Cecil County Public Schools Selection Policy
Cecil County Public Schools strives to stock library media selections that "reflect the goals of education for the Cecil County Public Schools, including current curriculum trends, methods of instruction, modes of learning, and the availability of materials and equipment to meet various levels of learning and individual student needs" (Section IIAC, Policies and Procedures).
The following criteria for selecting material in the library media center is followed. We believe that all selections should:
Technical materials should:
Additional criteria shall be considered when evaluating and selecting media which address multicultural issues and topics. Such materials should:
Media specialists, especially, make extensive use of review material provided by journals and national organizations of subject matter specialists. These guides or capsule reviews provide those involved in the selection process with additional evaluative information. A favorable review by one or more of these sources does not constitute approval of the material; the procedures allow for the use of these guides only as an aide in the selection process.
Guides for the selection of instructional materials may include:
Materials in print and digital form used as resources
Digital databases
Publisher's catalogs
Guides established by the Maryland State Department of Education
Appropriate journals and periodicals
Materials are re-evaluated on a yearly basis to ensure that all criteria are still met.
Source: "Criteria For Selection of Media Center Materials." CCPS Policies and Regulations. Cecil County Public Schools, 2011.
Updated: J. Boyko, 12 December 2019.
The following criteria for selecting material in the library media center is followed. We believe that all selections should:
- Be relevant to today's world;
- Represent artistic, historic, and literary qualities;
- Reflect problems, aspirations, attitudes, and ideals of history;
- Be pertinent to the curriculum;
- Contribute to the objectives of the instructional program;
- Be appropriate to the level of the user;
- Represent differing viewpoints on controversial subjects; and,
- Provide a stimulus to creativity.
Technical materials should:
- Be of acceptable technical quality with clear visual images, narration, and/or sound.
Additional criteria shall be considered when evaluating and selecting media which address multicultural issues and topics. Such materials should:
- Focus on a broad spectrum of individuals, not just the recent prominent representatives of the culture.
- Be appropriate for each age group and reading level in the school;
- Avoid multicultural stereotypes in favor of full, accurate information; and,
- Be judged as a whole, considering the author's/producer's intent rather than focusing solely upon individual works, phrases, pictures, or incidents taken out of context.
Media specialists, especially, make extensive use of review material provided by journals and national organizations of subject matter specialists. These guides or capsule reviews provide those involved in the selection process with additional evaluative information. A favorable review by one or more of these sources does not constitute approval of the material; the procedures allow for the use of these guides only as an aide in the selection process.
Guides for the selection of instructional materials may include:
Materials in print and digital form used as resources
Digital databases
Publisher's catalogs
Guides established by the Maryland State Department of Education
Appropriate journals and periodicals
Materials are re-evaluated on a yearly basis to ensure that all criteria are still met.
Source: "Criteria For Selection of Media Center Materials." CCPS Policies and Regulations. Cecil County Public Schools, 2011.
Updated: J. Boyko, 12 December 2019.