AASL’s new integrated standards are designed to empower leaders to transform teaching and learning. The new National School Library Standards for Learners, School Librarians, and School Libraries reflect an evolution of AASL Standards, building on philosophical foundations and familiar elements of previous standards while featuring the new streamlined AASL Standards Integrated Framework for learners, school librarians, and school libraries. Three previously separate publications—AASL Standards for the 21st-Century Learner, Standards in Action, and Empowering Learners—are now framed within a single text, emphasizing the importance of all three standards sets while ensuring that standards-related activities are mutually reinforcing. The National School Library Standards enable school librarians to influence and lead in their schools, districts, and states and to develop plans that meet today’s educational landscape for learners, school librarians, and the school library. Among the innovations: Common Beliefs reflect current learning environments and professional best practices for effective school libraries;the new standards framework features five shared components—Shared Foundations, Key Commitments, Domains, Competencies and Alignments—which are designed to reflect each other;a section dedicated to assessment and evaluation provides examples on how to create your own tools that align school and district models with AASL Standards;scenarios for various types of school library professionals demonstrate techniques and practices for successful implementation in authentic situations for self-reflection, group professional development, and pre-service education;and included are a glossary of terms, useful verbs, a list of evidence, and other relevant appendices.The National School Library Standards enables personalization for every learner and school librarian, allowing you to continuously tailor your school library to local needs, your own strengths, and learners’ benefit.
