[LM_NET] Collection Development Plans

[Janis <jnsyr@INFIONLINE.NET>]

Hello! Each summer I go in to my media center for a few hours once a  
week, and last month I had a parent stop by while I was there. She  
said her child was going to be at our school this coming year, and  
she was very excited--could she look around? Of course I said sure.  
She was there quite a while, and I noticed that she spent a good  
amount of time in the fiction (chapter book) section, rather than the  
Everybody (picture book) section, even though her son will only be in  
Pre-Kindergarten this year! (I don't think she looked at that section  
at all, although she did also peruse the Reference area.)

Before leaving, she commented on the number of books we had, and made  
a comment along the lines of some of them being too advanced or  
mature (I forget her exact word) although "perhaps some students are  
ready for that level."

So...I foresee that she may very well challenge some books in our  
collection. I want to have a formal Collection Development Plan,  
approved by our school Media & Technology committee,  in place as  
soon as possible. I have previously asked other media specialists in  
my district if they have a CDP, but have heard, "Just the  
district's." Our district doesn't really have a plan, just some  
policies relating to media... (as far as I know--it's been awhile  
since I checked!). Even so, as a recent MLIS grad, I know that each  
individual library should have its own CDP, so I had planned to work  
on one anyway.

OK, I've whined long enough. Is there anyone willing to send me a  
copy of your school's CDP, so that I may look at it/them as I try to  
develop one for my school? I would GREATLY appreciate it! I would  
also love any advice.

Oh, I should also say that my school is a public magnet school, Pre-K  
through 6th grade (eventually going to 8th grade), and our Media &  
Tech committee decided 2 years ago, when we prepared to add 6th  
grade, that we have a separate middle school section for books that  
would not be appropriate for younger students.

Thanks in advance for any help you can give me!
--Janis

Janis Fox, Media Specialist
Triangle Lake Montessori School
High Point, NC

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