Policies & Guidelines

Resource Center Policies & Guidelines

Staff Emails

Hours:

8:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.

Check Out:

Books = 3 weeks + 5-day grace
Spare iPads, Spare Crayons, Spare Pencils, & Headphones = only for the day and returned at the end of the day
eAudio books and eBooks available through cloudLibrary

Renewals:

Books may be renewed.
Only one renewal is granted if the book is on hold for another person.

Fines/Fees:

Lost or Damaged Items = must pay replacement cost
Students are not allowed to take final tests until all materials are returned and fines are paid.

Overdues:

Overdues will be posted outside both offices and on the library door.
Please check this list and be aware of due dates.
Students will receive emails from the library regarding overdue materials and on hold materials.

Canvas:

Please accept the invitation to the Hi-Liner Library Course.
Announcements and Messages will be a means of communication from the library to students.

The Hi-Liner Way: Respectful, Responsible, Safe

Be Respectful:

Be mindful of others property, feelings, and personal space.
Use of personal technology is subject to librarian discretion.

Be Responsible:

Follow The VCPS Acceptable Use Policy, so you are allowed to use our Internet and devices.
Take the VCHS Digital Citizenship Quiz and pass with an 80% or higher by October 15.
Clean up your area and push your chair in before you leave.

Be Safe:

Use Securly Pass
- Every student must be signed out from their class to the library.
- Students in the library may autocreate passes to and from lockers and restrooms. Choose that you are leaving Mrs. Lerud and not the library. People can have autopasses, but places cannot.
- Students in the library wanting to go to another teacher, create the pass and ask a librarian to approve the pass.
- If you are staying for Open Campus, create a pass from Open Campus to the Hi-Liner Library and ask a librarian to approve the pass.
Stay at your seat until the bell rings if you are here for the period.
Fire Emergency Plan: Exit door #4. Meet on the Court House block.
Tornado Emergency Plan: Go to the HAC North Hallway.

Selection, Review, & Complaints of Instructional & Resource Material

VALLEY CITY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT #2
VALLEY CITY, NORTH DAKOTA 58072
SELECTION, REVIEW, & COMPLAINTS OF INSTRUCTIONAL & RESOURCE MATERIAL

Descriptor Code GAAC
1st Reading 2/21/18
Adopted 2/21/18
Revised/Rescinded

SELECTION, REVIEW, & COMPLAINTS OF INSTRUCTIONAL & RESOURCE MATERIAL
In order to consider the opinions of those persons in schools and the community who are not directly involved with the instructional and resource material selection process, and to avoid the possibility of a biased or prejudicial attitude influencing selection, a district review committee shall deal with formal complaints about and/or requests for reconsideration of library and instructional materials.
All citizen requests for reconsideration of and complaints about instructional and resource material will be processed through the District Review Committee.
A procedure for processing and responding to criticism of approved material shall be established and followed. This procedure shall include the use of a formal signed "Request for Reconsideration of Instructional Resources" form.
The District subscribes to the philosophy stated in the School Library Bill of Rights.
Complementing

GAAC-BR, Procedure f o r Reviewing Complaints about Instructional/
Resource Material
GAAC-E1, Request for Reconsideration of Instructional Resources
GAAC-E2, Library Bill of Rights
GAAC-E3, Collection Development and Access to Resources & Services in School
Library Media Program
GAAC-E4, Hatch Amendment SampleLetter

Procedure for Reviewing Complaints About Instructional/Resource Material

VALLEY CITY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT #2
VALLEY CITY, NORTH DAKOTA 58072
PROCEDURE FOR REVIEWING COMPLAINTS ABOUT INSTRUCTIONAL/RESOURCE MATERIAL

Descriptor Code GAAC-BR
1st Reading 2/21/18
Adopted 2/21/18
Revised/Rescinded

Review Committee
The building principal shall appoint a District Review Committee as needed. The committee shall be composed of the following individuals:

The building principal (who will serve as chair);
The library media specialist;
Two teachers from the appropriate level;
Two community members; and
Two students.

One person on the review committee will be named to record the minutes.
Review Procedure
A: Complainant contacts teacher or library media specialist with complaint. The complaint may be resolved at this level. The teacher/media specialist will:

Listen to the concern.
Explain the school’s selection policies, these procedures, and the criteria used for the
selection of resources.
Explain the intended educational use of the resource.

B: If the concern is not resolved by discussion with the teacher or media specialist, the teacher or media specialist will bring the complaint to the attention of the building principal who shall attempt to resolve it informally explaining the philosophy, goals, and policies of the school district.
C: If the concern is not resolved and a request is made for the review of material, the following procedure shall be followed:

The building principal shall request the complainant read/view/listen to all of the resource and complete a Request for Reconsideration of Instructional Resources form.
If the formal request for reconsideration has not been received by the principal within two weeks, it shall be considered closed. If the complainant does not meet the recommended time limit, he/she waives his/her right to move the complaint to the next level.
If the complainant submits the completed form to the building principal within the two- week time period, the principal shall call the review committee meeting to initiate the review process as soon as practicable. The principal will notify the complainant of thedate and time of the meeting. The principal will invite appropriate people to provide testimony during the meeting. All meetings of the District Review Committee shall be open.
Access to challenged resources shall not be restricted during the review process. Access may be denied to the child or children of the parents making the complaint, if they so desire.
The material in question will be reconsidered in light of the district’s collectiondevelopment policy, rationale for selection by district personnel, reviews from accepted sources, and general acceptance of the material.
The committee shall:Recommendations shall not be made in an attempt to suppress a viewpoint or limit student exposure to divergent ideas. Mere exposure to an idea does not violate students’rights and the District shall not prescribe what is orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion. Consequently, the committee should consider alternatives to removing instructional/resource material such as, but not limited to, an opt-out option for curricular material or placing check-out restrictions on library materialto the complainant’s own children.
1. Read/View/Listen to all of the challenged resource;
2. Discuss the resource in the context of the educational program and the
  educational use of the material;
3. Evaluate the material according to selection criteria described in the district’s
  collection development policy;
4. Hear testimony from the appropriate people, including the individual(s)
  expressing the concern and professional staff using the material;
5. Determine professional acceptance by reading reviews of the material;
6. Weigh values and faults and form opinions based on the material as the whole
  rather than on passages or selections taken out of context;
7. Reach a decision about the continued use of the resource and prepare a written
  report.
If the review committee does not unanimously agree on the recommendations, the dissenting committee members may generate a minority report.

7. Upon completion of the review process, the chair of the District Review Committee shall, as soon as practicable, file the committee’s report with the superintendent and provide copies to all appropriate individuals:

1. complainant,

library media specialist,
staff members involved,
all committee members.

The written report, signed by all members of the committee, accompanied by any written materials used during the proceedings, shall be retained on the official record of the case.

After these procedures have been completed, any decision of the District Review Committee may be appealed to the Superintendent. The Superintendent will read/view/listen to the challenged material before action on the appeal within a two-week time period of receiving the appeal.
The Superintendent’s decision may be appealed to the School Board.
The Board shall read/view/listen to the challenged material before acting on the appeal.
The board’s ruling is final. All findings and records related to the review process shall be retained by the Superintendent.

12.A decision to sustain a challenge shall not be interpreted as a judgement of irresponsibility on the part of the professionals involved in the original selection and/or use of the resource. Professional personnel shall not be punished or have their employment affected by the decisions reached by the Review Committee.

VCPS Request for Reconsideration of Instructional Materials

VALLEY CITY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT #2
VALLEY CITY, NORTH DAKOTA 58072
VALLEY CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION OF
INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES

Descriptor Code GAAC-E1
1st Reading 2/21/18
Adopted 2/21/18
Revised/Rescinded

VALLEY CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION OF INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES
Material Information
Author: _____________________________________________________
Title: _______________________________________________________
Publisher or Producer: _________________________________________
Copyright Date: _______________________________________________
Type of Material:Library book Periodical Movie TextbookOther learning aid: __________________________________________
Requestor’s Information
Name: ______________________________________________________
Telephone numbers
Home: ______________________________________________________ Work: ______________________________________________________ Cell: _______________________________________________________
Address: ____________________________________________________ City: _______________________________________________________ Requestor represents:Self Group/organization: ______________
Reason for Request: Cite Pages and Be Specific

 I do not feel material is educationally suitable for the following reasons.
 I do not feel the material is age-appropriate for the following reasons.
 The material is part of the curriculum, and I feel it violates students’
rights for the following reasons.
 I feel that the material is vulgar. Explain. ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________

Familiarity with Material
What are the benefits to be derived from study of this material? _________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________
What do you believe is the theme of this material? ___________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________
Are you aware of the judgment of this material by professional critics? If yes, explain.
Yes No: ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________
Proposed Remedies
What would you like the school to do about this material?
 Do not assign/lend it to my child
Withdraw it from all students
Other: ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________
In its place, what material of equal literary or scientific value would you recommend that would convey as valuable a picture and perspective of the subjects treated? ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________
Signature of Requestor: ________________________________________ Date: _______________________________________________________
FORM MUST BE RETURNED TO THE BUILDING PRINCIPAL WITHIN TWO WEEKS OF RECEIVING THIS FORM
__________________ Date given to complainant __________________ Date returned to principal

Library Bill of Rights

VALLEY CITY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT #2
VALLEY CITY, NORTH DAKOTA 58072
LIBRARY BILL OF RIGHTS

Descriptor Code GAAC-E2
1st Reading 2/21/18
Adopted 2/21/18
Revised/Rescinded

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.

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 theircreation.
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.
Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment.
Libraries should cooperate with all persons and groups concerned with resisting abridgement of free expression and free access to ideas.
A person's right to use a library should not be denied or abridged because of origin, age, background, or views.
Libraries that make exhibit spaces and meeting rooms available to the public they serve should make such facilities available on a equitable basis, regardless of the beliefs or affiliations of individuals or groups requesting their use.

Collection Development and Access to Resources and Services
in the School Library Media Program

VALLEY CITY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT #2
VALLEY CITY, NORTH DAKOTA 58072
COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT AND ACCESS TO RESOURCES AND SERVICES IN THE SCHOOL LIBRARY MEDIA PROGRAM

Descriptor Code GAAC-E3
1st Reading 2/21/18
Adopted 2/21/18
Revised/Rescinded

COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT AND ACCESS TO RESOURCES AND SERVICES IN THE SCHOOL LIBRARY MEDIA PROGRAM
An Interpretation of the LIBRARY BILL OF RIGHTS:
The school library media program plays a unique role in promoting intellectual freedom. It serves as a point of voluntary access to information and ideas and as a learning laboratory for students as they acquire critical thinking and problem-solving skills needed in a pluralistic society. Although the educational level and program of the school necessarily shapes the resources and services of a school library media program, the principals of the Library Bill of Rights apply equally to all libraries, including school library media programs.
School library media professionals assume a leadership role in promoting the principals of intellectual freedom within the school by providing resources and services that create and sustain an atmosphere of free inquiry. School library media professionals work closely with teachers to integrate instructional activities in classroom units designed to equip students to locate, evaluate, and use a broad range of ideas effectively. Through resources, programming, and educational processes, students and teachers experience the free and robust debate characteristic of a democratic society.
School library media professionals cooperate with other individuals in building collections of resources appropriate to the development, varied interests, abilities, learning styles, and maturity levels of students. These collections provide resources, which support the curriculum and are consistent with the philosophy, goals, and objectives of the School District. Resources in school library media collections represent diverse points of view on current as well as historical issues.
School library media professionals and teachers shall evaluate available resources, assess curriculum needs, consider networking arrangements, and consult reputable professionally prepared aids for selection. Resources should be selected for their strengths rather than rejected for their weakness.
Recommendations for purchase may be made by administrators, teachers, students, district personnel, and community members. Decisions to purchase shall be made by school library media professional staff.
Donated resources shall meet the criteria outlined in this policy.
Selection is an ongoing process that includes weeding and replacement of lost or worn resources of continuing educational value.
While English is, by history and tradition, the customary language of the United States, the languages in use in any given community may vary. Schools serving communities in which other languages are used make efforts to accommodate the needs of students for whom English is a second language. To support these efforts, and to ensure equal access to resources and services, the school library media program provides resources, which reflect the linguistic pluralism of the community.
Members of the school community involved in the collection development process employ educational criteria to select resources unfettered by their personal, political, social, or religious views. Students and educators served by the school library media program have access to resources and services free of constraints resulting from personal, partisan, or doctrinal disapproval. School library media professionals resist efforts by individuals or groups to definewhat is appropriate for all students or teachers to read, view, hear, or access via electronic means. No parents have the right to determine the reading, viewing, or listening resources for students other than their own children/wards.
Major barriers between students and resources include but are not limited to: imposing age or grade level restrictions on the use of resources, limiting the use of interlibrary loan and access to electronic information, charging fees for information in specific formats, requiring permission from parents or teachers, establishing restricted shelves or closed collections, and labeling. Policies, procedures, and rules related to the use of resources and services support free and open access to information.
The School Board adopts policies that guarantee students access to a broad range of ideas. These include policies on collection development and procedures for the review of resources about which concerns have been raised. Such policies, developed by persons in the school community, provide for a timely and fair hearing and assure that procedures are applied equitably to all expressions of concern. School library media professionals implement district policies and procedures in the school.

Hatch Amendment Sample Letter

VALLEY CITY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT #2
VALLEY CITY, NORTH DAKOTA 58072
HATCH AMENDMENT SAMPLE LETTER

Descriptor Code GAAC-E4
1st Reading 2/21/18
Adopted 2/21/18
Revised/Rescinded

HATCH AMENDMENT SAMPLE LETTER [Date]
Dear [Name]:
This letter is written in response to your request that your child not be involved in certain school activities or in the use of certain instructional materials without your prior review and written consent. This request has been submitted to us under the terms of 20 U.S.C. 1232h, Protection of Student Rights, commonly referred to as the "Hatch Amendment."
It is the policy of the School District that parents and other members of the public have the right to inspect instructional materials used or being considered for use in the schools and to comment upon these materials. The establishment of curriculum and the decision to include or remove particular materials within the curriculum are the legal responsibilities of the School Board, acting as the representative of the localcommunity.
The School District has a procedure for parental complaints about curriculum and instructional materials. If there are specific matters which you believe are improper or objectionable, you may submit a complaint through these procedures. However, the law does not give each parent the right to condition his or her child's attendance at school or any particular activity upon prior approval of the content or teaching techniqueused.
The School District acknowledges and complies with the Hatch Amendment requirement for parental consent prior to psychiatric or psychological examination, testing or treatment in any program funded by the United States Department of Education. The School District does not construe this provision to require parental consent to ordinary classroom activities or teaching techniques.
The public schools are not interested in undermining the efforts of parents or in manipulating the beliefs of their children. All aspects of the curriculum are open to inquiry and discussion by concerned members of the community. However, the schools are charged with the duty of providing an educational program and, in fulfilling that duty, are empowered with significant discretion in setting curriculum.
The request set forth in your correspondence cannot be granted. This is not to say that any of the described activities occur at the schools, but merely recognizes that the request fails to account for the public interest and function of the schools as a community institution and overstates the purpose and effect of the Hatch Amendment.