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Materials Selection Policy

In order to assure that the school media program is an integral part of the educational program of the school, Germantown Academy adopts the following selection objectives.

• Provide materials that will enrich and support the curriculum, taking into consideration the varied interests, abilities, and maturity levels of the pupils served.
• Provide materials that will stimulate growth in factual knowledge, literary appreciation, esthetic values, and ethical standards.
• Provide a background of information that will enable students to make intelligent judgments in their daily lives.   
• Provide materials on opposing sides of controversial issues so that young citizens may develop, under guidance, the practice of critical reading and thinking.
• Provide materials which realistically represent our pluralist society and which reflect the contributions made by diverse groups to our American heritage.

We place principle above personal opinion, and reason above prejudice, in the selection of materials of the highest quality in order to assure a comprehensive collection appropriate for the users of the library.

Suggestions are welcome from faculty, students and other interested parties.  We try to check all suggestions against recommended sources, such as the National Association of Independent Schools' Books for Secondary School Libraries, Junior High School Library Catalog, Senior High School Library Catalog, Library Journal, School Library Journal,  Bookllist, Book Report, Kliatt, English Journal, Voya, Alan Review, Science Book and Film and The Bowker Complete Video Directory.
        
Criticism of library materials shall be handled as suggested by "The Students' Right to Read", published by The National Council of Teachers of English.

The Library Policy On Weeding, Discarding and Withdrawing Materials

When materials are no longer useful or appropriate for those who use the library, they are removed from the collection by the professional staff. The following factors are considered before materials are discarded.

• The physical condition of the item.
• Whether an item has become outmoded by a new or revised edition, or might be purchased in a more technologically advanced medium.
• If the content is outdated.  Maps, charts and illustrations should be current and of good quality. 
• If the material supports the curriculum and/or continues to be actively used.
• Whether the material adheres to the School Library Bill of Rights endorsed by the American Association of School Libraries.

Video Policy

The library purchases both videos and DVDs in support of the curriculum of the School.  The same criteria used to choose books also applies to their purchase; however, in their case, highest purchase priority is given to specific teacher requests.  Although videos and DVDs may be checked out by all library patrons, for the most part they are used in class.

The library does visually mark all R-rated films.  Students under 18 may not check out any of these films without written parental consent.  Teachers may not show R-rated films to freshman and sophomore classes. They may show R-rated films to juniors and seniors students if they have obtained department head approval, and have listed them in the Course Guide and in the syllabus.  Further explanation of this policy is provided in the Faculty Handbook

In all cases, the library purchases films of high quality, which have proven to have artistic merit and/or are effective in the communication of ideas.  The films in the library represent a diversity of views and expressions.  Their selection does not imply agreement with, or approval of, the content.  In general, and with a respect for age-appropriateness, the library endorses the Educational Film Library Association’s statement on the freedom to view, which is protected by the First Amendment.
 

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