Literature and the arts are also, in their own way, of great importance to the life of the Church. They strive to make known the proper nature of man, his problems and his experiences in trying to know and perfect both himself and the world. They have much to do with revealing man’s place in history and in the world; with illustrating the miseries and joys, the needs and strengths of man and with foreshadowing a better life for him. Thus they are able to elevate human life, expressed in multifold forms according to various times and regions. (Second Vatican Council, Gaudium et Spes, #62)
As a Catholic school’s mission is different from a state school, a Catholic school library and the books we read also look different. Books serve the Catholic mission of the school to promote truth, goodness, beauty, and excellence. Catholic education teaches students to read, because reading is an important part of being human. Reading is primarily a tool and a means, not an end in itself. We don’t just want students to read anything; we want them to read selections that will help them learn and grow in human capacity and joyful wonder. Reading can help ensure freedom and provide authentic joy when it leads students to encountering enduring ideals. Catholic education teaches students to read so that they can learn, seek, explore, think, and come to know the truth about the world around them. A Catholic school library does not seek to provide access to “all kinds of books,” but rather the best and most meaningful books aligned with the school’s mission.
Guidelines that support our selection of books and media at our school include:
- all literature and media chosen support the mission of Catholic education.
- New acquisitions for classrooms, programs, or the school library are planned.
- Books and media are chosen for their high-quality writing and artistry and for their creative, intellectual, spiritual, and inspirational weight over their entertainment value.
- Books and media are not acquired or used because students request them, because they are best-sellers, or because they have won awards.
- Books and media for K-6 maintain archetypes, promote virtue, and are morally unambiguous from a Catholic worldview.
Resource: Cardinal Newman Society