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Library and Media Education

Overview

A strong school library program prepares students to become future-ready in an information-rich society, fostering critical thinking skills and collaborative learning opportunities among students and staff. Library instruction encompasses information literacy and educational technology, and includes purposeful attention to social responsibility skills, digital citizenship, and reading engagement for all students.

Budget Note for Media Program Standards Study: Report to Legislature (December 2021)

This report is the end product of a directive that ODE received from the Legislature during the 2021 legislative session:

​ The Department of Education shall convene a group to study the State Board of Education developed media program standards. The study must evaluate the appropriateness of the standards and whether they adequately address student media needs, and methods to measure and ensure compliance with the standards. The Department should consult with organizations that represent public school educators and those who promote school libraries in selecting members of the group. The Department shall report the study’s result and any recommendations by December 30, 2021.

Oregon School Library Standards and Grade-Level Learning Goals
The Oregon School Library Standards were developed by a committee of the Oregon Association of School Libraries to provide direction about skill development and instruction provided through school library programs. The standards were endorsed by the State Board of Education on January 22, 2015, and during that meeting, the Board recommended adding Grade-Level Learning Goals. That project was finalized a few years later and presented as an informational report to the State Board of Education on September 19, 2019.

The library standards and learning goals speak to the needs of our students. Information literacy, reading engagement, and social responsibility are important foundations for today’s learners, who need an environment where they can formulate ideas and process information in ways that speak to them.​ National School Library Standards
​The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) developed the National School Library Standards with sections that apply to learners, school librarians, and school library programs.

Oregon Administrative Rules and Division 22 Assurances
School districts report on the status of their school libraries as part of the annual Division 22 Assurances and as part of District Continuous Improvement Plans, which are due every four years. According to two Oregon Administrative Rules (OARs), districts are required to have a strong school library program (2250) with program goals for instruction; facilities and materials to support staff and students; certificated media staff and other personnel as assigned, to maintain and implement program goals; and a mechanism for program evaluation (2340).
  • OAR 581-022-2250 District Improvement Plans
Strong School Library Rubric
​The Oregon Association of School Libraries (OASL) developed the Strong School Library Rubric to help decision makers, including district and school-level administrators, understand the components and value of a strong school library program. Each section of the rubric is linked to a corresponding section of supporting resources. Please direct questions about the rubric or the supporting resources to the OASL President-Elect. The School Library Consultant​ at the State Library of Oregon is also available to answer questions about school libraries. ​ School Library Staff Position Descriptions and Evaluation
The Oregon Association of School Libraries developed position description exemplars for three school library positions. They also developed a rubric to use as a guide when evaluating teacher-librarians.
​ Related Resources ​

Each year, teachers, librarians, and schools across the country face challenges to books and other instructional materials for a variety of reasons. It is important for districts to offer professional guidelines for the selection and reconsideration of library materials.

This document provides guidance to school districts, administrators, classroom educators, and school library staff when a challenge to instructional materials is presented.

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Library staff have unique needs for professional development, everything from learning how to catalog materials to leading in libraries. These sources for library staff provide opportunities for training and mentoring.

Advisory Group
The Media Program Standards Study (MPSS) Advisory Group was charged with making recommendations to ODE in response to a Budget Note for the 2021 Oregon Legislative Session. ODE considered recommendations from the Media Program Standards Study Advisory Group but was not obligated to adopt their recommendations. Meetings were open to the public.

​ Meeting Agendas and Minutes

For questions regarding Library and Media Education, email Tina Roberts.