This article describes the process and strategies used in Arkansas to make the "AASL National Framework for Learners" the basis for the state's learning standards for school libraries. In addition, it provides details on the plan for helping school librarians fully implement the newly revised state standards into their curriculum.

Schools (and some librarians) relegated librarians to the "business of books" and disregarded them of proven technological expertise. Fortunately, school librarians have either continued to insert themselves into digital technologies or emerged from the stacks to reclaim their role as digital resource experts in their schools. So, how do…

In March 2020, K-12 schools tried to quickly get all teachers up to speed on remote learning. School librarians, ever the leaders in education, quickly jumped in, creating and offering what was needed for their schools, students, and teachers. American Association of School Librarians (AASL) Town Halls and state and regional virtual spaces were…

Many of today's new school librarians wonder how they can demonstrate their ability to lead in schools when they tend to have various roles and responsibilities within their schools. Beginning school librarians can establish leadership by assessing the needs of the school, attending grade-level planning meetings, mentoring new teachers, presenting…

This article describes the approach to teaching and supporting learners that led, in part, to high school math teacher Sarah Zehnder and the author, Amanda Hurley, a high school librarian, being named the recipients of the 2021 American Association of School Librarians (AASL) Collaborative School Library Award. The article details the process of…

Carmen Redding writes of her professional journey from teacher to school librarianship to state-level specialist. She begins by describing a common view of school librarians as non-teachers as being an old phenomenon that continues to have life. Being relegated to the position of school librarian was, most certainly in the eyes of some teachers, a…

When school librarians are hired, most of them will find positions as the only librarian in the school. Their training, their ideals, and what was once a clear vision of the profession can become murky when removed from their classrooms, their professors, and their peers. New school librarians can look for help in the district policies and…

The modern school library is a complex social setting "grounded in standards and best practice" (AASL 2018). The new "National School Library Standards" have refreshed the student learning standards and aligned new Shared Foundations to the school library. Additionally, the competencies for learners are now complemented by…

While many of the digital tools and pedagogical tactics the author learned prior to the pandemic offered her insight into the successful implementation of a library's resources, the question of how she would leverage school library's services has evolved into opportunities of reevaluation, growth, and transformation during a global pandemic. Her…

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 34 percent of lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth have been bullied on school property (2017). The challenges are significant for LGBTQ youth with some stemming from local culture and community location. School librarians need to work hard to ensure that…

In Kentucky the school library is regarded as the hub of the school community and integral to teaching and learning. The power of the school library lies in the programming, resources, services, and instruction it provides educators and learners to support learning. Stakeholders come to appreciate Kentucky's school libraries because of their…

In this article, the authors discuss the Lilead Fellows Program, funded by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). This innovative approach to professional development (PD) is for school district library supervisors. It is based upon widely accepted principles of quality PD, and is in its second year of operation with an…

As makerspaces begin to move into school libraries and classrooms, there is a growing need for professional development to help K-12 educators answer common questions such as "what is a makerspace," "why should I bother with a makerspace," "how do I run a makerspace," and "how do I teach from a makerspace?"…

In this article, Susan Altman shares her experience of working as a library assistant at Forest Heights Elementary School in Columbia, South Carolina, while taking classes in the Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) Program at the nearby University of South Carolina. She discusses getting acquainted with the students, faculty and…

Gaining professional experience for pre-service school librarians is essential and can be accomplished through curriculum requirements such as practicums, internships, or field experiences. These experiences are designed to prepare school librarians for active professional roles by providing an environment in which they can put classroom theories…