--- ## title: Policy 606.5 Redlined - Google Docs date: D:20260514175532+00'00' --- ## Adopted: MSBA/MASA Model Policy 606.5 Orig. 2023 ## Revised: Rev. 2025 ## 606.5 LIBRARY MATERIALS ## I. PURPOSE The purpose of this policy is to provide direction and to delegate responsibility for selection and reconsideration of library materials. ## II. GENERAL STATEMENT OF PURPOSE The school board recognizes that library materials serve as a vital component of a student’s education by enriching the breadth of the curriculum as a whole and meeting the needs and interests of individual students. The purpose of library materials is to meet the needs of all students. Therefore, questions regarding selection and reconsideration of library materials should be handled differently than those concerning textbooks and instructional materials. To ensure that library materials fulfill this role, the school board delegates to the superintendent or the superintendent’s designee responsibility for administering a process for selection of library materials. Responsibility for selection shall rest with professionally trained school district staff, with recognition that the school board has the final authority on selection of library materials. Parents and guardians have the right and the responsibility to determine their children’s access to library materials. Per MN Statute 134.51, a public (school) library must not ban, remove, or otherwise restrict access to a book or other material based solely on its viewpoint or the messages, ideas, or opinions it conveys. [NOTE: The school board may choose to revise the General Statement of Purpose.] ## III. DEFINITIONS A. “Library” is the school district resource that holds the library collection that serves the information and independent reading needs of students and supports the curriculum needs of teachers and staff. The term “library” includes a school library media center. The term also includes access to electronic materials. For school districts with multiple school buildings, the term “library” refers to the resource within a specific school building. Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.991, states that a school district or charter school library or school library media center provides equitable and free access to students, teachers, and administrators and that a school library or school library media center must have the following characteristics: 1. ensures every student has equitable access to resources and is able to locate, access, and use resources that are organized and cataloged; 2. has a collection development plan that includes but is not limited to materials selection and deselection, a challenged materials procedure, and an intellectual and academic freedom statement; 3. is housed in a central location that provides an environment for expanded learning and supports a variety of student interests; 4. has technology and Internet access; and 606.5- 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 5. is served by a licensed school library media specialist or licensed school librarian. [NOTE: The school board may add a sentence that incorporates the term(s) used to identify libraries in the school district, such as “The school district’s libraries are commonly referred to as ________.] B. “Library collection” consists of the library materials made available to students and staff . C. “Library materials” are the books, periodicals, newspapers, manuscripts, films, prints, documents, videotapes, subscription content, electronic and digital materials (including e-books, audiobooks, and databases), and related items made available to students in a school building or through access to electronic materials This term does not include materials made available to students as part of the curriculum. D. “Library media specialist” is a teacher holding a Library Media Specialist teaching license issued by the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Boards and who is trained to deliver library services to students and staff in a library. A library media specialist is authorized under Minnesota Rules to provide to students in kindergarten through grade 12 instruction that is designed to provide information and technology literacy skills instruction, to lead, collaborate, and consult with other classroom teachers for the purpose of integrating information and technology literacy skills with content teaching, and to administer media center operations, programming, and resources. [NOTE: The specific titles of the school district’s library staff should be used for this definition and substituted for “library media specialist” throughout this model policy. Please note the new 2024 law in Article IV regarding administration of selection and reconsideration procedures.] ## IV. RESPONSIBILITY FOR SELECTION OF LIBRARY MATERIALS A. The school board recognizes the expertise of the school district’s professional staff and the vital need of such staff to be responsible for selection of library materials. B. While recommendations by administrators, faculty members, students, parents, and other community members may be considered, the final responsibility for selection of library materials shall rest with the library media specialist. C. The procedures for selection and reconsideration set forth in this policy will be administered by: 1. a licensed library media specialist under Minnesota Rules, part 8710.4550; 2. an individual with a master’s degree in library science or library and information science; or 3. a professional librarian or a person trained in library collection management . In cooperation with the school district administration. D. The school board may decline to purchase, lend, or shelve or remove access to library materials legitimately based on: 1. practical reasons, including but not limited to shelf space limitations, rare or antiquarian status, damage, or obsolescence; 2. legitimate pedagogical concerns, including but not limited to the 606.5- 2 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 appropriateness of potentially sensitive topics for the library's intended audience, the selection of library materials for a curated collection, or the likelihood of causing a material and substantial disruption of the work and discipline of the school; or 3. compliance with state or federal law. [NOTE: In 2024, the Minnesota legislature enacted a new law—Minnesota Statutes 134.51--that includes the new provisions above.] ## V. SELECTION OF LIBRARY MATERIALS A. Selection Criteria: The library materials selection process should result in a library collection that, when considered as a whole, is consistent with the following criteria: 1. Library materials shall support and be consistent with the general educational goals of the state and the district and the aims and objectives of individual schools and specific courses; 2. Library materials shall be chosen to enrich and support the curriculum as well as to promote reading for pleasure by responding to the personal needs and interests of student users; 3. Library materials shall not be excluded because of the race, nationality, religion, sex, gender, or political views of the writer; 4. Library materials shall be appropriate to and reflect the needs, ages, maturity level, emotional development, ability levels, learning styles, social development, background, diversity, and needs and interests of the students for whom the materials were selected; 5. Library materials shall meet high standards of quality in one or more of these categories (presented alphabetically): a. Artistic quality and/or literary style; b. Authenticity; c. Critical thinking; d. Educational significance; e. Factual content; f. High interest for intended audience; and g. Readability. 6. The selection of library materials shall conform to the constraints of the school district budget. [NOTE: Before adopting selection criteria, the school board is strongly encouraged to consult with the licensed library media specialist, who possesses professional expertise and experience in selecting appropriate library materials. The school board may choose to adopt selection criteria specifically designed for each school building.] [NOTE: A school board may choose to adopt similar selection criteria for classroom library materials, with the classroom teacher making selection decisions. If a school board chooses to address classroom libraries, the board 606.5- 3 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 can decide whether to follow the reconsideration process in this model policy or to create a different process for classroom library materials.] ¶ B. The library media specialist shall consult sources and specialists experienced in library materials collections appropriate for the building’s students and that are reputable, experienced, unbiased, and professionally trained in school library materials. [NOTE: The school board may choose to identify specific sources and specialists that satisfy this paragraph.] C. The superintendent or the superintendent’s designee shall be responsible for keeping the school board informed of progress on review and selection of each building’s library materials. D. Library materials that are outdated, inaccurate, no longer useful for curricular support or reading enrichment, or have not been utilized for an extended period of time may be removed. Library materials that are in poor physical condition may be removed or replaced as determined by the library media specialist or the principal. ## E. Gifts and Donations of Library Materials Materials offered for donation or gifted to a school library may be accepted if they comply with the library collection selection criteria and approved by the library media specialist. The school district’s libraries welcome donations of books and other resource materials from individuals and organizations, but also reserve the right to decline to accept library materials that do not meet the criteria for selection. In addition, financial donations to benefit school district’s libraries will be accepted with the understanding that funds will be used to purchase materials that are needed for libraries based on the needs of the individual schools. ## VI. INDIVIDUAL STUDENT ACCESS TO SPECIFIC LIBRARY MATERIAL A parent or guardian may request that access to specific material in the library materials collection be restricted from their student. The school shall take reasonable steps to fulfill this request. This type of request will not result in removal of specific library collection material from the library or restrictions upon any other student accessing specific library materials. ## VII. RECONSIDERATION OF SPECIFIC LIBRARY MATERIAL A. The school board seeks to uphold students’ access to library materials that meet the educational goals and selection criteria set forth in this policy. B. A school district employee, student, or a parent or guardian of a school district student may request reconsideration of specific library material on the basis of appropriateness. Access to the material in question shall not be restricted until the procedures listed below have been fully completed and a decision to remove or restrict the materials has been made. [NOTE: The school board may decide whether to allow a building principal to remove library materials pending completion of the reconsideration process.] ## C. Informal Request for Reconsideration of Specific Library Material 1. Requests for reconsideration of specific library material shall be directed to the library media specialist and the building principal. The building principal and the library media specialist shall assume responsibility for processing the request on an informal basis. 2. The building principal and/or the library media specialist shall provide an explanation to the individual who submitted the request. The explanation shall 606.5- 4 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 include the particular selection criteria that the material in question met in order to be included in the library as curriculum support or as an independent reading choice for students in the building. 3. The building principal and/or the library media specialist has the authority to agree to exclude or restrict specific library material only for the minor children of the individual who submitted the request, not for any other students. If a resolution is reached that concerns only the children of the individual who made the request or that does not affect other students, the issue is closed 4 3 . If the request is not resolved informally, the principal shall submit a report on the matter to the superintendent or the superintendent’s designee. The requestor will have an option to initiate a Formal Request for Reconsideration. D. Formal Request for Reconsideration of Specific Library Collection Material 1. A Formal Request for Reconsideration of specific library material is initiated upon submission of a completed Formal Request for Reconsideration of Specific Library Collection Material form. The form must be completed in its entirety for each work that is subject to a request for reconsideration. The principal shall notify the superintendent or the superintendent’s designee and the library media specialist of receipt of a completed Formal Request form. If specific library material is the subject of a Formal Request for Reconsideration and a final decision is made to retain the specific library material, then the specific library material shall not be subject to additional requests for reconsideration for three years following the date of final resolution of the initial Formal Request for Reconsideration. Use of challenged resources shall not be restricted during the re-evaluation proceedings. 2. On an annual basis, the Superintendent or the superintendent’s designee shall appoint a Library Materials Review Committee (Review Committee). This committee shall include: a. One member of the school district administration b. One principal c. Two teachers d. One library media specialist (or district media specialist or public librarian if the school district does not have a library media specialist) e. Two members of the school district community Teaching & Learning Advisory Committee with no direct connection with the request for reconsideration f. Two student representatives (as appropriate to the specific request). [NOTE: This list of Review Committee members is an example. The school board may alter this list. The school district may decide to create Review Committees for individual schools.] 3. The Review Committee shall establish a date (within 20 working days) upon which it will discuss the request and whether the specific library collection material conforms to the selection criteria set forth in this policy. ## 4. The Review Committee 606.5- 5 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 a. may consult individuals, organizations, and other resources with relevant professional knowledge on school library material; b. shall examine the specific library material as a whole; c. shall examine the specific library material as to its conformance with the criteria for selection of library materials; and d. shall submit a written report to the superintendent or the superintendent’s designee containing the Review Committee’s decision on whether to retain, to remove, or to take other action regarding the specific library material. 5. The superintendent or the superintendent’s designee shall inform the requestor and the school board of the Review Committee’s decision. The requestor may appeal the Review Committee’s decision to the superintendent or the superintendent’s designee by submitting a written appeal to the superintendent or the superintendent’s designee within fourteen (14) days of submission of the Review Committee’s decision to the requestor. The superintendent or the superintendent’s designee shall provide a written decision on a requestor’s appeal within a reasonable time period. ¶ ¶ [NOTE: The school board can decide whether to allow appeal of a Review Committee decision to the superintendent or the superintendent’s designee. If appeal to the superintendent or the superintendent’s designee is permitted, the school board may direct the superintendent or the superintendent’s designee to craft an appeal process or the board may choose to create the process itself.] ¶ ¶ 6. The requestor shall have the right to appeal the decision of the superintendent or the superintendent’s designee to the school board. ¶ ¶ [NOTE: The school board may decide whether to allow an appeal of a Review Committee decision directly to the school board or whether the appeal to the superintendent or the superintendent’s designee is a required intermediary step. If appeal to the school board is permitted, the school board may direct the superintendent or the superintendent’s designee or designee to craft an appeal process or the board may choose to create the process itself.] ¶ The decision of the Review Committee shall be final and binding on the district and shall not be subject to further appeal. ## VIII. CHALLENGE REPORT Upon the completion of a content challenge or reconsideration process in accordance with this policy, the school board must submit a report of the challenge to the Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Education that includes: A. the title, author, and other relevant identifying information about the material being challenged; B. the date, time, and location of any public hearing held on the challenge in question, including minutes or transcripts; C. the result of the challenge or reconsideration request; and D. accurate and timely information on who from the school district the Department of Education may contact with questions or follow-up. 606.5- 6 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360 [NOTE: This article was enacted in 2024 by the Minnesota legislature.] ## IX. PROHIBITION ON RETALIATION The school district may not discriminate against or discipline an employee for complying with Minnesota Statutes, section 134.51. [NOTE: This article was enacted in 2024 by the Minnesota legislature.] Legal References: Minn. Stat. § 120A.22, Subd. 9 (Compulsory Instruction) ## Minn. Stat. § 123B.02 (General Powers of Independent School Districts) ## Minn. Stat. § 123B.09 (School Board Responsibilities) ## Minn. Stat. § 124D.991 (Public School Libraries and Media Centers) Minn. Stat. § 134.51 (Access to Library Materials and Rights Protected) ## Minn. Stat. § 123B.52 Contracts ## Minn. Stat. § 471.3459 Donation of Surplus Equipment ## Minn. Rules Part 8710.4550 (Library Media Specialists) Bd. of Educ., Island Trees Union Free Sch. Dist. No. 26 v. Pico, 457 U.S. 853 (1982) Virginia State Bd. of Educ. v. Barnette , 319 U.S. 624, 642 (1943) Cross References: MSBA/MASA Model ISD194 Policy 524 (Internet Acceptable Use and Safety ## Policy) MSBA/MASA Model ISD194 Policy 606 (Textbooks and Instructional Materials) ISD194 Policy 706 (Acceptance of Gifts) 606.5- 7 361 362 363 364 365 366 367 368 369 370 371 372 373 374 375 376 377 378 379 380 381 382 383 384 385 386