Procedures and Guidelines
(updated September 2023)
LIBRARY MISSION, VISION, AND VALUES
Seahawk Center Library’s mission is to provide a dynamic and supportive environment for students; serve the cultural, social, and community needs of students; and provide access to informational, educational, and recreational resources.
Seahawk Center Library’s vision is to be a gateway to life-long learning and a love of reading, a trusted source of education in the community, and a beacon in the evolving world of information.
Seahawk Center Library values inclusion, teamwork, social responsibility, equity, and respect.
DAVIS SCHOOL DISTRICT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Seahawk Center Library Guidelines and Procedures follow the District Library Policies and Procedures as listed at the following link:
DSD School Library webpage
VISITING THE LIBRARY
Seahawk Center Library is open Monday–Thursday from 7:45am–3:15pm and on Friday from 9:45am–3:15pm.
Seahawk Center Library is open during lunch. Students who wish to use the library during lunch must obtain a library pass from the front office. Students may check out makerspace activities during lunch with approval from the librarian. Games and leisure internet surfing are prohibited in the library, except during lunch periods.
Students may visit the library during class hours unless the library has been reserved for class instruction or meetings. Individuals not with a scheduled class should have a hall pass from their teacher.
CIRCULATION PROCEDURES
All members of the school community may check out library materials. The card catalogue is available online for reference. Students are allowed to check out 4 books at one time. These books must be returned or renewed within 3 weeks (with a 10-day grace period). Students should return books by placing them in the book drop located in the circulation desk or by handing them directly to the librarian or librarian assistants.
A limited collection of e-books and audiobooks is also available for check out on the library catalogue. Students and teachers may check out these books using their Microsoft Office 365 login information.
All members of the school community have access to Sora, a district collection of ebooks and audiobooks, and may check out items from this resource using their school credentials. Online checkouts will automatically expire after 3 weeks.
Makerspace items are available for use during lunch but must remain in the library.
OVERDUE, LOST, OR DAMAGED ITEMS
Seahawk Center Library does not collect daily overdue fines. All overdue materials will be marked as lost after the 10-day grace period, and students will be responsible for replacement costs. The fine amount will be the total price of the book plus a $2.00 processing fee. Notices will be emailed at minimum during the middle and end of each term. Fines must be paid in the office, and the receipt should be brought to the library. Students who find lost books and return them in good condition will be reimbursed. Damage to books should be reported to the library. Students who damage books will be fined the replacement cost of the book plus a $2.00 processing fee. Intentional or negligent damage to Makerspace items will result in a fine to fix or replace them.
LIBRARY EXPECTATIONS
All students have the right to use the library if the following expectations are met:
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Food and drink are not consumed in the library, unless by special permission.
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Respect is shown to the library and its materials.
SCHOOL LIBRARY COMMITTEE
Seahawk Center Library has in place a school library committee that consists of no less than five members. In addition to the school librarian, who serves as chair of the school library committee, members include a school administrator and a minimum of three parents with standing. The school committee works collaboratively with the librarian in selection and maintenance of school library materials.
COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT AND ACQUISITION PROCEDURES
Seahawk Center Library strives to offer a current, engaging, relevant, and diverse collection as per Davis District Guidelines.
New materials will be purchased in accordance with the following criteria:
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Does the item support the curriculum?
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Does the item fulfill teacher, student, or community needs?
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Is the item relevant, reliable, and current?
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Does the item encourage reading for pleasure and fit with student interests?
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Is the item developmentally appropriate?
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Is the item of high literary quality?
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Does the item help represent diverse and multicultural perspectives to help maintain balanced views in our collection?
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Is this item an award winner, of high interest, a popular title, or required to complete a series?
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Does the item encourage students to locate, use, and evaluate information that will help them develop the practice of critical examination and thinking?
A list will be kept of frequent requests from students, teachers, and staff. These items will be evaluated using the above criteria and purchased as the library budget allows and as approved by the school library committee.
WEEDING AND INVENTORY
The removal of books is essential to maintain a current, relevant, diverse, and manageable collection. Seahawk Center Library staff will periodically evaluate the collection to identify books that are not circulating, contain outdated or inaccurate information, or encourage stereotypes or biases. A formal inventory will take place once a year. Books will be removed per the Davis District Library Policy.
DONATIONS
Donated materials may be considered if they meet collection development standards and are in excellent condition. Cash donations can be made through the office. Donated materials that do no not fit standards will be politely declined, used for student rewards, or passed on to classrooms for use.
PARENTAL RESTRICTIONS OF INDIVIDUAL STUDENT ACCESS
The librarian and the School Committee strive to have a library collection that all students and parents consider appropriate. Nevertheless, the District recognizes the right of parents under state law and District Policy 11IR-107 Recognizing Constitutional Freedoms in Public Schools, to restrict their child’s access to materials the parent deems inappropriate. However, parents do not have the right to make that determination on behalf of other parents and students.
A parent desiring to restrict their own child’s access to specific library materials shall submit the request in writing (or via email) to the Librarian at the school their child is currently attending. If the material is a required part of classroom curriculum activities, the parent must follow the procedures for waiver contained in 11IR-107 Section 14.
4I-202 School Library Media Centers (Section 3.2)
SENSITIVE MATERIALS
If a parent, student, staff member, or board member feels that a specific library material contains sensitive material, they may request that the material be considered for removal. The process for requesting and processing sensitive materials reviews and communicating and implementing decisions from the review process takes place at a district level. Additional information can be found here:
DSD School Library webpage
LIBRARY CURRICULUM
In addition to managing the library and promoting literacy, the librarian will collaborate with teachers to provide instruction to help support curriculum, technology, and literacy needs. A menu of available services is available on the Seahawk Center Library webpage.
LIBRARY ASSISTANTS
Students may register to serve as a Library Assistant during their eighth or ninth grade year. They must have a 3.0 GPA on their latest report card and citizenship that does not fall below S/G. Library assistants will be instructed in library use, procedures, and print and non-print resources. Library assistants will receive a letter grade for the class.
