What Strong School Librarians Do

The following checklist is an easy way for parents and other stakeholders to see what the school library SHOULD be providing to EVERY student in HISD. This sentence is also a live link to download the PDF.

Click here to download: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Xrk18Kf8RJGK7g4n1rioTrLP4BCPJ6Ya/view?usp=sharing

BEST School Library Practices
explained by AASL - 
American Assn of School Librarians

Definition of an Effective School Library Program 
Appropriate Staffing for School Libraries 
Instructional Role of the School Librarian 
Preparation of School Librarians 
Role of the School Library Program 
The Strategic Leadership Role of School Librarians
​                               PLUS
​Common Core College- and Career-Readiness Standards
Confidentiality of Library Records
Digital Content and E-books in School Library Collections
Diversity in the Organization
Flexible Scheduling
Labeling Books with Reading Levels
Quantitative Standards
Role of the School Librarian in Reading Development
Role of the School Librarian in Senior/Capstone Projects
School Librarian's Role in Reading
The School Library Supervisor
Support for National Board of Professional Teaching Standards Certification
Value of Independent Reading in the School Library Program​

Texas School Library Standards and Guidelines (2018),
 and Supplemental Resources  

“Every single study out there has shown that having a librarian in the school increases academic performance and standardized test scores. Why are we not putting MORE librarians in the schools rather than less?”
(Huffington Post, August 26, 2013)

​Schools without libraries are missing an important component in the literacy program; these schools do not have a trained, passionate teacher to offer students a breadth of options they will enjoy to read as well as to teach them how to locate whatever information they may need, whether for academic assignments or for personal interest.

The booklet linked below is from 2018, but describes in more detail the services and expertise that certified library staff offer.
​
Certified School Librarians are teachers with additional training and credentials that make them experts in supporting literacy and research for K-12 students. 

​Teachers who are assigned to staff libraries have some of these same skills, and can learn more on the job if they are interested.

Available in booklet format for printing as well as full-page format with internal bookmarks for desktop access, this 2018 project offers all stakeholders a visual guide to the multi-faceted skill set of certified school librarians. Please share widely!

Booklet version - print double-sided to hand to administrators. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nzMHZ1KqrCcpxk3SuQeiafy_8wQMNDnqsf0CpAI-Lbg/edit?usp=sharing The pages ARE in the correct order to print in a single fold booklet.

Full page version - to read on computer https://docs.google.com/document/d/1achVcfzvr9jhc-NRI19guJ0J68aiIo5stqDhbvHlfmU/edit?usp=sharing