Library

Miquon's Library curriculum is strongly literature-based and embodies our Progressive philosophy, responding to our students’ individual interests and the world around us. 

Our curriculum is informed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education's "Model Curriculum for Pennsylvania School Library Programs" and the American Association of School Librarians' "Standards for the 21st Century Learner."

Miquon uses the Metis classification system instead of the Dewey Decimal System. Metis is a flexible, intuitive, and child-friendly system of library categorization. It uses whole language, visual cues, and logic that reflects children's own experiences. It puts the child in the center of their own search.

The first versions of Metis were created by librarians at The Ethical Culture School in 2011. Miquon's version of Metis is based on these classifications but varies somewhat to meet the needs of our community.

online catalog

Miquon students learn about the world around them not only by reading books but also by critically evaluating information online and exploring librarian- and teacher-curated resources.

The library program supports children's curiosity by engaging them as informed digital citizens. We use technology such as laptops, tablets, and e-readers to build their 21st century research skills in developmentally appropriate, creative ways.

2026 Summer Reading List: Preschool through 2nd Grade

2026 Summer reading list: 3rd through 6th grade

Collection Development

We evaluate and develop our collections collaboratively to support the Miquon School Progressive education curriculum and to meet the diverse learning needs of our children. Evaluation of print and non-print materials is ongoing. In partnership with the entire school community, our librarian will generate collections that:

• Foster a love for reading and a curiosity about our world
• Educate and entertain readers
• Reflect students’ cultures, perspectives, and histories

Collection Scope

The Miquon School Clisby Library collects print and digital materials to meet the needs of students from preschool through 6th grade by considering the following:

• specific subject areas addressed by the curricula (English language arts, math, music, science, social sciences, art, physical education, Spanish)
• themes pertinent to Miquon’s mission – environmental science, peace and conflict resolution, interdependence, social justice and equity
• materials requested by students for recreational reading and informational inquiry
• trends in education, publishing, student interest, and new formats

Recommended age for resources will range from preschool to 8th grade, due to variations in students’ reading ability, comprehension, interests, and maturity. As such, some materials collected for students may contain mature themes

Librarians will use the following criteria as a guide when considering materials for the collection:

Quality of Text:

• favorable reviews found in standard selection sources such as School Library Journal, Kirkus Reviews, Horn Book, Booklist, and respected online sources. 
• favorable recommendations based on preview of materials by professional personnel
• currency, timeliness, and/or permanence of material
• reputation and significance of the author and publisher
• high artistic quality and/or literary style
• quality and variety of format
• value commensurate with cost and/or need
• cultural relevance and sensitivity

Curricular Connections:

• educational significance
• adds value and depth to curricula
• contributes to breadth of perspective on controversial issues

Student Interest:

• student requests / demand
• high degree of potential user appeal
• supports personal inquiry

Staff:

• high degree of practical applicability 
• current, research-based curricular supports
• supports teachers’ personal and professional growth
• supports teachers’ passion projects

Although getting rid of books may seem counter to a library’s purpose, it is actually essential to ensuring that the collection remains healthy and continues to grow.

As school library materials become dated, damaged, or lost the library staff may remove them from the collection while considering replacement with updated or newer copies. 

During this process, staff use policy documents as touchstones for keeping or discarding a given item. We use the industry-standard CREW approach (Continuous Review, Evaluation, and Weeding) for ongoing evaluation and M.U.S.T.I.E. guidelines to remove items that are misleading, ugly, superseded, trivial, irrelevant, or easily accessed elsewhere. 

Books and materials in good condition with correct and non-biased content can be offered to teachers, students, the community, other school libraries, and/or given to non-profit groups. Biased, outdated, or incorrect content material will be disposed of appropriately.

Please direct any questions about this policy to the librarian.

The Miquon School Clisby Library’s collection has grown through the generosity of our community. The Library welcomes donations of books and other materials and accepts monetary contributions toward the purchase of new materials. An online wishlist is available for community members who wish to donate a book in honor of a student, teacher, or alum.

The Library reserves the right to decide how to use gifts received. Gifts accepted for addition to the Library’s collection become the property of Miquon School and are placed where most appropriate. Material not utilized in the Library’s collection is offered to teachers, students, the community, other school libraries, and/or given to non-profit groups. 

Our selection policy is calibrated to admit high-quality materials that meet the needs of our community. Nevertheless, because we strive to represent many points of view in our collection, the potential exists for individuals or groups to object to particular materials. We honor and value the idea that growth comes from being challenged. By considering new ideas, different viewpoints, and challenging perspectives we expand our own thinking, and further develop our own beliefs. 

We subscribe to the American Library Association’s stance on intellectual freedom as detailed in the Library Bill of Rights (see APPENDIX 1).  As such, we will not exclude or remove materials from the collection solely on the basis that they may contain potentially controversial material, such as that pertaining to social, political, moral, or religious views. While giving any objections a fair hearing, we will uphold the principles of intellectual freedom, the students’ right to access, and the professional integrity of the school faculty.

If someone objects to content in a given title and would like the library to reconsider the inclusion of said material in the collection, the following procedure will be observed:

1. Make appointment with librarian to discuss material in question.
2. The librarian and community member will meet, along with an appropriate member of the Miquon staff, to review the selection policies and procedures, along with the considerations and factors that have influenced acquisition of the material in question. 
3. If the community member does not agree with the school’s position, they are invited to register a formal complaint by using the form found in APPENDIX 2: Request for Reconsideration of Library Materials.
4. A review committee comprised of the librarian, principal, a content teacher, and a parent representative, will meet to consider the challenge. The committee will read and review the material using the form found in APPENDIX 3: Checklist for the School Library Materials Committee.
5. Material will be judged in total, not on objectionable words, phrases, and/or images.
6. The committee will respond to the challenge with a written reply in a timely manner.
7. No material will be removed from use until a final decision on its status has been made. 
8. If the committee decision is appealed, the librarian will bring the matter first to the attention of the principal. If further appeals are made, they will go to the Board of Directors.