Libraries and Teacher Librarians
Given the demands for independent reading and reading across the range of literary and
informational texts in the CA CCSS for ELA/Literacy and the CA ELD Standards, library professionals
are more important than ever to the success of students in achieving the standards. Teacher librarians
have key responsibilities for building library collections that
accomplish the following:
- Nurture students’ love of literature and pursuit of
knowledge - Support instruction in all content areas
- Reflect the languages spoken by students and their
families and those taught in biliteracy programs - Represent and connect with the cultures and interests
of all students and their families in positive and relevant
ways - Build students’ technological and critical competencies
Teacher librarians are also key collaborators with classroom
teachers on research projects and other inquiry-based
learning. In addition, they coordinate with classroom teachers
and other specialists to address the Model School Library
Standards (http://www.cde.ca.gov/be/st/ss/documents/librarystandards.pdf) (CDE 2011) in classroom
and library instruction. Critically important for 21st century learners, students need to acquire
information literacy skills in conjunction with their instruction in ELA, ELD, and disciplinary literacy.
Information is defined by the Model School Library Standards as “words (printed or spoken), visual
images (including photographs and artwork), and music” (2011, viii) and can be found in print, media,
or digital format.
The Model School Library Standards include four overarching standards common across all grades
accompanied by detailed standards for each grade, kindergarten through grade six, and for each span,
grades seven and eight and grades nine through twelve. The four broad concepts or standards include
the following:
- Students access information.
- Students evaluate information.
- Students use information.
- Students integrate information literacy skills into all areas of learning.
Given the interdisciplinary and integrated nature of
curricula required by the CA CCSS for ELA/Literacy and the CA
ELD Standards, the Model School Library Standards fit naturally
into instruction at all grades.
Support for well-supplied and well-staffed libraries is
difficult to achieve for many schools; however, obtaining
adequate financial and personnel resources for school libraries
is critically important. Providing a rich and wide selection of
texts and other media in English and the primary language(s)
of students and teaching information literacy to students are
necessary if students are to achieve the standards and succeed
in the 21st century. Close collaboration between teachers,
administrators, specialists, and teacher librarians is essential
Given the demands for
independent reading and
reading across the range of
literary and informational
texts in the CA CCSS for
ELA/Literacy and the CA
ELD Standards, library
professionals are more
important than ever to
the success of students in
achieving the standards.Support for well-supplied
and well-staffed libraries is
difficult to achieve for many
schools; however, obtaining
adequate financial and
personnel resources for
school libraries is critically
important.996 | Chapter 11 Implementing Instruction