AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL LIBRARIANS New England RU Ready? Planning for Implementation of AASL’s Standards and Guidelines Susan Ballard AASL Standards and Guidelines Implementation Task Force

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL LIBRARIANS The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) has launched a national initiative to support states, school systems and individual schools in implementing the Standards for the 21st-Century Learner and the soon-to-be completed Guidelines for the School Library Media Program

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL LIBRARIANS This plan is entitled Learning4Life (L4L) and is available online at

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL LIBRARIANS The Implementation Plan: Identifies Guiding Principles and an Overarching Position/Branding Statement Identifies Target Audiences (internal and external) Identifies Training Opportunities and Resources Provides a Communication Plan Provides a Plan for Continuous Feedback, Evaluation and Sustainability Provides a Plan for Endorsements and Support Provides Supporting Documents

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL LIBRARIANS One Size Does Not Fit All Common Vocabulary and Message Guiding Principles

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL LIBRARIANS AASL State Affiliates SLMS Educators-ELMSS section District Coordinators - SPV Section Building-level SLMS Responsibilities

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL LIBRARIANS Strategies and Activities –who, what when where and how Resources and Training Communications Evaluation Eighteen Objectives

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL LIBRARIANS 1.Introduce and build awareness 2.Create understanding of the standards/guidelines and commitment 3.Develop a “shared” vision 4.Sustain the vision What are we aiming to achieve?

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL LIBRARIANS Implementation = Advocacy Advocacy is a means of building awareness and support and is developed incrementally over time

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL LIBRARIANS Advocacy = Planning

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL LIBRARIANS Who is the target audience (internal or external)? Who are they and how do you motivate them? How do you assure them that their agenda/needs will be assisted by what we have to offer

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL LIBRARIANS Target Audiences What do you know about them, their priorities and interests? What do you need to find out?

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL LIBRARIANS Barriers What are the things that will get in your way? Money, time, physical surroundings, personal biases, fear, stereotypes, organized opposition, not knowing enough about your target group, not doing your homework or, ALL of the above?

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL LIBRARIANS Barriers What are you afraid of? Rejection, public speaking, failure, politics, accountability, lack of support, saying the wrong thing, loss of personal time, competition, not knowing the answers, being misunderstood, being misquoted, the media or, ALL of the above?

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL LIBRARIANS Where Where is the most appropriate place for you to communicate with your target audience?

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL LIBRARIANS When When is the most appropriate and convenient time for your target group to hear from you?

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL LIBRARIANS Predispositions What do your audiences know or think about you? What would you like them to know or think about you?

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL LIBRARIANS What? (the message) Stay on Message and keep it short and simple…. This is who we are, and this is what we do and this is why it matters.

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL LIBRARIANS Resources/Training What do you need to find out? Whom do you know who might have the information you need? What research might you need to do?

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL LIBRARIANS Communications What could be used? (Brainstorm) What will be used? – look at your strategies and decide which tool is most appropriate Who (is going to do it?) Who is your best presenter? Who writes well? Who has the most credibility? Who is the best “match”? Who has media training?

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL LIBRARIANS How will we know if we have succeeded? At the completion of the initiative, AASL envisions school library media programs that prepare learners to thrive in a complex information society, seek diverse perspectives, gather and use information ethically and use social tools responsibly and safely.

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL LIBRARIANS Evaluation Decide how you will measure if you achieved your objective/s

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL LIBRARIANS Why is it important to achieve it?

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL LIBRARIANS If you believe that… Reading is a window to the world. Inquiry provides a framework for learning. Ethical behavior in the use of information must be taught. Technology skills are crucial for future employment needs. Equitable access is a key component for education. The definition of information literacy has become more complex as resources and technologies have changed. The continuing expansion of information demands that all individuals acquire the thinking skills that will enable them to learn on their own. Learning has a social context.

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL LIBRARIANS Then it follows that… School libraries are essential to the development of learning skills.

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL LIBRARIANS What Can You Do Now? How do we get from 1 to 4?

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL LIBRARIANS Time to Plan

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL LIBRARIANS Plan Review

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL LIBRARIANS Feedback and Sharing

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL LIBRARIANS Susan D. Ballard, Director Library Media and Technology Londonderry NH School District