Sawmills Elementary

Welcome to the Sawmills Elementary School Media Center!     

Our media center is open from 7:30-12:00 each morning and 1:00-3:00 each afternoon. We encourage our students, staff, and community to come in and check out new library books each day!

Media Center Polices

Check-Out Policy

All students are entered into our Destiny circulation database. This allows them to check-out books from the media center. Each student has their own profile which will display what books they have checked-out at any given time. Details such as book title, author, price of the book, check-out date and due date can be found here.

There is a set limit to the number of books that can be checked out by our students. For Pre-K, Kindergartners, and 1st graders the limit is one book may be checked out at once.  For 2nd grade through 5th grade the limit is two books can be checked out at once. Students are not allowed to check-out more than their limit, however, parents or guardians are welcome to check out additional books for their students. Ideally, library books should be returned daily so that students may get a new book to read each day.  

Picture books or E (Everyone) books should be returned one week after check-out.

Chapter books should be returned within two weeks after check-out.

 If books are lost or damaged while checked out to a student, a fine will be issued to the student. Damage fees are based upon the price of the book and the damages incurred. Lost book fees are based upon the replacement cost of the book. The prices of books are determined and set by book vendors, not by school staff.

Collection Policy

The main goal of our library media center is to provide the widest variety of materials that will enrich the education of our students. Our materials have varying levels of difficulty focusing on the needs of students at all grade levels. The term “materials” refers not only to books but also electronic devices used for educational purposes. These include such items as computers, DVDs, CDs, Nooks, MP3 Players, and other electronic learning tools. The selection of materials for our media center revolves around curriculum support and student interest for the promotion of literacy. 

 
Materials are selected based on the following criteria:  

• Educational significance
• Support to the curriculum
• Reading enjoyment
• Level of intended user
• Favorable reviews from legitimate sources
• Validity to current studies
• Reflections of issues in society
• Durability
• User-friendly service
• Artistic/historic value
• Price of the item

The process for selecting new materials is as follows: 

• The existing collection is evaluated
• Curriculum needs are assessed
• Requests and recommendations are gathered
• Reviews for potential items are noted
• Preview materials with vendor, if possible

If a certain title is challenged in the form of a complaint, the media specialist will collaborate with the media committee about the title. The title will be weighed against the criteria for material selection and the committee will evaluate its significance. If the committee finds the title to be inappropriate, it will be removed from the collection. In the event that the committee finds the title appropriate for the collection, it will remain. This decision will be based upon selection policy criteria. If the challenged material remains in the collection, the committee will issue a formal response to the party that issued the complaint. The selection policy will be included with this response.

Full text of the Library Bill of Rights as determined by the American Library Association (ALA)

The 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. 

I. 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 their creation.

II. 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.

III. Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment.

IV. Libraries should cooperate with all persons and groups concerned with resisting abridgment of free expression and free access to ideas.

V. A person’s right to use a library should not be denied or abridged because of origin, age, background, or views.

VI. Libraries which make exhibit spaces and meeting rooms available to the public they serve should make such facilities available on an equitable basis, regardless of the beliefs or affiliations of individuals or groups requesting their use.

 Adopted June 18, 1948, by the ALA Council; amended February 2, 1961; amended June 28, 1967; amended January 23, 1980; inclusion of “age” reaffirmed January 24, 1996"