The New England Consortium criteria of excellence are 26 statements of conditions which describe a quality reading program and which must exist if all children are to learn to read. These statements are grouped under five goal areas, the fourth of which, selecting and utilizing materials, is treated in this position paper. The paper supports attainment of the following criteria for this goal area: the school media center meets the ALA-NEA standards; all textbooks and other materials are appropriate to the instructional level of the students using them; materials in both classrooms and media centers accommodate the varying learning styles of the pupil population; the materials in both classrooms and media centers are selected to accommodate the wide range of reading interests of the pupil population; and the school system maintains a library of carefully selected and frequently updated professional media. (JM)