Essential Elements of the LMC Program

Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning (American Library Association, 1998) identifies principles of school library media programs in each of three areas, Teaching and Learning, Information Access and Delivery, and Program Administration. “These principles were identified by the Information Power Vision Committee” and are “the cardinal premises on which learning and teaching within the effective school library media program is based.” (p. 58)

• Learning and Teaching Principles of School Library Media Programs
• Information Access and Delivery Principles of School Library Media Programs
• Program Administration Principles of School Library Media Programs

Learning and Teaching Principles
of School Library Media Programs

Principle 1. The library media program is essential to learning and teaching and must be fully integrated into the curriculum to promote students’ achievement of learning goals.

Principle 2. The information literacy standards for student learning are integral to the content and objectives of the school’s curriculum.

Principle 3. The library media program models and promotes collaborative planning and curriculum development.

Principle 4. The library media program models and promotes creative, effective, and collaborative teaching.

Principle 5. Access to the full range of information resources and services through the library media program is fundamental to learning.

Principle 6. The library media program encourages and engages students, in reading, writing, and listening for understanding and enjoyment.

Principle 7. The library media program supports the learning of all students and other members of the learning community who have diverse learning abilities, styles, and needs.

Principle 8. The library media program fosters individual and collaborative inquiry.

Principle 9. The library media program integrates the uses of technology for learning and teaching.

Principle 10. The library media program is an essential link to the larger learning community.

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Information Access and Delivery Principles
of School Library Media Programs

Principle 1. The library media program provides intellectual access to information and ideas for learning.

Principle 2. The library media program provides physical access to information and resources for learning.

Principle 3. The library media program provides a climate that is conducive to learning.

Principle 4. The library media program requires flexible and equitable access to information, ideas, and resources for learning.

Principle 5. The collection of the library media program are developed and evaluated collaboratively to support the school’s curriculum and to meet the diverse needs of students.

Principle 6. The library media program is founded on a commitment to the right of intellectual freedom.

Principle 7. The information policies, procedures, and practices of the library media program reflect legal guidelines and professional ethics.

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Program Administration Principles
of School Library Media Programs

Principle 1. The library media program supports the mission, goals, objectives, and continuous improvement of the school.

Principle 2. In every school, a minimum of one full-time, certified/licensed library media specialist supported by qualified staff is fundamental to the implementation of an effective library media program at the building level.

Principle 3. An effective library media program requires a level of professional and support staffing that is based upon a school’s instructional programs, services, facilities, size, and numbers of students and teachers.

Principle 4. An effective library media program requires ongoing administrative support.

Principle 5. Comprehensive and collaborative long-range, strategic planning is essential to the vitality of the library media program.

Principle 6. Ongoing assessment for improvement is essential to the vitality of an effective library media program.

Principle 7. Sufficient funding is fundamental to the success of the library media program.

Principle 8. Ongoing staff development—both to maintain professional knowledge and skills and to provide instruction in information literacy for teachers, administrators, and other members of the learning community—is an essential component of the library media program.

Principle 9. Clear communication of the mission, goals, functions and impact of the library media program is necessary to the effectiveness of the program.

Principle 10. Effective management of human, financial, and physical resources undergirds a strong library media program.

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