Subcommittee holds library-collection policy for E.O. Smith input after staff describes recent weeding and donation process

The chair of the Board of Education Policy subcommittee said the group will hold the draft library-collection policy for one more meeting so Arthur can share feedback from a May 21 meeting with E.O. Smith. The subcommittee met May 11 and did not take a formal vote.

The chair told members that Amy conducted a large weeding over the last two years and the district marks young-adult titles with a distinct spine label for middle- and high-school readers, retaining some titles for students aged 13 and older. "They are doing an inventory in June and if they find something that doesn't belong in the collection, they will weed at that time," the chair said.

Committee members asked how weeded materials are disposed of. The chair said the district uses a book-donation company that collects boxed pallets and picks them up for free; staff cross out school stamps before distribution. "We've given some of the students and then they...but we have to cross off all of the public schools' stamps on them," the chair said.

Members also reviewed an attached complaint form intended to record the nature of any challenge (what the issue is, what concerns were raised) and discussed converting the form into an online Google form to capture submissions and send email notifications to staff. One committee member asked that the form explain the review steps so a person filing a complaint understands the potential outcomes; the chair said the procedure language is included in the regulation.

The subcommittee agreed to wait for Arthur's feedback from his high-school meeting and input from E.O. Smith before sending the library item to the full board. The chair set the next discussion for after May 21. The meeting adjourned at 4:21 p.m.