I just finished updating mine - I copied it here so you can see it. Feel
free to use it as is or modify it for your use.
CHALLENGED OR QUESTIONED MATERIALS
Criticism of materials that are in the library should be submitted in
writing to the media specialist. The principal will be informed. A
committee consisting of the librarian and faculty members of the school
involved will consider allegations thus submitted. The challenged book or
material will be judged by the committee as to its conformity to the
aforementioned principles. The books or materials involved will be
suspended pending a decision in writing from the committee.
CITIZEN’S REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION OF MATERIAL
School:_______________________________________________________
Please check type of material:
( ) Book ( )Film ( ) Recording ( ) Video
( ) Periodical ( ) Film ( ) Cassette ( )
Other________________
Author____________________________________________________________
Title: _____________________________________________________________
Publisher/Producer: __________________________________________________
Please fill in the information requested. Try to be as specific as possible
in your answers to facilitate this procedure
1. To what in the material do you object? (Please be specific, cite pages,
paragraphs, frames, film sequence, etc.)
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
2. What do you feel might be the result of a student reading/viewing this
material?
__________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
3. For what age group would you recommend this material?
___________________________________________________________________
4. Is there anything good about this material?
_____________________________________________________________________
5. Did you read/view the entire material? Yes __________No__________
If No -What parts? (Please be as specific as possible – cite pages,
paragraphs, etc.)
_____________________________________________________________________
6.Are you aware of the judgment of this material by literary critics?
_____________________________________________________________________
7.What do you believe is the theme of this material?
8. What would you like the school to do about this material?
_____Do not assign it to my child
_____Withdraw it from all students as well as from my child
_____Send it back to the Librarian for re-evaluation
9. In its place, what material of equal literary quality would you recommend
that would convey as valuable a picture and perspective of our civilization,
or adequate information on this subject:
Author: ____________________________________________________
Title: _______________________________________________________
Date: ___________
Signature of Complainant: _____________________________________________
Complainant Represents:
_____Himself ____Organization ____Other
Please Print:
Name: _____________________________________________________
Address: ___________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
Phone: ______________________________________________________
Please return completed form to the principal.
POLICY FOR RESPONDING TO CHALLENGED MATERIALS
Despite the care taken by qualified persons to select appropriate and
valuable materials occasionally objections to a selection are made. When
such objections occur, the general principles of freedom of information
should be defended, rather than the specific materials in question.
Persons requesting permission to examine materials may examine such
materials in a way so as not to disrupt the normal operations of the school.
If a complaint is made, the procedures are as follows :
(1) School personnel are courteous to a complainant, make no commitment,
advises the complainant to arrange a conference with the principal and
notify the principal of the complaint.
(2) It is the complainant’s responsibility to arrange a conference with the
principal.
(3) At this conference, the principal invites the complainant to file his or
her objections in writing. A complainant who does not respond receives no
further consideration.
(4) Upon receipt of the written complaint, the principal requests review of
the challenged material by an ad hoc Instructional Materials Review
Committee within 15 working days and also notifies the Diocesan School
Office that such review is being done.
(5) The committee takes the following steps after receiving the challenged
materials:
(a) Reads, views or listens to the material
(b) Checks general acceptance of the material by reading reviews and
consulting recommended lists.
(c) Determines the extent to which the material supports objective specified
in Diocesan courses of study and judges the material for its strength and
value as a whole and not in part.
(6) Upon receipt of the committee report, the principal makes a decision as
to the action to be taken and notifies the complainant and the Diocesan
School Office.
(7) The principal or local board may appeal to the Diocesan Superintendent
if a local decision cannot be reached.
Revised 5/2002
----------
Toni Koontz
Media Specialist
akoontz@cdeducation.org
St. Charles Preparatory School
Columbus OH
Carpe Diem
-----Original Message-----
From: School Library Media & Network Communications
[mailto:LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU]On Behalf Of Brian Regan
Sent: Thursday, May 02, 2002 10:06 AM
To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Subject: TARGET: sample book challenge form
Hi all -
...it was bound to happen sooner or later. One of my
colleagues has had a book challenge come up (Go Ask
Alice) and I'm trying to help her prepare. We've
looked at the ALA site & got some great tips, but what
we could use right now (and quickly) is a sample of
your book challenge forms (the one for the parent to
fill in as a preliminary action). I've read about
them and some of the good things to include, such as
"have you read the book"?, but we've never actually
gotten around to making one. Anything you can send,
tips, individual items for the form, or even attached
copies of your forms, is greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
BR
=====
Brian Regan, Librarian & Webmaster
East Rochester High School
East Rochester, NY 14445
Brian_Regan@er.monroe.edu
bregan@rochester.rr.com
www.erschools.org
__________________________________________________
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