[CASL-L] Restricting Book Checkouts for Age Appropriateness

[Laura Hedenberg]

 I approach books very similarly in my PK-6 school.  Although, I do have a YA book section for the 5-6 grade students. And within that I have parent permission for some students below to check the books out. It can be very hard to manage a student population that reads everything from Piggie and Gerald to Hunger Games.  But I do the best in my situation and work with my admin to work through any issues.My overall approach is to ask the child some questions....is someone at home reading this to you?  Why do you want to the book?  etc.  The goal is to get books into their hands but I feel its also to get the books read.  When I asked a 1st-grade student whey they wanted a Warriors book, she told me because it was about cats.  I was able to help her find alternatives and she was happy.  I also talk to parents and respect and note their wishes.  I too have parents who don't want war books going home.  Laura
   On Tuesday, February 12, 2019, 12:10:25 PM EST, Elaine Shapiro <elaine.shapiro7 at gmail.com> wrote: 
 
 I see myself as a guide, as well as a protector of free choice.  I do what I can to advance the literacy of our prek-4 students. That means encouraging students to borrow what they can read and understand, and to stretch themselves as well.  If I think a book or content is beyond the student, I recommend alternatives (and vice versa), but respect the student's choice. I have had parents object on both ends of the reading difficulty scale, and sometimes with content, and I do respect their wishes (like not wanting war books to go home). Although I recall feeling sorry for a K student with over achiever parents only wanting her to borrow chapter books. In nonfiction, I worry less about reading level, because so much of the content and photographs/drawings is valuable, and you never know what is going to inspire a child.  That said, I have a system of marking easier nonfiction with an orange sticker on the spine.
My two cents.Elaine ShapiroBroad Brook School

On Tue, Feb 12, 2019 at 10:35 AM Lauren Hunt <huntla at danbury.k12.ct.us> wrote:

Ava that is a very good point. I have only worked in elementary schools. I can see how schools with a wide range of grade levels would operate differently. 
Lauren


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On Feb 12, 2019, at 6:08 AM, ljclsj at cox.net wrote:


I strongly agree with Lauren. Library is the place for choice of book! Linda Marchisio

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On Feb 11, 2019, at 6:28 PM, Lauren Hunt <huntla at danbury.k12.ct.us> wrote:


Hi Emily,
It is frequently the case that many other school employees do not fully understand the role of the library and LMS. The library should 100% be free choice for students as per the ALA bill of rights. If a parent is specifically prohibiting their child from checking out a book that is different, however I do not find it appropriate for teachers to label a series like Diary of a Wimpy kid for only 1st graders. What if a student is below grade level and wants something on their level? What if they simply love the series? What kind of message are we as librarians sending if we tell a student that they cannot have a book because they are too old for it? I firmly feel that students should be able to have free choice because at the end of the day, that’s what libraries are for.
Lauren HuntLibrary Media SpecialistEllsworth Avenue Elementary 

On Feb 11, 2019, at 5:00 PM, Emily Boisvert <ebov at sbcglobal.net> wrote:


Good afternoon, everyone!
I'd love the collective minds of the CASL listserv to provide some perspective on this issue......my understanding is that CASL follows the intellectual property policies of ALA/AASL since the School Library Bill of Rights and censorship links are on the advocacy page. I ask because there are some colleagues in my district that are debating the issue of "policing" student checkouts for age appropriateness (Wimpy Kid for first grade is the example) and they say that we operate 'in loco parentis' and can make decisions in lieu of parents about student book choices. My philosophy has always been for freedom of choice and everything I've learned and read professionally guides me in that direction since I was under the understanding that we are guided by the ALA/AASL policies. I did read in a few sources that 'in loco parentis' may apply to the LMS role, depending on state law. Are you aware of what that means for us in CT? Thanks so much, I'd like to bring concrete and accurate information to my PLC on this. 

Emily BoisvertMelissa Jones Elementary 

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