Advice for Developing a Selection Policy

From your friends in EDIT 6340
Spring 2002 (Cohort 1)

Advice
From
To have clear and defined criteria for selection of books. These may be called upon later to validate a selected book. Paula Bond
Don't reinvent the wheel.  Find as many examples and use the information. Laura Ryan
Don't reinvent the wheel!  Utilize the parts you like of the wonderful selection policies that are readily available! Buffy Hamilton
This was easy to do as a group.  It would be much more difficult to be responsible for all sections yourself.  Work with a group if possible. Marty Stonecypher
I think that being able to look at real selection policies helps you write a good policy by providing positive and negative examples for your policy. Jason Thomas
1.  Work in a group.  2.  The handbook on ALA. Candice Hamilton
1.  ALA handbook for selection policies is helpful.  2.  Find as many selection policies to look at and compare. Miranda Storey
Working in a group is extremely helpful.  Take the time to discuss the whole document and then divide the tasks. Anna Burdette
Search and find others to help.  Do not reinvent the wheel. Heather Johnson
Don't reinvent the wheel.  Use policies and practices developed by others. Suzy Searcy
Write a selection policy that you will implement in a future job setting
Keep it precise but simple; give yourself room to revise and rework based on actual experiences.  Plan a selection policy that you think you'll really use. Cathy Wojcik
When writing selection, go to your SLMS for information.  She already has a written policy with great information. Kelly Gruhn
Read a lot of examples online.  There are millions available.
Take a lot of care when you make the challenge form.  Don't give away control. Vicki Dobbs
Use the ALA selection policy workbook
Look around.  There are lots of very good selection policies that you can look at to get ideas.
ALA has a workbook for writing one available online. Suzanne Gordon
The one piece of advice I would give is to make it useful.  Use your school's policy notebook to determine some sections. Cathy Garmon
Have electronic copies available online for examples.
Read and reflect on other selection policies before starting your own Lena Dowdy
Mary Ann realizes that your selection policy is individual to you-- don't be afraid to make it into something that will serve you later. Julie Payne
The ALA Workbook for Selection Policy is a great resource.
Read plenty of examples.  You can get tons from the Internet. Katie Dirr
1. Determine what you feel must be in the selection policy first.  2. Then examine several-several sample selection policies for wording. Ann LoCicero
Being able to look at other policies and cut and paste was most helpful Amy Lee
Look at a variety of sources and choose and modify so it fits your school and beliefs. Ella Baldwin
Use the ALA workbook for a resource.  It was helpful.
Check county policy. Compare with ALA selection workbook.
Talk to a "working" media specialist about selection. --How the policy was created, when, changed? --Interesting facts.
1.  Break it into pieces among group.  2.  Choose about 5-10 good examples off of web and bring to class the session before it is due, so that your group has a lot of good options.  3.  Read assigned readings ASAP so that you can concentrate on work assigned rather than waste time reading.
Type in google.com and print off several selection policies in advance.  Bring a floppy disk so one team member can type as your team begins working on the policy at the class. Judy Carter

Created 05-APR-2002

Checked for currency 2-15-08 by maf
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