Slide 1: Good afternoon!

Today I’m going to be talking about the new library curriculum

that was announced by the American Association for School Libraries this past year.
There are a few changes to the way librarians will be expected to help students
develop, and I will also be discussing what kinds of impacts the libraries have on our
students today.

Slide 2: So what is a school library? It is an agency of culture. Libraries encourage

students and staff to be accepting of each other, learn about differences, and
encourage cultural teachings. As well, it is a collaboration space. Students can meet at
the library with their peers to work on projects, and the librarian and teacher can work
together to integrate lesson plans into the library curriculum. Libraries are exploration
stations. Librarians and libraries encourage students to develop questions, be curious,
and explore how to solve problems. As a resource center, the library provides a variety
of media and books for students to use for academics as well as leisure. Libraries get
students reading! And last but not least, a school library is a knowledge base for both
students and staff members.

Slide 3: In 2018, the AASL released a framework of standards. They include six key
components; inquire, include, collaborate, curate, explore, and engage. Each library and
student population is unique, so the framework allows library instruction to be
differentiated for each student, class, and grade level. I’m going to show a brief video
about that expands more on this.

Slide 4: Video

Slide 5: So what is changing? Instead of the traditional, prescribed standards, the AASL
standards are more of a framework that allow librarians to teach within. The
responsibility of integrating PA common core standards still exists, and the librarian is
expected to work on skills NOT just for English/Language Arts. Reading and writing
skills can be integrated into science, history, and computer technology skills because
they interrelate. The learning plans for the new library standards follow a WHERETO
design, where students are not simply memorizing facts or reading boring texts.
Explaining the learning outcome goals to students will help give them a better
understanding of why we are teaching each skill, and they can self-assess their
progress. Teacher collaboration is also given a bigger focus in the new standards, as
well as a student-centered learning plan. Librarians are also expected to use the
standards on themselves in order to develop as a teacher, and librarians will learn
better if they go back and see what they can improve on after a lesson.
Slide 6: What are some of the beliefs that the AASL holds with these new standards?
Research has found that students were unprepared for college-level research upon
graduating high school, so the AASL has created a new focus on teaching research
skills that prepare students for their life after high school. Students have the right to
speak freely, and librarians are expected to encourage this instead of controlling what
students should be thinking. As well, the AASL organization believes that all students
have the right to equal and accessible technology resources, bridging the
socio-economic gap that occurs in lower-income areas. The AASL plans to give all
students the same opportunities so that they are prepared for college and their careers,
and providing updated technology to students in lower economic areas.

Slide 7: Now what kind of impact does the school library have on students? Research
has found that students who have access to more books at their school library often do
better on the PSSA reading and writing tests, and flex schedules also have a positive
impact. Providing outside library time also gives an advantage for students who do not
have computers at home, and in urban areas, students who have access to online
databases improve on test scores, and this can be found dramatically in minority groups
and cumulatively across all grade levels regardless of socioeconomic status.

Slide 8: In conclusion, the new library curriculum based on the 2018 AASL standards
are improving both student and librarian skills, increasing academic achievement, and
encouraging more teacher-librarian collaboration. These guidelines allow for a variety of
unique learning opportunities for both students and teachers, and we should expect that
our students will grow with each new skill development, be prepared for the future, and
keep on learning. Thank you for hearing me speak, and I hope that this has been very
helpful in understanding our new standards at the library.