Library Policy
All policies established by the library are under the blanket policy of the Fountain Fort Carson District 8 School Board Policies: https://ffc8.diligent.community/Portal/Policy.aspx
Library Mission Statement
The mission of the Fountain Middle School Library is to serve the diverse needs of our patrons (staff and students), foster learning, provide resources, inspire creative thinking, and bring the FMS community together. It provides resources for students and staff to seek credible information and knowledge through available media, promote a continued love for reading, and provide an extended classroom environment where students can create, imagine, and explore.
Collection, Selection and Weeding Policy
In its selection of books and other materials, the Fountain Middle School Library upholds the doctrines of “Freedom of Speech” and “Freedom of the Press” as guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States. The Library also subscribes to the principles adopted by the American Library Association in the Library Bill of Rights, the Freedom to Read statement, and the Freedom to View statement: https://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill
Fountain Middle School Library directs the library professionals to seek recommendations and work collaboratively with others in the school community during the selection process. Teachers, students, staff, and administrators are involved in making recommendations, the final responsibility for the selection decisions rests with the school library professionals.
Annually, the Fountain Middle School Librarian will conduct an inventory of the school library collection and equipment. The inventory can be used to determine losses and remove damaged or worn materials which can then be considered for replacement. The inventory can also be used to deselect and remove materials that are no longer relevant to the curriculum or of interest to students.
All final decisions on collection, selection and weeding will follow the Fountain Fort Carson District 8 Guidelines per the Board of Directors: https://ffc8.diligent.community/home/policies/policydoc/02cac1b1-5005-4ea1-8bbe-c651d9069c66
Student Library Materials Privacy (Privacy of Records)
Under the Library Bill of Rights section 7, all library patrons are guaranteed the right to privacy regardless of origin, age, background, or views and possess the right to confidentiality in their library use. Sharing of any information about a student is strictly prohibited unless it is their parent/guardian and has been approved through admin.
Equity Policies and Guidelines
It is optional for fees to be assessed for lost or damaged library books. This is a site-based decision, but it is voluntary for the family to pay the fine. FMS Library does not charge late fees and follows the procedures laid out in the Board of Education Policy on Fees and Charges.
https://ffc8.diligent.community/home/policies/policydoc/8d8b991b-8a0a-404e-9768-d4b58c6d2954
Handling Gifts/Donations
Items will be evaluated for use within the library if they are within the 10-year mark or newer, otherwise they will be donated to classroom libraries, donated to kids within Fountain Middle School or the local library district.
