Principals' Corner

Welcome to the Office of Library Services Principals’ Corner. Our staff can help you develop and support a library program that positively impacts student achievement. We can assist you in the following areas:

• Planning your library program
• Integrating the teaching of information/inquiry skills
• Automating your library's catalog
• Updating your facilities
• Building a collection that meets the needs of your students, teachers, and parents
• Infusing technology throughout your school

Program Administration

Collaborative Responsibilities
The development of an integrated school library program is a collaborative effort involving administrators, teachers and the librarian. Each individual is an essential contributor and has several responsibilities.

· Principal Responsibilities

· Librarian Responsibilities

· Teacher Responsibilities

Program Planning
The Office of Library Services has developed several documents to assist in the development of an effective school library media program.

• Collection Development Policy
• Comprehensive Education Plan Guiding Questions
  Schools may wish to refer to this set of Guiding Questions as they are preparing their Comprehensive Education Plan. The questions will help educators think through the essential elements of exemplary library programs and determine the areas where they would most like to improve their library services in order to impact the education of every student in the school.
• Family Literacy Guide
  
For translation, click here.
The Family Literacy Guide provides support for librarians working with parents and caregivers on how to make literacy a part of family life from birth to grade 12. The guide provides lists of books that are appropriate for each grade level.
• Information Fluency Continuum
  Information Fluency Continuum provides a framework for the instructional aspects of a library program. The framework is based on three standards that form the basis for the skills and strategies that are essential for students to become independent readers and learners.
• Internet Acceptable Use Policy
• Internet Acceptable Use Policy for School Libraries
  An adapted version of the Internet Acceptable Use Policy specifically pertaining to access and usage in school libraries.
• LMC21 Rubric
  How does your Library Media Center rate? Use the LMC21 Rubric to determine how your library matches the characteristics of a 21st Century Library Media Center. The strengths and needs identified will lead to focus areas for your Library Learning Walk.
• Library Learning Walk
  
The Library Learning Walk is designed as a collaborative tool for administrators, librarians, and teachers to define the vision for their library program and the path to achieve that vision. It is an observation and planning document that is based on the national standards for school library media programs and is based on the philosophy of centering a library program on student learning.

Principals’ Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to some of the most commonly asked questions by principals

Commissioner's Regulations

The Office of Library Services has compiled several documents outlining the Commissioner's Regulations for school library media programs.

· New York State Education Law Establishing School Libraries

· New York State Funding Requirements for School Libraries

· New York State Staffing Requirements for School Libraries