Library Standards Support

Inspired by the American Association of School Librarians1, the reference points that are bolded below showcase unique and innovative ways to support diversity, analyze your collection, and share resources to empower your learning community.


Inquire

Promote inquiry by engaging students' curiosity and questioning while using resources to enrich literacy instruction and deepen connections to books.

  • Explore the Immigrant / Refugee Collection to foster conversation about the histories, cultures, and perspectives of immigrants and refugees.

  • Access the Reader’s Advisory page to engage students’ curiosity and interest in related authors, titles, and subjects.

  • Support ELA Reading Standards using this teacher’s guide for Symphony for the City of the Dead—a book that demonstrates the power of culture, history, and music.

  • Spark interest for an animal research project by viewing the video book trailer for Unusual Creatures by Michael Hearst, Jelmer Noordeman, Christie Wright, and Arjen Noordeman.


Include

Promote inclusion by creating displays, lists, and lessons that foster empathy and equity with diverse resources.

  • Connect readers to audio, video, and other digital materials that bring books to life using Book Promotion ideas.

  • Utilize the Booklist & Collection Analysis Tool to examine and reflect on the diversity of your collection and lists.

  • Provide time for Cultural Representation Reflection lessons to celebrate differences and similarities in diverse titles like While I Was Away by Waka T. Brown.

  • Watch and reflect as Angie Thomas describes the struggle of fitting into “different worlds” with this video book trailer for The Hate U Give.


Collaborate

Promote collaboration by utilizing the sharing tools which provide direct access to resources that broaden perspectives, deepen understanding, and offer strategies for solving problems.

  • Feature new content each day by using these easily embeddable widgets on your websites and blogs that champion literacy and encourage reading.

  • Cultivate relationships by freely sharing resources in print and on digital platforms so all stakeholders can fully connect with books and authors.

  • Discover this collection of teachers sharing their journeys to becoming authors and illustrators with these For Teachers, By Teachers blog posts.

  • Create a Shelf Talker for Lynda Mullaly Hunt’s Meet-the-Author Recording for Fish in a Tree as she explains how one teacher helped her succeed in reading and writing.


Curate

Provide equitable access and opportunities to discover and reflect on curated resources that support curriculum and student needs.

  • Browse collections of books, authors & illustrators, lists, and awards. Utilize the filtering options to increase student engagement—wherever they are.

  • Create and embed Custom Reading Lists of books to enrich, extend, and deepen connections, while seamlessly sharing instructional materials.

  • Bridge library-to-home connections by extending lessons with Story Time Activity Kits.

  • Compare resources in a variety of formats like these interviews with Kate Messner.


Explore

Promote exploration with authentic author voices and experiences that spark curiosity for further learning.

  • Install the TeachingBooks Book Connections Chrome Extension on devices to enhance search results with immediate access to resources that connect students to books and authors.

  • Design interactive spaces using QR Shelf Talkers and Labels for featured titles to invite conversation and wondering.

  • Create bookmarks for immediate access to resources like this Meet-the-Author Recording with Deborah Heiligman on Torpedoed, which allows readers to consider how experiences can bring out the best and worst in people.

  • Provide opportunities for authentic learning experiences using Virtual Book Tour blog posts which build personal connections with book creators like Melissa Sweet.


Engage

Promote engagement for students, staff, and families with resources that can legally be shared and illuminate the creative process, inspiration, and research behind books.

  • Model how to find and cite any resource with the sharing tools.

  • Prompt students to consider the impact, history, significance, or joy of a name with Audio Name Pronunciations like this one from Padma Venkatraman.

  • Reflect on Sharon Draper’s inspiration in her Meet-the-Author Movie where she shares how a student challenged her to become a writer.

  • Connect with Patricia Newman's research process in this Meet-the-Author Recording for Planet Ocean to better understand the complexities of producing a high-quality nonfiction book.


1. Referenced from American Association of School Librarians. 2018. National School Library Standards for Learners, School Librarians, and School Libraries. Chicago: ALA. https://standards.aasl.org/.