Hours	Staff	Contact
Monday - Thursday 7:00 am - 5:00 pm Friday 7:00 am - 4:00 pm	Mrs. Alper Mrs. Botchie Mrs. Dakubu	e-mail alperj@chelseaschools.com e-mail tdakubu@chelseaschools.com 299 Everett Ave, Chelsea, MA 02150 Phone: 617 466 5032 In school X65032 Fax: 617 889 8468

Vision Statement

The vision of the Chelsea High School Library Media Center is of a student body that enjoys acquiring knowledge, is skilled in locating and evaluating ideas and information and is preparing to use such knowledge and skills in improving the lives of themselves and others.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Library Media Center is to facilitate the research, informational, reading, and instructional needs of the staff and students of Chelsea High School in accordance with the School Mission.

The Library Media Center meets these needs by acquiring and providing user-friendly access to quality resources in a variety of formats and by offering assistance in information retrieval and guidance in the evaluation and interpretation of that information, all in support of the School curricula and the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks.

Procedures and Policies

Students are encouraged to borrow books from the library for class work or for personal enjoyment.  Books may be checked out for three weeks with the option of renewing the books for another three weeks if no one has requested them.  Students must have their ID cards with them when they borrow books.  Students with overdue books will not be allowed to sign out additional books until the outstanding books are returned to the Library Media Center.

Computers are available for student use in the center.  Use of network services will be granted to students who agree to act in a considerate and responsible manner.  The following activities are unacceptable and prohibited.

• Accessing information or programs which are inappropriate in a school environment (e.g., pornographic materials, chat lines, games, etc.)
• Using obscene, harassing, or offensive language
• Using another person’s password or account without his/her permission
• Violating copyright laws
• Damaging or stealing computer equipment, software, or files

Selection Policy of the Chelsea Public Schools Library Media Centers

Responsibility for Selecting Library Materials

The Chelsea School Committee and the Boston University Management Team are legally responsible for the policy of the Chelsea Public Schools.  The responsibility for the selection of instructional materials is delegated by the Management Team and the School Committee to the professionally trained employees of the school system.  Selection of materials involves many people: administrators, teachers, supervisors, students, and school library media specialists.  The responsibility for selection and purchase of library material rests with professionally trained school library media personnel.

Objectives for Selecting Library Materials

• The main objective of our selection procedure is to provide students with a wide range of educational materials on all levels of difficulty and in a variety of formats, with diversity of appeal, allowing for the presentation of many different points of view.
• The objective of the media center is to make available to faculty and students a collection of materials that will enrich and support the curriculum and meet the needs of the students and faculty served.

Criteria for Selecting School Library Materials

Individual learning styles, the curriculum, the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks, and the existing collection are given consideration in determining the needs for library materials.  Materials considered for inclusion in the collection, whether they be purchased or donated, are judged, not necessarily exclusively, on the following criteria:

• Relationship to the school’s curriculum and the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks
• Reviews in standard selection sources
• Validity, currency and objectivity
• Literary and/or artistic merit
• Quality of design, technical merit, clarity and ease of use, organization and variety of format
• Reputation and significance of the author, artist, producer and publisher
• Appeal and value to students and teachers
• Special features (illustrations, photographs, maps, charts, etc.)
• Cost commensurate with value or need
• Scarcity of materials on the subject
• Durability or maintainability
• Timeliness or permanence
•  Versatility

Procedures for Selecting and Maintaining the School Library Media Collection

The professional school library media personnel will

• Consult reputable, unbiased, professionally prepared selection aids (For example: Best Books for Young Adults, Book Report, Booklist, Criticas, Elementary School Library Collection, Horn Book, Library Journal, Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog, Reference Books for School Libraries, Senior High School Library Catalog, School Library Journal, Video Librarian, VOYA) Arrange when possible for first hand examination of items of interest Purchase duplicates of extensively used materials
• Weed continuously from the collection worn and obsolete items
• Purchase replacements for worn, damaged, or missing materials basic to the collection
• Solicit teacher feedback on materials
• Determine a procedure for preventive maintenance and repair of materials
• Set up procedure for receiving recommendations and requests from students and staff

Procedures for the Reconsideration of Materials

Occasional objections to some materials may be made despite the care taken in the selection process. If a complaint is made, the following procedures will be observed.
1. The principal will be informed of the complaint and will, in turn, inform the superintendent
2. The complainant will be advised of the selection procedures and provided with a copy of the form, Request for Reconsideration of School Library Materials. The complainant will be invited to respond within two weeks using the form provided.
3. If the completed form is not received within two weeks, the matter shall be considered closed
4. If the form is filed, the principal will appoint a reconsideration committee consisting of three members of the school’s staff and a library media professional.  This committee will:

• Examine the challenged materials
• Survey appraisals of the materials in professional reviewing sources
• Weigh merits against alleged faults to form an opinion based on the materials as a whole and not on passages isolated from context
• Being mindful of the principles of intellectual freedom inherent in the First Amendment and expressed in the Library Bill of Rights, prepare a written recommendation to the superintendent and School Committee

5. The Management Team and School Committee will decide whether to retain or withdraw the materials, and deliver the decision in writing to the complainant and staff.

*This policy follows the guidelines of the American Library Association’s Workbook for Selection Policy Writing.  2002