JIS Libraries: Collection Development

Library collections should enhance and support the academic and recreational needs of the school community. The library is responsible for providing access to resources that reflect a wide variety of perspectives, encourage critical thinking, and help our students make informed decisions.

The library collection is balanced, representative of the reading community, and aligned with the JIS curriculum. It supports learning and teaching while inspiring and nurturing a lifelong love of reading. The library collections should promote inclusiveness by accepting and valuing different learners’ backgrounds and environments.
Selection

The responsibility for coordinating and recommending the selection and purchase of library resources rests with the librarians. Each item is selected individually for the collection.  Data is used to help select a diverse variety of subjects and titles. 

Criteria for Selection

• Literary or artistic merit
• Appropriate for the subject area and curriculum
• Appropriate for the wide range of maturity and reading levels, emotional developments, ability levels, learning styles, and social developments that each division serves. 
• Avoids using images that reinforce stereotypes or clichés about any group or individual.
• Favorable reviews found in reputable selection sources from various countries
• Durability and format
• Skill, competence, and purpose of the author
• Readability and popular appeal
• Relevance to student interests and needs
• Fair representation of information across the variety of viewpoints that our community holds
• Budgetary priorities
• Space considerations