AASL Standards for Initial Preparation of School Library Media Specialists:
Standard 2: Literacy and Reading: Candidates are effective teachers who demonstrate knowledge of learners and learning and who model and promote collaborative planning, instruction in multiple literacies, and inquiry-based learning, enabling members of the learning community to become effective users and creators of ideas and information. Candidates design and implement instruction that engages students' interests and develops their ability to inquire, think critically, gain and share knowledge.
2.3 Respect for diversity Candidates demonstrate the ability to develop a collection of reading and information materials in print and digital formats that support the diverse developmental, cultural, social, and linguistic needs of P-12 students and their communities.
Artifact Descriptions: EDUC 717 Children's Literature - Multicultural Text Set. The nonfiction list is built within a template which considers reading level, genre, cultural perspectives, and relation to other titles in the set. It provides support for a biography project. ISTC 615 Collection Development - Hot topic: racism. The PowerPoint presentation contains recommended readings that allow the candidate to become more conscious of racism in the community with links to data and infographics to provide background in a short presentation to administrators who might fund additional print and nonprint resources. Links to collection development resources are included in the presentation as well.
Relevance: EDUC 717 Children's Literature - Multicultural Text Set. After compiling the list of biographies for a project, the candidate could develop the collection to include all of these titles and others in consideration of the student population, readability, and journal reviews. The LMS needs to be aware of the cultures of the students who will use the collection, but also conscious of a need to present titles that represent many cultures. In work by Rudine Sims Bishop, the researcher invites school librarians to acquire and promote books that act as windows and mirrors for readers, so that children can see and understand others but also can see themselves in stories. Developing a collection of diverse reading and informational material helps the LMS meet the AASL standard 2.3. ISTC 615 Collection Development - Hot topic: Racism. This artifact provides resources for the LMS when developing a diverse collection. Its references to data and visuals can be used to advocate for under-represented students. Some suggested websites help the LMS to identify current diverse titles to consider for purchase. In developing the artifact and revisiting it to use its resources, the LMS can develop the school library collection to include materials for a diverse community.
Analysis/Reflection: The coursework for EDUC 717 Children's Literature allowed an incredible amount of exposure to diverse stories and cultures. With this exposure, the LMS can develop book collections and text sets like the Multicultural Text Set. Developing a list of biographies of individuals who have influenced the world in a good way is one way the LMS meets expectations of AASL standard 2.3 respect for diversity. In addition, the candidate has opportunities within the school library to promote books that are in the collection but that students may not be aware of. Book talks and read-alouds, invite students to explore the collection. Signage informs students of the location of Spanish language materials, special collections, or a specific author's works.
ISTC 615 Collection development provides an opportunity to consider why and how to expand and enrich the school library with books that reflect the school community and to show the school community a window to other cultures. The artifact provides a glimpse of the process that the LMS uses to develop a school library collection of resources that may address the social, developmental, cultural, and linguistic needs of the school community or show the school community the diversity in the world. The "Hot Topic" presentation described considerations that enable the LMC to meet the AASL standard 2.3 for diversity and consider a broad view when developing a collection to enable reading for pleasure or for information.