Libraries

Birdville ISD Libraries - Empowering Minds, Inspiring Futures

Mission & Vision

Mission

The mission of the Birdville ISD Library Program is to empower every learner by providing equitable access to resources, cutting-edge technologies, and dynamic learning experiences. We partner with educators, families, and the community to foster curiosity, critical thinking, and creativity. Through personalized support, collaborative opportunities, and a commitment to responsible digital citizenship, we prepare students to thrive as innovative, informed, and ethical contributors in a rapidly changing world.

Vision

The vision of BISD Library Services is to inspire academic success and lifelong learning by:

Supporting curriculum and advancing student achievement.
Creating engaging and inclusive learning experiences.
Fostering collaboration among students, educators, families, and the community.
Meeting the unique needs of every learner.
Leading in the integration of educational technology.
Teaching and modeling responsible digital citizenship.
Providing an information commons where inquiry, knowledge, innovation, and creativity thrive.

School Library Online Catalogs

Sora eBooks

Sora mascot flying upward beside text that reads sora the student reading app

Our students have access to thousands of ebooks and audiobooks through Sora. Sora titles are available to Birdville students 24/7 through the app located in our my.birdvilleschools.net single sign-on portal.

The Sora app can also be downloaded for Android and iOS so that students can read books from a mobile device.

Birdville has three Sora collections tailored to the unique needs of our students - Elementary, Middle School, and High School.

Birdville ISD has Sora ebooks Pre-K through 12th Grades

How to Access your Birdville Sora library:

1. Log in to the BISD Portal and click on the Sora app.

Or, read on your mobile device (follow instructions below):

Step 1

Install the Sora app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, or go to https://soraapp.com.

Step 2

In Sora, find your school (or enter your school's setup code), then sign in.

Step 3

Browse the Explore tab and borrow a book. Your book will open so you can start reading right away.

Step 4

Close the book and go to your Shelf to see all your books.

Contact Us

Library Materials Selection Policy

Goals and Objectives

Library materials shall be recommended and procured in accordance with guidelines adopted by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission and the District standards and priorities expressed in this policy.

Librarians and other professional staff shall develop recommendations to be presented to the Board.

Librarians and other professional staff shall ensure that the materials:

Enrich and support the TEKS and the state and local curriculum, taking into consideration students’ varied interests, maturity levels, abilities, and learning styles.
Foster growth in factual knowledge, literary appreciation, aesthetic values, and societal standards.
Encourage the enjoyment of reading, foster high-level thinking skills, support personal learning, and encourage discussion based on rational analysis.
Represent ethnic, religious, and cultural groups of the state and their contributions to the state, the nation, and the world.
Contain a recent copyright date as appropriate to the subject.
Ensure that multilingual programs have a diverse and wide range of materials available.
Encourage the enjoyment of reading, foster high-level thinking skills, support personal learning, and encourage discussion based on rational analysis.

Considerations

Collection administrative procedures regarding the selection of library materials are the responsibility of the campus librarian and include consideration of:

Recommendations from students, parents or guardians, teachers, and District residents.
Consultation with District teachers and library staff.
Consultation with library staff from other districts.
Extensive review of the library material.
Context of the library material, age, and grade level appropriate, including overall fit within the existing collection, and support of the District curriculum.
At least two positive reviews of the library material from sources such as professional journals in library science, recognized professional education or content journals with book reviews, national and state award recognition lists, library science field experts, and highly acclaimed author and literacy expert recommendations.
Coverage of topics, authors, series, or genres that fill gaps in the school library collection.
The date of the collection
Obscene or Harmful Material - Notwithstanding any other criteria, a title will not be selected if it contains obscene material (as defined by Penal Code 43.21(a)(1)(B)) or harmful material (as defined by Penal Code 43.24(a)(2)).

Overview and Purpose

The school district is governed by the policies of the BISD School Board - EF(LOCAL). District librarians follow the adopted overall selection policy for library materials.

The purpose of the BISD Library Materials Selection Policy is to describe the processes and standards by which our campus libraries recommend, acquire, maintain, and withdraw materials as outlined in the new Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TASLAC) collection development standards for school libraries (13 Texas Administrative Code §4.2)

BISD Library Materials Selection Policy

All library books donated to or purchased by Birdville ISD require approval by the Birdville ISD School Board. To facilitate transparency, any books that are donated or requested for purchase will be shared for public review on this page for 30 days before each board meeting.

If you have any questions or concerns about the titles listed below, please contact the Director of Digital Learning and Library Services at kelli.montgomery@birdvilleschools.net.

Board Meetings:

October, 2025: Click the following text "Link to List" to view the APPROVED list: Link to List (posted, September 23, 2025)

November, 2025: Click the following text "Link to List" to view the PROPOSED list: Link to List (posted, October 20, 2025)

Reconsideration (Challenge) of Library Resources

Board Policy

Overview

Overview Information

A District employee, a parent or guardian of a District student, or a District resident may challenge library material maintained in the District's library program.

Guiding Principles

The following principles shall guide the review of a request to reconsider a library material:

An individual may challenge library material used in the District's library program, despite the fact that the professional staff and the Board followed the proper procedure and adhered to the objectives and criteria for recommending and procuring library materials set out in this policy.
Access to a challenged material shall be restricted during the challenge process.

In addition to compliance with state law and this policy, a criterion for the final decision on challenged library materials is the appropriateness of the material for its intended use. No challenged library material shall be removed solely because of the ideas expressed in the library material or the personal background of the library material's author or the personal background of the characters in the material.

Selection Guidelines

BISD Library Materials Selection Guidelines

When the District or a campus receives an objection to the appropriateness of a library material, the appropriate librarian or administrator shall try to resolve the matter informally. The librarian or administrator shall explain the selection process and discuss the intended purpose for the library material.

The librarian or administrator shall offer a concerned parent or guardian an alternative library material to be used by the child in place of the material and, if requested, shall restrict the child's access to the material objected to by the parent or guardian.

Submit a Book Challenge (Reconsideration Request)

Challenging a Resource
Steps to Follow Where There is a Concern

Challenging a Resource

Steps to Follow Where There is a Concern

First Steps When you Have a Concern:

Read the material in its entirety. Generally, passages or parts of a resource should not be pulled out of context. The values and faults should be weighed against each other and the opinions based on the materials as a whole.
Reach out to your school's librarian to discuss your concerns.

School staff will try to resolve concerns about a resource informally using the following procedure:

The principal or designee shall explain the district's/school's selection process, the criteria for selection, and the qualifications of the professional staff who selected the questioned resource
The principal or designee shall explain the intended educational purpose of the resource and any additional information regarding its use
If appropriate, the principal or designee may offer a concerned parent an alternative instructional resource to be used by that parent's child in place of the challenged resource
If the complainant wishes to make a formal challenge, please fill out this form and email Kelli Montgomery, Director Digital Learning and Library Services at kelli.montgomery@birdvilleschools.net to inform her that you have filled out the form and wish to make a formal challenge.