STANDARDS

Reading Standards, all seem important. For NOW my priorities would be .The Australian School Library Association (ASLA) and Australian Library and Information Association(ALIA), (2004), document titled Standards of professional excellence for teacher librarians, has clarified my teacher librarian (TL) role. It has set standards of excellence for TLs in Australian schools by highlighting the diverse scope and responsibility of the role. As stated in Library Policy - Schools “Teacher –librarians provide students with opportunities to develop information skills and to use these skills competently and with confidence for lifelong learning” NSW Department of Education and Training (DET), ( 2005). This DET document lists mandatory responsibilities and delegations of the TL role. The ASLA/ALIA standards complement and expand the description of the TL role, by providing guidelines to advance professional practice. The standards are divided into the three areas of professional knowledge, professional practice and professional commitment, all equally important and valid. The following three specific points that I identify as being critical for both the direction of my TL role and the enhancement of student outcomes are specifically:

Standard 1.1 Knowledge of the principles of lifelong learning - professional knowledge.

Standard 2.2 Collaboratively plan and resource curriculum programs which incorporate transferable information literacy and literature outcomes – professional practice.

Standard 3.3 Demonstrate leadership within school and professional communities – professional commitment.

Imagine these priorities will change over time.....