Policies

Library Policies and Objectives reflect and support the St. Edward High School Mission Statement and the philosophy of the Brothers of Holy Cross:

The St. Edward High School Mission Statement

"St. Edward High School, a Catholic school in the Holy Cross tradition, educates the minds and hearts of young men to have the competence to see and the courage to act as men of faith.

We believe in . . .

... an ongoing commitment to excellence in academics, as well as co-curricular programs.

... formation of young men in a faith-based tradition that is God-centered and emphasizes the acceptance of each person.

... a welcoming, family-oriented school community.

... Servant Leadership as a way of life for all our community members (students, parents, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends)."

Performance Objectives for Library Skills Curriculum

Students will . . .

... practice skills that encourage lifelong learning.

... relate research techniques to specific needs in everyday life.

... identify, access, and effectively use traditional resources such as books and periodicals as well as electronic resources including Internet sites and reviewed, recommended databases.

... use available resources by knowing their specific purposes and by using their parts effectively.

... decide, as critical and independent thinkers, which resources best relate to their classroom assignments and the curriculum.

... investigate current resources that consider local, national, and global information.

... differentiate between respected sources recognized for accuracy (therefore, appropriate for research) and sources intended to entertain (that might, as a result, include biased or inaccurate information).

... collaborate to solve problems during the research process.

Collection Development and Curriculum Support

Library materials, whether in print, non-print, or electronic format, are purchased to support the curriculum and to support the academic and personal needs of the patrons.  When possible, authoritative reviews are used to justify purchases. 

In addition, the professional opinions of colleagues help to determine which materials should and should not be added to the collection.  Both students and faculty are asked to make suggestions by completing surveys and participating in contests.

The Student Readers Advisory Board, represented by students from each class at SEHS, meets periodically and also offers suggestions based on personal reading, discussions with peers, and reviews. The final decision to purchase any of the suggested titles is made by the librarian after investigating editorial reviews.