Collection Development Policy

Venus Elementary School Library

created by Megan Walker

 A. Mission Statement

The mission of the library program of the Venus Independent

School District is to provide access to materials, technology, and
services which complement and enhance all phases of the
curriculum, meet the information needs and interests of students,
school staff and the community, and encourage the lifelong
enjoyment of reading.

The mission statement of Venus Elementary School is to foster

future leaders by finding and building on the strengths of our
students through dedication, a positive attitude, encouragement,
and respect for others.

B. Purpose of the Collection Development Policy

The collection Development Policy should be utilized as a

guideline in determining how to grow the librarys collection, in
accordance with school needs and goals. This document will be
used to determine what materials to add to the collection and
which should be removed through weeding. The collection and
the library staff will:

1. Provide and maintain a current and diverse collection that

complements the schools curriculum and meets individual
students interest.
2. Collaborate with teachers, administrators, and other
stakeholders to determine how best to support student
learning.
3. Provide materials in various formats and reading levels.

C. Responsibility for Collection Management

The responsibility for selecting materials for the library will fall
primarily to the district director of libraries, with the input of the
campus library paraprofessional. The students and faculty are
encouraged to offer suggestions of materials to be added to the
collection.

D. Community Served

Venus Elementary School is located just to the south of the

Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex, serving a small, rural area. Venus
ISD serves approximately 2,200 students, 651 of whom attend
Venus Elementary. Our campus serves a population that is 56%
Hispanic, 40% white, and 75% economically disadvantaged.
Students visit the library on a weekly basis with their class during
their specials and PE rotation. While the city of Venus has a
population of approximately 3,700 people, the school district
serves a significant area of unincorporated Johnson County.

E. The Collection

Our collection currently contains just more than 15,000 volumes.

The collections average age is 18 years old. The average age of
the science and technology portion of our collection is 15 years
old. The library staff completes an inventory each year, during
which time staff inspect each book for damage and wear and
tear, at which point the library staff will determine whether to
repair, replace, or weed the book.

F. Gifts and Donations

The Venus Elementary Library is pleased to accept any monetary

donations through the front office of the school or through the
district librarys office. The monies should be clearly labeled for
the Venus Elementary Library. Books may also be donated to be
considered for the collection at the library location. The Director
of Libraries will consider any donated books in accordance with
the campus needs and the needs of the collection. Should the
Director of Libraries determine that a gifted book does not fit in
with the collection goals, it will be donated to another charity.

G. Repair and Replacement of Books

If a book is damaged beyond repair, it will be deaccessed from

the collection. If a student is responsible for the damage, the
student will receive a notice of the fine for the amount of
replacing the book. The librarian will then determine whether
another copy of this title should be purchased, depending on the
number of copies of the book the library has, the circulation of
the book, and how the material fits into the curricular needs of
the campus.

H. Weeding of the Collection

Following the annual inventory, the district librarian and the

library paraprofessional will develop a plan for weeding the
collection during the following year. Library staff will identify
sections of the library in need of weeding based on the age of the
collection, the currency of the content, and the physical condition
of the individual books as observed during inventory.

The library staff will then determine which sections of the library
to weed during which part of the year, as saving all weeding for
the end of the year makes for a dauntless task all at once. When
weeding the library collection, library staff will follow the CREW
procedures for weeding.

I. Selection

The Director of Libraries is responsible for the selection of new

materials to be added to the collection. The library
paraprofessional will assist with this, at the discretion of the
Director of Libraries.

The library staff welcomes the book requests of faculty members

and of the children of the school. Library staff will do their best
to honor them. When selecting materials, library staff will
examine materials based on the following criteria:
1. Appropriateness: Is the content appropriate for library
learners? Does the item match their levels of development,
reading level, learning style, ethnic/cultural background, and
interests?
2. Authority/Accuracy: Is the material credible with
author-identified resources? Are biases and opinions
identified? Is the author knowledgeable and qualified on the
subject matter? Has the author published previous works on
the topic?
3. Comparison to Other Works: How does this item
compare to others of a similar topic? Are other formats
available that might be better for learners?
4. Scope: What is the intended purpose of the item? Is the
level of detail appropriate for students?
5. Format and Organization: Is the item organized and
arranged in a way that students can easily understand it and
locate desired information?
6. Treatment: Is the items subject matter presented
appropriately, and in a way that students will enjoy it.
7. Cost: Is there a more cost efficient resource that can fulfill
the same need?
 8. Physical Quality: Is the item of sturdy quality that will last
library handling?
9. Literary Merit: How well do the creators incorporate
literary elements such as theme, style, and characters?

J. Professional Resources

The library staff will consult professional resources when selecting

new materials for the library, including The Horn Book, Booklist,
and School Library Journal. The library staff will also consider
staff and student requests at this time.

K. Procedures for Handling Challenges and Complaints

All challenges and complaints concerning books and material

available within the library will be reported to the principal and
handled by the Director of Libraries. The Request for
Reconsideration form must be filled out and submitted to the
front office in order for the reconsideration process to begin. The
challenged material will remain on the librarys shelves and
available for check-out during the reconsideration process.

Steps in Reconsideration Process

1. Submit formal complaint form to office.
2. Director of Libraries will form a reconsideration
committee. A date for a hearing will be scheduled.
The complainant will be notified.
3. The committee and the complainant will be asked to
read the challenged material in its entirety.
4. The committee will meet and make a decision about the
challenged material based on the appropriateness of
the content. The committees vote will be presented to
district administration, and the complainant will be
notified in writing of the decision.
5. Items chosen for removal will be pulled from the
collection immediately.