AASL Standards: Collaborate

 

How Does a School Librarian Implement the AASL Standards in Their Daily Practice?

AASL Standard: Collaborate

M. Black is a second-year librarian at an elementary school that serves 3rd-5th grade. She shared that during her first year at the school, her goal was improving the organization and atmosphere of the physical library space. She sent a Google Form survey to the faculty to gather input concerning the library's use from the teachers' perspective. After consulting with teachers, the decision was made to genrefy the library collection. She also has created a form for teachers to complete if they have suggestions for books to add to the collection.

As a new librarian, Black is still learning her collection. So she uses Follett Destiny to search for materials for lesson planning, teacher and student requests, and circulation management. She learned much about the Destiny program when reorganizing the library and added many sublocations and collections to help teachers locate and organize materials and equipment. 

Black has worked extensively with the 5th-grade teaching team this year to support their Social Studies curriculum. She has taught lessons about reliable sources with online resources, like SCDISCUS and print materials for research. She has a flexible schedule that allows the teachers to sign up for the session days and times that work for them.  

Black feels that a lack of library staff and rigid class scheduling makes it difficult for her to collaborate. For example, she does not have a library clerk and cannot leave the library unattended to go to a classroom and meet with students or teachers.  

Black values building relationships as the key to developing a collaborative model in the school community. She works hard to "prove her worth" as a resource for the teaching faculty.