Harvard-Westlake Upper School, Mudd Library Collection Development Policy.

1. Collection
Development
THE BLENDED COLLECTIONS OF THE
21ST CENTURY LIBRARY

2. Case Study:
Harvard-Westlake School
Collection Development Policy
I. Program Objectives
II. Responsibility for Selection
III. Selection Criteria
IV. Selection Process
V. Gifts
VI. Weeding/De-selection
VII. Intellectual Freedom
VIII. Challenges to Library Material
Appendix A: Sample Letter to Complainant
Appendix B: Statement of Concern about Library Resources
Appendix C:The American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights

3. I. Program Objectives
The objective of the libraries at the Harvard-Westlake School is to
provide access to a collection of materials that
• enriches and supports the curriculum
• presents a variety of points of view
• and meets the wide-ranging needs and interests of the Harvard-Westlake
School community.
II. Responsibility for Selection
The librarians will work in concert with the faculty to guide decision making in
day-to-day selections; however, final responsibility for selection of materials for
the library lies with the librarians under the direction of the Head Librarians.

4. III. Selection Criteria
The intellectual content of the material, the characteristics of the
intended users, and the philosophy, mission, and goals of Harvard-
Westlake School are considered when evaluating material for inclusion
in the library collection. No material is excluded from consideration on
the basis of the author’s race, nationality, political, social or religious
beliefs. Materials dealing with controversial views or issues are judged
as entire works, not as isolated passages. Generally, material is selected
on the basis of its strengths, rather than rejected for its weaknesses.
The following specific criteria shall serve as a guide in the selection
process:

5. • Educational significance
• Contribution the material makes to the curriculum and to the interest of
students
• Validity, currency, and appropriateness of material *
• Accuracy and impartiality
• Cost *
• Favorable reviews from professional selection sources
• Reputation and significance of the author, producer, and/or publisher
• Contribution the material may make to the breadth of representative
viewpoints on issues
• Artistic quality and/or literary style
• Quality and variety of format *
• Readability *
• Ease of use and access *
• High degree of user appeal *
• Degree to which the material will enrich the collection as a whole.

6. The library collection includes the following formats:
Books
Magazines
Newspapers
Online subscription databases
Electronic books
Audio books
DVDs
Digital camera equipment.
Inclusion of additional formats and emerging technologies is evaluated on an
ongoing basis.

7. IV. Selection Process
Material is selected for the collection in a number of ways:
• Requests and suggestions are sought from members of the faculty and student
body throughout the year.
• The librarians coordinate trips to local book stores. During these sessions,
members of the faculty select material they would like added to the collection in
their subject areas.
• Throughout the year, the librarians consult professional journals, literature from
professional organizations, and other review sources recognized for their
expertise.
• Material is selected from publishers known to produce quality material of high
interest and/or appeal to the student body.
V. Gifts
Gift materials are accepted at the discretion of the library staff and evaluated using the
same criteria as purchased materials. Disposition of any materials not selected for
inclusion in the library collection is at the discretion of the Head Librarians.
Monetary gifts are accepted on a case by case basis after careful consideration of any
special restrictions or limitations on said funds.

8. Weeding/De-selection
Collection development is an ongoing process of continuous review, evaluation, and
weeding (CREW). The systematic removal of worn, damaged, out-dated, and/or
superseded material, as well as material that is no longer appropriate, pertinent to
the curriculum, or of interest to users, is the responsibility of the librarians under the
direction of the Head Librarians. Replacement of any lost, worn, or damaged material
still of educational value is an important part of maintaining a vibrant, relevant library
collection. While the criteria used for selecting materials are also used when
evaluating material for possible removal, the library staff uses the CREW method and
the MUSTY (misleading, ugly, superseded, trivial, your collection has no use for it)
guidelines to identify items targeted for de-selection. No item is removed without a
thorough evaluation of its place in the collection as a whole.
Disposition of withdrawn items is at the discretion of the librarians under the
direction of the Head Librarians.

9. VII. Intellectual Freedom
Recognizing that an atmosphere of free inquiry and exposure to a wide range
of viewpoints is essential to the education of students in order for them to
thoughtfully participate in a democratic society, libraries subscribe to the
American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights (See Appendix C).
Occasionally, however, objections or challenges to materials may be made.
Objections to materials are an important part of the democratic process and
should be treated as legitimate avenues of communication in education.
However, challenges to the inclusion of materials are only considered on the
understanding that no parents or guardians have the right to determine
instructional or recreational resources for students other than their own.

10. VIII. Challenges to Library Material
The procedure concerning challenged material is outlined below. The procedure is intended
to provide a thorough and thoughtful review of the material in question and to decide on
appropriate action within the context of the principles of intellectual freedom, students’ right
to access materials, and the professional responsibility and integrity of the school faculty.
Material shall not be removed from the library before completion of the process in its
entirety.
• All challenges to library material shall be reported to the library staff, whether received by
phone, letter, personal conversation, e-mail, or other form of communication.
• The campus Head Librarian in concert with the school administration will contact the
complainant to discuss the complaint and attempt to resolve the issue informally by
explaining the philosophy and goals of the Harvard-Westlake School and the library, as
well as the material selection process and criteria (See: Appendix A).
• If the complaint cannot be resolved informally, the complainant shall be given a packet of
materials consisting of the Harvard-Westlake School Library Collection Development Policy
and the procedure for handling challenged materials. Included in this packet is the
Statement of Concern About Library Resources form (See: Appendix B) which shall be
completed and returned before further consideration/action will be given to the
challenge.

11. • If the Statement of Concern About Library Resources is not received by the Head
Librarian within two weeks of the date indicated on the letter to complainant, the
matter shall be considered closed. If the request is returned, the reasons for
selection of the specific work shall be re-examined by the appropriate faculty
and/or staff.
• While no challenged material shall be removed from the library before the
challenged materials process has been completed in its entirety, access to
challenged material may be denied to the child or children of the parent(s) or
guardian(s) making the challenge, if they so desire.
• Upon receipt of a completed Statement of Concern About Library Resources form,
the Head Librarian in concert with the school administration will appoint a
committee to consider the complaint.
• The Re-consideration Committee shall consist of: the Head Librarians from each
campus, one of whom will act as chair; a member of the campus’s school library
staff; two faculty members, one of whom has subject area expertise for the
material in question; a dean; and the Head of School.

12. • The Re-consideration Committee shall meet to review the material and
determine if it meets the principles of selection in the Harvard-Westlake
School Library Collection Development Policy. The committee shall complete
a report on the material containing their recommendations on the matter. In
response to the material challenge, the Head Librarian shall explain the
library’s selection policy, selection philosophy, present the guidelines used
for selection of the specific challenged material, cite authorities used in
making the selection, and make recommendations.
• The Head Librarian in concert with the school administration shall notify the
complainant of the decision.
• Once a title has been through the complete re-consideration process and a
determination has been made regarding the disposition of the material, said
material will not be subject to further re-consideration requests.

13. Appendix: A
Sample Letter to Complainant
Date:
Dear:
We appreciate your concern over the use of ___________________________________ at
Harvard-Westlake School. We have developed procedures for selecting materials, but realize
that not everyone will agree with every selection made.
To help you understand the selection philosophy and process, please find enclosed:
Harvard-Westlake School Library Collection Development Policy
Procedures for handling challenged material
The American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights and interpretations
Should you still have concerns about a selected title after you have reviewed these enclosures,
please complete and return the Statement of Concern About Library Resources form. You may
be assured of prompt attention to your request. If we have not heard from you within two
weeks from the date of this letter, we will assume that you no longer wish to file a formal
complaint.
Sincerely,

14. Appendix C: The American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights
The American Library Association affirms that all libraries are forums for information and
ideas, and that the following basic policies should guide their services.
I. Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and
enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be
excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.
II. Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current
and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or
doctrinal disapproval.
III. Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide
information and enlightenment.
IV. Libraries should cooperate with all persons and groups concerned with resisting abridgment
of free expression and free access to ideas.
V. A person’s right to use a library should not be denied or abridged because of origin, age,
background, or views.
VI. Libraries which make exhibit spaces and meeting rooms available to the public they serve
should make such facilities available on an equitable basis, regardless of the beliefs or
affiliations of individuals or groups requesting their use.

16. The Blended Collection
The CDP should generally be format neutral
Budgeting considerations:
Print book budget procedures don’t often translate to ebook acquisition
Annual subscriptions or fees often replace one-time purchase
Creative purchase possibilities are becoming more available:
PDA, Pay-per-use, 12-month access
Be careful with ethical use of materials: management of digital formats doesn’t
always fall under the same rules as print.
Collect your resources: Ebooks and the School Library Program (Leverkus and
Acedo, 2013) has chapter on Developing an Ebook Collection, and Building and
Managing E-Book Collections (Kaplan, ed., 2012) is also useful.

17. Speaking Truth to Power
The library collection of the 21st century is blended, containing any and all
formats that help our students. We must educate our community about the
practical realities of the digital landscape today.
→How often have you heard: “Every book ever published is in your pocket
right now”?
See AISL Independent Ideas blog post of November 25, 2013:
http://aislnews.org/?p=713
→ Do administrators, parents, & faculty confidently assert that print books
are “dead tree technology”, out of date as soon as they are published?
See AISL Independent Ideas blog post of January 31, 2014:
“The Format Wars or… Cushing Revisited”: http://aislnews.org/?p=979

18. Stay informed:
Aggregators, newsfeeds

19. Over
to
You
• HOW IS YOUR COLLECTION BLENDED?
• WHAT WORKS WELL? BIGGEST CHALLENGE?
• WHAT IS ONE THING YOU CAN DO TO INCREASE
ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT FOR YOUR PROGRAM?