The school library media program serves as a point of access to information and ideas and as a
learning laboratory for students as they acquire critical thinking and problem-solving skills needed
in a pluralistic and information-dependent society. Educational levels and programs of the school
indicate appropriate resources and services of a school library media program. The principles of
the School Library Bill of Rights (ALA) apply equally to all libraries, including school library
media centers.
Students and educators served by the school library media program should have access to
resources and services free of constraints resulting from personal, partisan or doctrinal ideologies.
School library media professionals resist efforts by individuals or groups to define what is
appropriate for all students or teachers to read, view or hear.
All books should be freely available to students and teachers, and books placed on restricted
circulation should be kept to a minimum. It is recognized, however, that it may be necessary on
occasion to reduce circulation time on certain books in order to provide for unusual demands.
Policies, procedures and rules related to the use of resources and services support open access to
information.
The School Board adopts policies that ensure student access to a broad range of ideas.
Learning/Teaching styles and interests of all students and teachers will be accommodated.
Systems for circulating materials ensure optimal use and encourage students to borrow materials
for use throughout the school, at home, and in the library media center. Circulation systems and
reporting mechanisms protect the privacy of users. Circulation and access procedures enable
intradistrict exchange of materials and encourage interlibrary loan.
Equipment should be readily available for student and teacher use to support all the formats of
media that the school has acquired. Equipment should be available for checkout to classrooms and
for overnight use. All equipment should be in good working condition. Efforts are made to
represent recent advances in media equipment technology. Equipment is checked on a regular
basis through ongoing maintenance and repair services.
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Note: The reader is encouraged to check the index located at the beginning of this
section for other pertinent policies and to review administrative procedures
and/or forms for related information.
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Adopted: 01/18/1994
Reviewed: 01/22/1998
St. Charles School District, St. Charles, Missouri
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