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1. Policies: Selection Guidance

The Concordia library is here to support the students, staff and parents in their search for quality books, online resources, and learning opportunities. This guide is designed to help answer questions about the library for our community.

Selection Responsibility

The librarian(s) will work cooperatively with staff members to interpret and guide the application of policy in making day-to-day selections; however, the final responsibility for selection of library resources lies with the Director of Libraries. The librarians encourage participation in the selection process. Teachers, students, staff and parents are invited to make recommendations by channeling appropriate reviews and other information.

Selection Aids

In order to assure intelligent discrimination in the selection of resources, reviews are consulted before an acquisition decision is finalized whenever possible.

The professional journals and periodicals (online and/or print) used in the selection process include (but are not limited to):

Booklist Online

The Horn Book

Knowledge Quest

Library Journal

New York Times Book Review

Publishers Weekly

School Library Journal

Teacher Librarian: The Journal for School Library Professionals

Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)

Gifts and Donations

All gifts will be subject to the same selection criteria as purchased materials. The library gladly accepts gifts of books and other materials but reserves the right to make whatever use of the material it feels appropriate. The library may dispose of unsolicited gifts by sale and/or any other means when gifts are not appropriate or needed for the collection of resources or the library program. Items deemed inappropriate will be respectfully declined or deselected.

If desired by donors, gift acknowledgements for donated materials will be provided by the library.