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<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".02" citation="COMAR 13A.05.04.02" title_num="13A" subtitle_num="05" chapter_num="04" heading="Public School Library Programs.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Each local school system shall establish in each school a unified school library media program for the use of all students which shall include, but not be limited to:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>An organized and centrally managed collection of instructional materials and technologies;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Instruction emphasizing digital, media, and information literacy integrated into all content areas;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Appropriate materials and technologies to support the instructional programs of the local school system; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>A certified school library media specialist.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>The school library media program shall be integrated with the local school system’s instructional programs by having certified library media personnel:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Participate in the development and implementation of all educational programs;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Participate in the selection of school library media materials; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Instruct students, in cooperation with other teachers, in information literacy skills, which have been integrated into other areas of the curriculum.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Each local school system shall develop and implement a plan for its school library media program which shall include the following goals and subgoals to:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Provide direct instruction to help students become digital, media, and information literate through the achievement of the following learner outcomes:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Locating and using information resources including digital technologies;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Reviewing, evaluating, and selecting materials and digital tools for an identified information need;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Learning and applying reading, research, and critical thinking skills to organize information;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Comprehending content in various types of media;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Retrieving and managing information;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>Demonstrating an appreciation of literature and other creative expressions as sources of information and recreation;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(g)">
        <text>Creating materials with digital tools and formats; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(h)">
        <text>Applying ethical behavior to the use of information through digital citizenship instruction;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Support instruction by:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Collaborating with school and system level staff as well as with other individuals and organizations;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Including school library personnel in curriculum development implementation and evaluation at each grade level;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Providing resources to support instruction; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Providing professional development services which include but are not limited to:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Copyright;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Privacy;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Accessibility;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iv)">
          <text>Instructional technology and digital learning; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(v)">
          <text>Digital citizenship;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Provide services which include but are not limited to:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Evaluating and selecting instructional materials and technologies in accordance with local board of education policies;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Implementing procedures for the acquisition, organization, circulation, and removal of instructional materials and technologies in accordance with
                    Education Article, §4-142, Annotated Code of Maryland;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Providing reference and information assistance for specific requests;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Promoting instructional materials, technologies, and services that address the interest, information, and instructional support of students, staff, parents, and the community; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Providing access to people and information outside of the school community;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Provide personnel who include:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Certified school library media personnel with technical or clerical assistance at the school building level to organize and operate a school library media program, and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>A certified library media administrator or central office leadership and technical and clerical assistance to support and coordinate the school library media program;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Make accessible a comprehensive and organized collection of selected instructional materials and technologies according to policies established by local boards of education; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>Provide an adequate physical facility which is accessible and conducive to learning.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Each local school system shall have school library media program implementation documents which are reviewed and approved by the local school system on a periodic basis. These documents shall include:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Selection policies and procedures consistent with
                  §B(2) of this regulation;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Objection policies and procedures consistent with
                  §E of this regulation;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Curriculum and instruction documents for teaching digital and information literacy skills including reading, research, and critical thinking skills which:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Align with the Maryland Standards for School Library Media;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Align with the Maryland Digital Learning Standards for Students;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Integrate with content curriculum;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Include a scope and sequence of skills and objectives; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Include the use of technology; and</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Handbooks or manuals of operational procedures which include but are not limited to:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Circulation policies and procedures;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Budgeting and purchasing policies and procedures;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Policies and procedures for the evaluation and removal of obsolete or damaged books;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Inventory policies and procedures; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Policies and procedures for end-of-year reports.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>Objection Policies and Procedures.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Objection Review Committee.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Each local school system shall establish a committee to review objections to materials in a school library media program.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The committee must include at least one certified school library media specialist or certified school library media administrator, one classroom teacher, one school administrator, one student, and one parent or guardian representative.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Each local school system shall establish a uniform process to submit an objection to materials in a school library media program by a student, parent or guardian of a student enrolled in a school in the local school system, or school personnel.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>The process shall include:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The standards or criteria used to review materials;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>A reasonable timeline to conduct and conclude the review process;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>A requirement that the objection review committee make a recommendation to the local superintendent regarding the objected materials;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>A requirement that the recommendation of the objection review committee be posted publicly for the local school community;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>A 30-day period for the local school community to provide written comment to the local superintendent before the superintendent issues a written decision;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>A requirement that the local superintendent publicly post:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>The written decision;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>The basis for the decision; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Notice of the right to appeal to the local board for individuals and organizations with established standing; and</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(g)">
        <text>A right to appeal to the local board.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>The local superintendent’s decision is considered prima facie correct, and the local board may not substitute its judgment for that of the local superintendent unless the decision is arbitrary, unreasonable or illegal.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>The approved policy and procedures shall be posted on the website of the local school system.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>The approved policy and procedures shall align with the following standards:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The materials, services, and resources provided in a school library media program are provided for the interest, information, and instructional support of students and school personnel of the schools the program serves;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Materials may not be excluded from a school library media program solely because of the origin, background, or views of the individual who created the material; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Materials may not be excluded or removed from the catalogue of a school library media program because of partisan, ideological, or religious disapproval.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>Materials under review due to an objection shall remain available for use by students and school personnel until the review process has concluded and a final decision has been issued.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(8)">
      <text>A county board may not dismiss, demote, suspend, discipline, reassign, transfer, or otherwise retaliate against a librarian, certified library media specialist, or school library media program support staff for performing their job duties consistent with the standards in
                  §F(4) of this regulation.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>