Office of the Superintendent of Schools
Office of Academics
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Approval Of New Campus Library Materials Orders And Donations
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In accordance with Texas Senate Bill (S.B.) 13 and Board Policy EFB(LOCAL), all new library materials-whether purchased or donated-must be publicly listed for a minimum of 30 days and formally approved by the School Board before being added to any campus library collection. The Houston Independent School District (HISD) School Board is accordingly asked to approve the addition of new book titles, purchased or donated, to any district libraries. These titles have completed the district required review and vetting process in full compliance with S.B. 13, ensuring that all materials meet state standards and align with district policies for age-appropriate and educational relevance.
S.B. 13 requires that:
* All proposed library materials must be posted for public review for at least 30 days.
* The School Board must vote to approve or reject each item.
* This process applies to both physical and digital materials, including classroom libraries if applicable.
* Challenged materials must be removed from circulation pending board review and approval.
The HISD book acquisition process is as follows:
1. Campus Submission. Librarians submit book orders and donation lists through the official HISD Book Order/Donation Form.
2. Initial Review. Library Services reviews titles lists within 2-3 days, identifying existing titles for immediate approval and new titles for vetting.
3. Vetting & Public Review. New titles are evaluated for grade-level and content appropriateness; titles requiring further review are posted for a 30-day public comment period.
4. Final Approval. After the comment window, vetted titles are presented to the board for final approval before purchase.
A copy of the list of proposed library materials is attached. The list has also been posted on line for the required 30-Day Public Book Purchase Preview.
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