​Vision
The media center strives to be the foundation for all academic programs at the school by providing resources and services that support the curriculum. The personal interests and needs of our students are also of great importance because we want to encourage both their academic success and personal growth. The media center is considered a safe space for all who visit. 

Mission
The mission of the Rome High School media program is "to ensure that students and staff are effective users of ideas and information; students are empowered to be critical thinkers, enthusiastic readers, skillful researchers, and ethical users of information."
The media center program is guided by the policies outlined in the ALA Library Bill of Rights.  

Rome City Schools Library Selection Criteria:
  • Support and enrich the curriculum and/or students’ personal interests and learning
  • Meet high standards in literary, artistic, and aesthetic quality; technical aspects; and physical format
  • Be appropriate for the subject area and for the age, emotional development, ability level, learning styles, and social, emotional, and intellectual development of the students for whom the materials are selected
  • Incorporate accurate and authentic factual content from authoritative sources
  • Earn favorable reviews in standard reviewing sources and/or favorable recommendations based on preview and examination of materials by professional personnel
  • Exhibit a high degree of potential user appeal and interest
  • Represent differing viewpoints on controversial issues
  • Provide a global perspective and promote diversity by including materials by authors and illustrators of all cultures
  • Include a variety of resources in physical and virtual formats including print and non-print such as electronic and multimedia (including subscription databases and other online products, e-books, educational games, and other forms of emerging technologies)
  • Demonstrate physical format, appearance, and durability suitable to their intended use
  • Balance cost with need
Policies
The Rome High School media program adheres to "policies, procedures, and guidelines that support equitable access to ideas and information throughout the school community."
Retrieved from: Empowering Learners: Guidelines for School Library Programs

Weeding Guidelines
In order to maintain the quality of the collection it is essential to apply weeding principles. Weeding will ensure that the collection contains accurate, current, and relevant materials. The collection of materials which is appealing in content as well as appearance will result in greater utilization of resources.
Materials eligible for removal:
  • Worn and damaged titles
  • Damaged/missing pages, cover, binding
  • Encyclopedias should be considered for weeding at least every five years
  • Duplicate titles
  • All unnecessary duplicates not circulating
Other Criteria:
  • Outdated and inaccurate materials
  • Poorly written materials or improved editions
  • Materials no longer appropriate for reading/interest level of current student body
  • Materials no longer in demand or which do not support the curriculum
  • Materials that are inaccurate, stereotyping, patronizing or biased
  • Materials which have not circulated in three to five years

RCS Library Procedures for Handling Formal Complaints
  1. The complainant may contact the respective school principal to discuss concerns or may directly complete the RCS Request for Reconsideration of Library Resources via the Rome City Schools website or app. If the complainant contacts the principal, the principal will have the discretion to direct the complainant to the school’s media specialist who may resolve the complaint on an individual basis; if the issue can not be resolved in this manner, the complainant will be directed to the RCS website to complete the RCS Request for Reconsideration of Library Resources form. 

    ​2. Upon receipt of the form, the principal, as committee chair, should notify and provide a copy of the reconsideration form with the following individuals:
    1. School Resource Reconsideration Committee - principal, media specialist, curriculum director, ELA/Reading teacher, member of the community
  2. The books and/or materials involved will be suspended pending decision in writing by the above committee. 
  3. The school media specialist will secure copies of the resource for the committee to review and any pertinent information regarding the resource in question. The school media specialist will also ensure all committee members have a copy of the Rome City Schools Library Selection Criteria document. 
  4. The committee should schedule an initial formal meeting within 10 school days after the principal receives the written request for reconsideration in order to review the complaint. 
  5. At the initial meeting, the committee should follow the procedures listed below:
    1. A member of the committee will be designated to keep minutes.
    2. All committee members should fully review the complaint as listed on the Reconsideration Form and respective excerpts in question. 
    3. The complainant will be invited, but not required, to make a verbal presentation about the resource and the committee members may ask questions at this time.
    4. The committee may decide to table the vote to a later date within 10 school days of the initial meeting in order to consider all presented information or decide to take an immediate vote. 
    5. The committee will make its decision determined by the simple majority to retain the resources, move the resources to a different level, or remove the resource. This will be a secret ballot vote.
    6. The committee's written decision shall be presented to the complainant within five school days after the decision is made.
    7. Appeals from this decision may be made through the Superintendent to the Rome City Schools Board of Education for final decision. 
    8. ​
Reconsideration Form