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AA440 – Library Media Selection and Review

  • Effective: 9/14/1993
  • Revision: 9/24/2024
  1. Board Directive
    1. It is the belief of the Board of Education that every student should have access to a library media center that offers a variety of materials, formats, and genres to meet multiple reading purposes: enjoyment, acquisition of knowledge, answering questions, different languages, emerging technologies, and personal growth.
    2. The First Amendment of the United States Constitution guides the Jordan School District library media centers in both selection of materials and review of challenged materials. The First Amendment states: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press...”
    3. This policy specifies the process for identifying materials to be included or disqualified from use in libraries and schools based on Utah Code Section 53G-10-103, Sensitive Instructional Materials, state and federal law, Utah State Board of Education Rule 277-217, Educator Standards and LEA Reporting, or based on age-appropriate contents.
    4. The Board delegates responsibility for developing and administering this policy to the District Administration.
  2. Administrative Policy
    The Library Media Selection and Review policy shall be administered according to the following administrative policy provisions:

    1. Selection of Materials
      The responsibility for selection rests with trained library personnel under the direction of the Jordan School District Board of Education, using the following criteria:

      1. Overall purpose and educational significance
      2. Legality
      3. Age and developmental appropriateness, including consideration of violence, pervasive vulgarity, self-harm, etc.
      4. Timeliness and/or permanence
      5. Readability and accessibility for intended audience
      6. Artistic quality and literary style
      7. Reputation and significance of author, producer, and/or publisher
      8. Variety of format with efforts to incorporate emerging technologies
      9. Quality and value commensurate with cost and/or need
    2. Responsibility for Selection
      1. The professional library media specialist assigned to the school and the school principal, working in cooperation with staff members, shall be responsible for the selection of materials for school library media centers. This includes material acquired through grants, book fairs, and other donations. Each library media specialist holds either a master’s degree or an endorsement in library media science and is qualified to make selections in a responsible and professional manner.
    3. Evaluating Materials, Self-selection and Internet Access
      1. The library media specialist strives to review all incoming collection items. Because of the volume of materials that are purchased each year, they are also evaluated based on credible reviews from professional publications, professional recommendations, award recipients and other professional sources. When books that have been purchased are received, additional evaluation may be appropriate.
      2. Library materials are available to students on a self-selection basis. The library media specialist, library media assistants, teachers or staff members may assist students in locating needed library media materials.
        1. Student self-selection of materials is often guided by reading lists provided by sources such as professional journals, student book clubs, public libraries and commercial companies.  These lists are not formally approved by library media specialists, school administration or District personnel. Approval of selection lists used as part of a curriculum activity/assignment is addressed in Policy AA424 - Literature Selection and Review.
        2. Responsibility for the reading, listening and viewing of library media materials and accessing internet resources by children rests with parents/guardians, the library media specialist, and school staff members. The parents/guardians are invited to consult with the library media specialist to find materials they feel are appropriate for their children. 
        3. Through Destiny online access, parents may view the title, author, and description of any material the parent’s child borrows from the school library, including a history of borrowed materials.
        4. Electronic databases and other web-based searches and content will be filtered through Jordan District’s state-required internet filter.
    4. Sensitive Instructional Materials
      1. Instructional materials are not exclusively library materials.
      2. Instructional materials determined to be objective sensitive materials or subjective sensitive materials are removed from all school settings as defined in Utah Code 53G-10-103.
      3. If an instructional material constitutes objective sensitive material, no further review is necessary.
      4. Sensitive materials do not include:
        1. A concurrent enrollment course that contains sensitive materials for which a parent receives notice and provides consent.
        2. Instructional materials for medical courses.
        3. Instructional materials for family and consumer science courses.
        4. Health curriculum selected by an LEA under Utah Code 53G-10-402.
      5. An educator may not expose students to sensitive materials as outlined in Board Rule R277-217.
      6. A library/instructional material review request may be made by Jordan School District employees, students, parents, and governing board members. There is no limitation on submission for reviews unless an individual makes three unsuccessful challenges, inclusive of a direct review or appeal, during a given school year.
    5. Library Materials Review Process - Initial Review
      1. A library materials review may be based upon the concern that the material contains sensitive material as defined in Utah Code Section 53G-10-103, or upon concerns with age-appropriateness of content.
      2. The Materials Review Request Form is available here: Jordan District Materials Review Form.
      3. The requester must provide all information requested on the form including the complaint or objection to the library material, with excerpts and other evidence to support the allegation.
      4. Upon receipt of a request for review, at least two Jordan School District employees, including the Instructional Support Services Consultant and the Administrator of Teaching and Learning or designee, will make an initial determination related to a plausible claim that the material contains or constitutes sensitive material.
      5. If a plausible claim is substantiated, the instructional material is immediately removed from student access in all school settings until the full review is completed.
      6. A full review is initiated after the completion of an initial review that substantiates a plausible claim.
      7. Parents may request a list of materials currently under review from library personnel.
      8. The identity of the requester and committee members will be protected and kept confidential from all individuals outside of the review process outlined in this policy, to the extent possible.
    6. Full Review: Objective Sensitive Materials
      1. Members of the Objective Sensitive Materials Review Committee will include:
        1. Administrator of Teaching and Learning or his/her designee
        2. Instructional Support Services Consultant
        3. A school community parent
      2. Members of the Objective Sensitive Materials Review Committee may not include those responsible for procurement of the materials or the individual(s) who brought the challenge.
      3. Members of the Review Committee will receive materials to complete the review process, including the following:
        1. A copy of the Materials Review Request Form
        2. Excerpts and other evidence to support the allegation
        3. A copy of Jordan District Policy AA440
        4. Materials provided to the committee may also include relevant information about the title compiled and shared by the library staff, including the reasons for initial approval of the material.
      4. The Review Committee will determine dates and times for meetings and maintain minutes of the meetings.
      5. The Review Committee will determine the amount of time needed for an adequate review of a material to make a thorough and thoughtful decision and inform the requester of the determined timeline with a preference for 30 school days where possible and no longer than 60 school days.
      6. The Review Committee will determine whether the material constitutes objective sensitive material using the standards found in Section 76-10-1235, under the non-discretionary standards described in Subsection
        76-10-1227 (1)(a)(i), (ii), or (iii).
      7. If the library or instructional material constitutes objective sensitive material, the review process is completed and the library or instructional material is immediately removed from all school settings.
      8. The Instructional Support Services Consultant will promptly report the determination to the State Library Media Specialist within 20 days after completing the full review.
      9. The outcome of the review will be reported to the requester.
      10. If the objective sensitive material standard is NOT upheld, initiate a subjective sensitive material review.
    7. Full Review: Subjective Sensitive Materials and Age Appropriateness
      1. Members of the Subjective Sensitive Materials Review Committee will include:
        1. Administrator of Teaching & Learning or the Instructional Support Services Consultant or designee
        2. A teacher-librarian
        3. Parents of current students at the school that number at least one more than the LEA employees on the Committee. Parents should be reflective of the school community as required in Utah Code Subsection 53G-10-103(3).
      2. Members of the Subjective Sensitive Materials Review Committee may not include those responsible for procurement of the materials or the individual(s) who brought the challenge.
      3. Members of the Review Committee will receive materials to complete the review process, including the following:
        1. A copy of the Materials Review Request Form
        2. Access to the complete work that includes the material being challenged
        3. A copy of this policy
        4. If needed, relevant information about the title compiled and shared by the library staff; this may include the reason for initial approval of the material.
      4. The Review Committee will determine meeting dates and times and maintain meeting minutes.
      5. The Review Committee will determine the amount of time needed for an adequate review of a material to make a thorough and thoughtful decision and inform the requester of the determined timeline with a preference for 30 school days where possible and no longer than 60 school days.
      6. During the review period, students may access material with parental consent.
      7. In deciding whether the material constitutes subjective sensitive material, the committee will use the subjective sensitive material standards: constitutes pornographic or indecent material, as that term is defined in Section 76-10-1235, under the following factor-balancing standards:
        1. Material that is harmful to minors under Section 76-10-1201;
        2. Material that is pornographic under Section 76-10-1203; or
        3. Material that includes certain fondling or other erotic touching under Subsection 76-10-1227(1)(a)(iv).
      8. If the library or instructional material is determined to be subjective sensitive material:
        1. Ensure that the material is inaccessible to students in any school setting and terminate parent consent.
        2. Report the determination to the State Library Media Specialist within 10 days of the final determination.
        3. Report the outcomes to the requester.
        4. Dispose of or return the material identified for removal.
        5. Ensure that it is not sold or distributed to a minor.
      9. The Subjective Sensitive Materials Committee may also receive book challenges based on developmental appropriateness, including considerations of violence, pervasive vulgarity, self-harm, etc. that are not a part of the state definition of sensitive materials.
    8. Appeals Process
      1. Employees, students, parents, and governing board members of Jordan School District may initiate an appeal regardless of whether the material was retained or removed. The appeal must be made in writing within 15 business days of receipt of the Review Committee's final determination using an Appeal Request Form. The form may be found at Appeal Request Form.
      2. The Jordan School District Board of Education will review the appeal and vote in a public Board meeting to decide the outcome of a sensitive material review appeal, clearly identifying:
        1. The rationale for their decision.
        2. Their determination on each component of any statutory or policy standards they used to reach their conclusions.
      3. The Instructional Support Services Consultant will promptly report the Board’s determination to the State Library Media Specialist within 20 days after the final determination of the appeal.
      4. The Jordan School District Board of Education may not enact rules or policies that prevent them from:
        1. Revisiting a previous decision.
        2. Reviewing a recommendation of Jordan School District personnel or parent-related committee regarding a challenged instructional material.
        3. Reconsidering a challenged library or instructional material unless additional information regarding the material is received.
    9. Communication
      1. Jordan School District will maintain an accessible public website where the following information can be located:
        1. Materials Review Request Form
        2. Appeal Request Form
        3. Application to Serve on a Materials Review Committee
        4. This library policy
      2. If made aware of material that may be considered sensitive material as defined in Section 53G-10-103, the District will inform relevant parties regarding appropriate actions to take pursuant to this policy.