Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Libraries topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Task force presents updated guidelines for exemplary Alabama school libraries; board to review
Summary
A task force convened by ALSDE presented updated guidelines intended to replace a 2008 library guidance document. The guidelines stress a librarian''s instructional role, learner outcomes, literacy engagement and policy guidance for challenged materials.
The board received a presentation of newly drafted guidelines for exemplary Alabama school libraries, the first complete update of a state guidance document from 2008. A 21-member task force representing districts, higher education and library specialists drafted the guidance after expert review and a public input process.
The document is organized around four sections: library spaces and access; contemporary collection development; learner outcomes and instruction (information literacy, literature appreciation, digital citizenship); and collaborative, learner-centered instructional partnership. The draft includes rubrics to help librarians evaluate programs at developing, accomplished and exemplary levels.
Task force members emphasized three points: (1) a certified, full-time library media specialist in every school is essential to the model they describe; (2) strong library programs advance reading engagement and are an instructional partner with teachers; and (3) local boards should adopt policies addressing challenged materials and Internet-filtering decisions. The task force suggested sample procedures and recommended that districts have written, public processes for parents to challenge materials.
Board members asked whether the state should provide a model policy for handling challenges to library materials. Task force presenters and staff said the guidelines recommend that each local education agency adopt its own policy and that the board should encourage but not supplant local policy-making; presenters offered to provide sample policy language to districts. Questions from board members also covered online access and filtering, scope of materials in classroom collections versus library collections, and support for school librarians who serve multiple buildings.
The board accepted the draft for further consideration and staff said the guidelines would be made available for public review; action will be scheduled after public comment.
