Purpose of School Library Collections:

The school library supports all members of the learning community. The collection should meet all academic needs, with materials that are current, accurate, engaging, and reflect a wide variety of perspectives and viewpoints. It should also support and expand personal reading interests, with high-quality fiction and nonfiction titles that meet the needs of the full range of learners. The collection must reflect the diversity of the school community, as well as the global community, and support the developmental, cultural, social, and linguistic needs of all learners. The library must provide a collection of sufficient size for the learner population and be supported by reliable hardware and software that enables all members of the school community to access materials in person and digitally.  

Maryland State Standards Related to School Library Collections:

The following standards guide school librarians in the development of dynamic library collections.  The shared foundations and competencies below anchor this work and help to ensure the school library is a unique and essential part of the learning community.  

Include: Demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to inclusiveness and respect for diversity in the learning community

Include II.A.3- The school library supports balanced perspectives through resources and learning opportunities by providing a comprehensive variety of resources. 

Include: II.B.1- The school library represents all members and their place in a global learning community by establishing and maintaining a collection of reading and informational materials in formats that support the diverse developmental, cultural, social, and linguistic needs of the range of learners and their communities.  

Include II.C.2- The school library facilitates opportunities to experience diverse ideas by promoting the use of high-quality and high-interest literature in formats that reflect the diverse developmental, cultural, social, and linguistic needs of all learners and their communities. 

Include II.C.3- The school library facilitates opportunities to experience diverse ideas by constructing a learning environment that fosters the sharing of a wide variety of viewpoints and ideas. 

Include II.D.1- The school library builds empathy and equity within the global learning community by ensuring that all learning needs are met through access to information and ideas located in a diverse collection of sufficient size for the learner population and supported by reliable hardware and software. 

Curate:  Make meaning for oneself and others by collecting, organizing, and sharing resources of personal relevance.

Curate: IV.D.2- The school library engages the learning community in exploring resources by maintaining a collection of sufficient breadth and currency to be pertinent to the school’s program of studies. 

Explore:  Discover and innovate in a growth mindset developed through experience and reflection.

Explore: V.A.2- The school library supports learners’ personal curiosity by fostering opportunities for learners to demonstrate personal curiosity and the creation of knowledge through engaging with a wide variety of resources and technology 

Maryland State Standards for the Learner, School Librarian, and School Library