Welcome to BASD Libraries!

School libraries provide a place to foster independent and collaborative learning and information-seeking skills in students and staff.  The major goals of the District's school libraries are:

• To support and enrich the District's standards and benchmarks;
• To provide for personal interests, professional, educational, and recreational reading while promoting an appreciation of good literature;
• To provide a comprehensive and coordinated collection of current resources so that students and staff will conveniently and effectively use a wide variety of materials, including print and non-print media;
• To provide the appropriate technology and equipment for information retrieval, resource sharing, classroom instruction, and student and teacher use;
• To promote and support the appropriate use of technology for interpreting and communicating intellectual content;
• To provide instruction that advances student and staff literacy of print, digital, and other emerging information resources;
• To provide equitable and timely access to resources that support students' personal, academic, and life-long learning;
• To foster a love of reading, curiosity, and investigation by providing a space that is well-maintained, up-to-date, welcoming, and safe for all users.

Parental Involvement in Student Choice

It is the responsibility of the school district to provide a wide range of materials on different levels of difficulty and representing different points of view. School librarians will provide materials with opposing viewpoints on controversial issues to enable students to develop the critical thinking skills to be discriminate users of information and productive members of society. On April 10, 2023, the School Board approved an updated policy. You can read the School Board policy on libraries for more information.

Using the BASD Library

This BASD Library Catalog video (Elementary link to video; Middle and High School link to video) gives instructions on how to see what is in the BASD library catalog and how to see what books your child is checking out. Link to the Destiny Library Catalog system.

Controversial Topics

Within BASD libraries there are texts that involve controversial topics such as (but not limited to):  abuse, neglect, sexually explicit content, gender identity, race, politics, and family dynamics. 

Permission Slips

Parents with concerns about their child engaging in a text within the classroom and/or libraries should use the permission slips to ensure transparency and communication with families. If there is a broader concern about the instructional materials used as part of the educational curriculum, please read Board Policies 9130 (Public Requests, Suggestions, and Complaints) and 5780 (Student/Parent Rights).

• 6th Grade Young Adult Permission Form (Karcher)
• 7th/8th Grade High School Book Permission Form (Karcher)
• Mature Content Form (BHS)
• Book Usage Form

Resources

The district recommends using these websites to become familiar with the materials being used at school and to further research the text.   

• Teaching Books
• Library of Congress

Parents may also find information on websites such as booksellers and book review sites such as: amazon.com, barnesand noble.com, book list online, common sense media, complete review, Goodreads, library thing, love reading (UK), and kirkus reviews.