaint regarding library materials to which they object.

Request for Removal of Materials from School Library

If a district patron requests the removal of specific media from the library, a request shall be filed using the LCSD Request for Reconsideration of Media Materials

The material in question will remain in use during the review process.
The request for reconsideration shall be filed with the building principal

Upon receipt of the request, the building principal will send the requestor a notification that their request has been received, and that the review process will begin within fifteen work days from the delivery of the principal’s notification.

A school-based Media Review Committee shall review the request for reconsideration and formulate a decision regarding the complaint
During the course of a review, the requestor shall have the opportunity to appear in support of the request; the teacher in whose class the material is used or proposed for use shall have the opportunity to present the rationale for inclusion; and the committee may solicit and/or accept information, evidence, or testimony from other persons as the committee deems advisable
Within 30 work days from the beginning of the review process, the principal will send a written report of the review committee’s decision to the individual filing the request for review.

If circumstances require a longer review period, the building principal may request an extension from the Director of Elementary or Secondary Schools.

The School Media Review Committee shall review the request for reconsideration and formulate a decision regarding the complaint

During the course of a review, the requestor shall have the opportunity to appear in support of the request; and the committee may solicit and/or accept information, evidence, or testimony from other persons as the committee deems advisable
The building principal will send to the requestor, a written report of the School Media Review Committee’s decision to retain or remove the material from the library
The review, decision, and response will take place within 15 work days
If the School Media Review Committee determines to remove the requested material from the school library, the decision will be forwarded to the Director of Elementary or Secondary Schools for review by a District Media Review Committee

The same material cannot be challenged for at least three (3) years on the same criteria.

District Level Review of Library Materials

If the School Media Review Committee determines to remove the requested material from the school library, or if the person submitting a request is not satisfied with the decision of the School Media Review Committee, the following process will be used by the District Media Review Committee:

The Director of Elementary or Secondary Schools shall appoint the committee within 15 work days after the date of receipt of the request for review
The committee shall review the request, make a decision, and communicate the committee’s decision to the requestor within 30 calendar days after the organization of the committee
During the course of a review, the requestor shall have the opportunity to appear in support of the request and the committee may solicit and/or accept information, evidence, or testimony from other persons as the committee deems advisable

If the person submitting a request is not satisfied with the decision of the District Media Review Committee, the requestor may appeal the decision to the Board of Education.

If the District Media Review Committee overturns the decision of the School Media Review Committee, that decision will be reviewed by the Board of Education.

If requested or required, the Board shall review the decision of the District Media Review Committee within 15 work days after the appeal or notification is received, and its decision shall be final.