Stevensville School District
INSTRUCTION
Selection of Library Materials
The District has libraries in every school, with the primary objective of implementing and supporting the educational program in the schools. It is the objective of these libraries to provide a wide range of materials on all appropriate levels of difficulty, with diversity of appeal, and the presentation of different points of view.
The provision of a wide variety of library materials at all reading levels supports the District’s basic principle that the school, in a free society, assists all students to develop their talents fully so that they become capable of contributing to the further good of that society.
In support of these objectives, the Board reaffirms the principles of intellectual freedom inherent in the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States and guided by the principles set forth in the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights and its interpretation for school libraries.
Although the Superintendent is responsible for selection of library materials, ultimate responsibility rests with the Board.
The Board, acting through the Superintendent, thereby delegates authority for selection of library materials to the principal in each of the schools. The principal may delegate that authority to the librarian in the school.
(NOTE: BY STATUTE, THE SUPERINTENDENT, or a principal if there is no district superintendent, HAS AUTHORITY AND IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SELECTION OF LIBRARY MATERIALS, SUBJECT TO BOARD APPROVAL. THE SUPERINTENDENT AND BOARD MAY NOT WANT TO DELEGATE THIS RESPONSIBILITY.)
Legal Reference:
20-4-402(5), MCA Duties of district superintendent or county high school principal
20-7-203, MCA Trustees’ policies for school library
20-7-204, MCA School library book selection
Library Bill of Rights
American Library Association
Policy History:
Adopted on: March 14, 2017
Reviewed on: February 14, 2017; December 11, 2018; October 2, 2023
Revised on: January 8, 2019
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