School Library

Topics:

Instruction

Effective school library programs and professionally trained teacher librarians play an essential role in the instructional program of each school and student achievement. Iowa Administrative Code 281-12.3(12) requires each school district in Iowa employ a qualified teacher librarian and have in place an articulated, sequential K–12 library program.

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Standards and Guidance

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Curriculum Development

The Iowa School Library Program Standards identifies the first anchor standard under the teaching and learning component as, “The K-12 Library Curriculum supports the reading life of students and addresses inquiry, information literacy, and digital literacy.” Anchor standards two, three and four provide guidance for curriculum development. Refer to the progressions for emerging/developing, operationalizing and optimizing in the standards for additional detail.

Anchor Standard TL2: The TL is a catalyst in igniting a passion for reading in every student and creating a culture of literacy in the school.

Anchor Standard TL3: The TL teaches a systematic approach to inquiry and the skills that support information literacy.

Anchor Standard TL4: The TL teaches the skills and understandings required for digital literacy and the safe, legal, and ethical use of digital resources.

The following resources are intended as starting points for districts creating or revising their current library program curriculum. Administrators, teacher librarians and teachers are invited to examine these models, adapt them to local standards and initiatives, and find areas where they can be integrated into various subject areas to achieve the goal of helping students become independent learners.

Resources

AASL Standards Framework for Learners

AASL Crosswalks with other sets of national teaching and learning standards:

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Annual Budget

Preparing Your Annual Budget Review

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Annual Report

An annual report is a standard practice in most professional settings and can help to facilitate regular conversations with administrators to advocate for the school library program. Use data from the annual School Library Survey to show progression of the school library program over time, review goals from the previous year, celebrate successes, and set goals for the upcoming year. Combine results with libraries across the state to provide a snapshot of your library in relation to other Iowa school library programs. Contextualize this with highlights from your professional work: teaching, collaborations, and leadership. The following are possible topics for the report:

  • Mission statement
  • Highlights of the Year (Successful initiatives or collaborations, special programming or events, photos of students working)
  • Teaching and Learning - list events and accomplishments in the Teaching and Learning Component of the Iowa School Library Program Standards
  • Library Management - list events and accomplishments in the Library Management Component of the Iowa School Library Program Standards
  • Unmet Needs
  • Goals for Next Year
  • Library Statistics - such as data reported in the State Library Survey
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