Philosophy of the School Library Media
Program
The school library media
center is a vital and integral hub of the school and as a result reflects the
philosophy and goals of the school and the district. In an age of information, acquiring
information literacy skills and a commitment for lifelong reading and learning
become paramount. In the school library
media center, students develop critical thinking, problem solving, and
communication skills as they use a variety of resources to meet the demands of
today’s curriculum.
A library media program does
not exist in isolation. The school
library media specialist works in partnership with students, teachers,
administrators, Board of Education members, and the school community to develop
the library media program. Through
collaboration, the library media program also incorporates the goals and
objectives of the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards (NJCCCS) and the
National Information Literacy Standards for Student Learning as prepared by the
American Association of School Librarians (AASL) and the New Jersey Core
curriculum Content Standards for Technological Literacy (8.1 and 8.2). The combined vision supports the goal for
educational excellence and the concept of intellectual freedom.
The principles for learning
and teaching of school library media programs have been identified and
developed by the Information Power Vision Committee (Information Power 58).
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Principle 1:
The library media program is essential to learning and teaching and must be fully
integrated into the curriculum to promote students’ achievement of learning
goals.
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Principle 2: The information literacy standards for student learning are integral to
the content and objectives of the school’s curriculum.
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Principle 3:
The library media program models and promotes collaborative planning and
curriculum development.
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Principle 4:
The library media program models and promotes creative, effective, and
collaborative teaching.
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Principle 5:
Access to the full range of information resources and services through the
library media program is fundamental to learning.
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Principle 6:
The library media program encourages and engages students in reading, viewing,
and listening for understanding and enjoyment.
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Principle 7:
The library media program supports the learning of all students and other
members of the learning community who have diverse learning abilities, styles,
and needs.
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Principle 8: The library media program fosters individual and collaborative inquiry.
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Principle 9: The library media program integrates the uses of technology for learning
and teaching.
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Principle 10: The library media program is an essential link to the larger learning
community.
Information and technology
skills are most meaningful when learned within a subject area, within an
interdisciplinary unit, or within a unit which addresses an authentic,
real-life need or problem. Students must
be prepared to access, evaluate, select, and apply the appropriate information
to meet their educational, personal, and recreational needs.
Students must be prepared to
acquire materials and resources to meet their current and lifelong needs. They will need to know how to access,
evaluate, and choose from a constantly changing and growing reservoir of
information for educational, personal, and recreational purposes.
Updated: 9/05