Library Materials Information For Parents
Per EFB (Local) The District shall provide a wide range of library materials for students and faculty that support student achievement and present varying levels of difficulty, diversity of appeal, and a variety of points of view.
Library materials may be used to enhance the instructional program, for formal or informal teaching and learning purposes, and for voluntary inquiry or self-selected reading. In accordance with state and local standards, school libraries are essential interactive collaborative learning environments, ever evolving to provide equitable physical and virtual access to ideas, information, and learning tools for the entire school community. School libraries are essential, safe, and inviting centers for teaching and learning that provide equitable access to emerging technologies and physical and virtual collections of high quality, reflecting input from stakeholders.
For Parents: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
May students check out materials that are currently under review?
Yes. Access to a challenged material shall not be restricted during the reconsideration process, except the District may deny access to a child if requested by the child's parent. See Board Policy (EFB Local).
How can I access the library books that are available to my child?
Lamar CISD is committed to maximizing transparency with parents and community members. To support transparency and access, parents may review library books through Destiny Library Manager, which is linked on the Library Services homepage for all campuses.
Approximately how many books are available in Lamar CISD?
Lamar CISD estimates approximately 565,000 library books district-wide.
How are library materials chosen in Lamar CISD?
Per District Policy EFB (Local), Library materials shall be chosen in accordance with guidelines adopted by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission and District procedures. In the selection of library materials, librarians and other professional staff shall ensure that the materials:
- Enrich and support the curriculum, taking into consideration students' varied interests, abilities, learning styles, and maturity levels.
- Are appropriate for the subject area and for the age, intellectual development, and ability level of the students for whom the materials are selected.
- Stimulate growth in factual knowledge, enjoyment of reading, literary appreciation, aesthetic values, and societal standards.
- Develop a balanced collection presenting multiple viewpoints related to controversial issues to foster critical thinking skills and encourage discussion based on rational analysis [see EMB regarding instruction about controversial issues].
- Represent many ethnic, religious, and cultural groups and their contributions to the national heritage and world community.
- Provide a wide range of background information that will enable students to make intelligent decisions in their daily lives.
- Demonstrate literary merit, quality, value, and significance.
- Have received favorable professional library reviews from state- and nationally recognized review publications.
- Have received state or national awards or are included on recommended reading lists developed by library professionals and educators.
- Cover topics, authors, series, or genres that fill gaps in the school library collection.
- Include accurate and authentic factual content from authoritative sources.
- Have a high degree of potential user appeal and interest.
- Offer a global perspective that promotes equity of access, including print and nonprint materials such as electronic and multimedia, to meet the needs of individual learners.
- Are requested or recommended by students and teachers.
- Represent diverse viewpoints and cultures appropriate to each campus to ensure the collection embodies the unique background of its student population.
How may I participate in my child's library book selection?
In school libraries, students are afforded the opportunity to self-select texts as part of literacy development. While librarians are trained in selecting materials in accordance with Board policy and the outlined selection criteria and may provide guidance to students in selecting texts, the ultimate determination of appropriateness lies with the student and parent. School librarians, or designated campus administrators, are to encourage parents to share any considerations regarding their students' book selections. In accordance with state law and administrative regulations, parents may select alternative library materials for their student. [For information on parental rights regarding instructional materials and other instructional resources, see EF(LEGAL).]
Parents are able to view the books their child checked out by accessing their child's Destiny account.
Is there a formal reconsideration process?
Per EFB (Local), When the District or a campus receives an objection to the appropriateness of a library material, the appropriate librarian or administrator shall try to resolve the matter informally. The librarian or administrator shall explain the selection process and discuss the intended purpose for the library material. If appropriate, the librarian or administrator may offer a concerned parent an alternative library material to be used by that parent's child in place of the challenged material.
If the complainant wishes to make a formal challenge, the administrator shall provide the complainant a copy of this policy and a form to request a formal reconsideration of the library material.
Is there a formal reconsideration process?
Per District Policy EFB (Local), A complainant shall make any formal challenge to a library material on the form provided by the District and shall submit the completed and signed form to the principal. Upon receipt of the form, the principal shall appoint a reconsideration committee.
The reconsideration committee shall include the librarian and at least one member of the instructional staff who has experience using the challenged material with students or is familiar with the challenged material's content. Other members of the committee may include District-level staff, secondary-level students, parents, and any other appropriate individuals.
All members of the committee shall review the challenged library material in its entirety. As soon as reasonably possible, the committee shall meet and determine whether the challenged material conforms to the principles of selection set out in this policy and whether the challenged material will continue to be used in the educational program. The committee shall prepare a written report of its findings. The Superintendent, other appropriate administrators, and the complainant shall receive copies of the report.