MMSD Libraries Long Range Plan

Welcome to MMSD Libraries.

We are your professionally-trained Library Media Technology Specialists (LMTS), ready to serve our school communities in service of student learning, belonging, and excellence. To that end, we strive to build a vibrant and embedded library program that works alongside school staff and families in a collaborative and cohesive effort.

This library plan has been developed with that unified vision at the center, ensuring that learners at any school have the same access to quality reading materials, resources, and instruction to prepare them for wherever the future may lead them.

View MMSD Libraries Annual Report 23-24

MMSD Vision & Equity Plan

LMTS: Interests, Passions, Style
School Specifics: Needs, Culture, Schedule
Library Program Foundations: Policies, Guidelines, Curriculum, Core Instructional Practices

To view more details and supplemental documents
including a budget and action steps, visit bit.ly/MMSDLibPlan23.

Future Ready Framework

Our MMSD Library Department approach to program development identifies foundational elements of MMSD Libraries while honoring the unique needs of schools and the strengths LMTS bring to the role, all within the larger frame of the district's goals and equity non-negotiables.

The goal areas of this plan establish and strengthen the foundations of our library work over the next three years.

MMSD Vision & Equity Plan

LMTS: Interests, Passions, Style
School Specifics: Needs, Culture, Schedule
Library Program Foundations: Policies, Guidelines, Curriculum, Core Instructional Practices

MMSD by the Numbers

49 School Libraries
48 Library Media Technology Specialists
Over 25,000 students served
Over 2,700 teachers supported
Over 670,000 Books and 24,000 eBooks/Audiobooks available

MMSD Libraries Support the Strategic Framework

MMSD Vision: Every school will be a thriving school that prepares every student to graduate ready for college, career and community.

Library Vision: All MMSD students will engage with a library program that provides equitable access to rich resources and learning experiences, supporting reading, disciplinary literacy, and information literacy to develop independent learners.

Goal 1

Strategic Framework

Every child is on track to graduate ready for college, career and community.

MMSD Libraries

MMSD Libraries provide skills instruction that applies to all areas of work and life.
"Information retrieval and evaluation is a lifelong skill that all workforce students need. School Librarians provide that instruction."
_{-Bill Cullifer, Exec. Director, WhyITNow.or Initiative, 2013}

Goal 2

Strategic Framework

The district and every school in it is a place where children, staff, and families thrive.

MMSD Libraries

MMSD LMTS are partners in learning for students, staff, and families.
"Test scores tend to be significantly higher for schools that have full-time certified school librarians[...]"
_{- Achterman 2008}

Goal 3

Strategic Framework

African-American children and youth excel in school.

MMSD Libraries

MMSD Libraries reflect and welcome all learners.
"A school library operates as a safe space where individual curiosity, creativity and an orientation toward learning are encouraged and supported and where students can explore diverse topics, even controversial topics, in privacy and safety."
_{- IFLA School Library Guidelines, 2015}

Library Program Evaluation

Curriculum, Instruction, & Assessment

Personalized Professional Development

Robust Infrastructure

Budget & Resources

Community Partnerships

Data & Privacy

Use of Space & Time

Collaborative Leadership

Library Plan Goals

The MMSD Library Plan Goals focus on three areas: belonging, instruction and leadership. Click on the tabs below to learn more about these three focus areas.

Goal 1: Increase Sense of Student Belonging

Increase sense of student belonging

Students must feel safe in order to be able to learn. The school library is positioned to directly impact students' sense of safety and belonging by providing a safe, welcoming space for the entire school community and where the materials represent the experiences of all.

To reach this goal we will: Increase representation and access to library materials, programming and space by engaging in inclusive purchasing, cataloging, organization, planning, and classroom management.

We will get there by:

Identifying additional vendors and resources that represent our students' languages and cultures.
Developing guidelines for inclusive cataloging practices.
Increasing the use of library organizational best practices, such as genrefication and dynamic shelving.
Ensure ongoing access to diverse materials by updating and implementing Selection & Reconsideration Policies & Procedures.
Growing LMTS knowledge and skills with best practices in classroom management.
Removing barriers to student's participation in library programming.

Enabling us to:

Build library collections that represent all students and meet their learning needs.
Catalog our library materials so students can find books about their experiences using their preferred self-identifiers.
Create library collections that prioritize browsability, access, and independence.
Develop library routines, structures, and practices that foster a sense of student safety.
Provide all students with a sense of success within our library programs.

"All community members will feel truly welcomed and included when they see themselves reflected in collections that speak to their cultures and life experiences."
- Equity, Diversity, Inclusion: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights from ALA

Establish and maintain a welcoming library environment with opportunities for engagement with library programs and events.

We will get there by:

Learning & implementing positive behavior strategies in school libraries.
Removing barriers to participation in Battle of the Books and other library programs.

Enabling us to:

Provide safe and predictable spaces where students are ready to learn.
Engage more students in literacy programs to build a love of reading.

Goal 2: Deliver Quality Library Skills Instruction

Deliver quality library skills instruction

Information literacy is an essential aspect of being college, career, and community-ready, and this is a core aspect of library instruction. We will work over the next three years to develop library instruction that builds each year and results in information-savvy learners.

To reach this goal we will: Co-create and implement the Library Content Guide, a standards-aligned scope and
sequence for library skills that parallels and enhances classroom curriculum.

We will get there by:

Building instructional design and delivery skills in our LMTS team.
Deeply knowing our online library resources and connecting them to classroom instruction.
Selecting & promoting online library resources that align with district priorities.
Equip the LMTS team with production tools & platforms for collaboration and the skills to use them.

Enabling us to:

Engage in the Continuous Improvement Process: plan, do, study/check, act.
Collaboratively plan instruction that supports classroom priorities and provide teaching staff with learning resources that serve their instructional needs.
Enhance teaching and learning with meaningful tech-enhanced experiences.

"Highly effective school libraries have a common set of characteristics[...] an active instructional program of information literacy integrated into curriculum content, and targeted towards learning curriculum content and skills."
- ALA's Libraries Matter Impact Research

Create library structures and guidelines that facilitate collaboration and coteaching opportunities.

We will get there by:

Providing guidance and supports for library flexible and hybrid schedules.
Reflecting on our current tech management systems to strengthen and streamline.
Create and utilize volunteer and student helper training and onboarding process.

Enabling us to:

Be available for collaboration with classroom teachers to enhance teaching and learning.
Ensure both student access to functional devices and strong library instruction.
Engage community members to volunteer in library space to support the library and build community advocates for libraries.

Goal 3: Build LMTS leadership skills

Build LMTS leadership skills

Library Media Technology Specialists occupy a unique position in the school, as they serve all students and all staff in their buildings. Library leadership can show up and develop in multiple ways, depending on the strengths and interests of the practitioner, but leadership is a non-negotiable for MMSD LMTS and strengthens the whole school community.

Build LMTS capacity for advocacy, outreach, communication, and professional development delivery.

We will get there by:

Providing LMTS with opportunities to build on their existing strengths and assets while developing new skills.
Refining and expanding Library Leadership Team ways of working to expand leadership opportunities.
Developing multiple ways of communicating library marketing and advocacy information throughout the school year.
Creating a living Professional Development plan that encompasses structured sessions, LMTS collaboration, 1:1
support, peer visits, and asynchronous learning.

Enabling us to:

Build LMTS leaders who effectively promote their services and materials to stakeholders, thereby enriching their
school communities.
Engage all of our LMTS team in leadership opportunities that suit their talents, preferences, and career stage.
Empower LMTS to be leaders in their buildings and within the library team.

Measuring Success

Structures for Success

Ongoing

Library Leadership Team (LLT)
Role Alike Meetings
Mentorship
EOY Reports
Attending state and national conferences and providing opportunities for LMTS to attend
Library Hub Website for LMTS Resources
LMTS/Technician connections at school and district level
Literature Award Classes

Desired

LLT-led Task Forces supporting the Library Plan Goals
Professional book studies
Peer Library Visits
Volunteer Training & Support
Updated Library website and purposeful Classlink use
Updated tech management guidance

Implementing the Plan

District Team Roles

Perform regular check-ins with LMTS to gauge needs and identify next steps for support
Support LMTS in developing Educator Effectiveness goals that align with the Library Plan
Provide Professional Development, small group training, and one-on-one support to facilitate implementation of the Library Plan

LMTS Roles

Learn the Library Plan and look for ways to weave into everyday practice
Curate data throughout the year for the End of Year Report
Support each other with resources and ideas for library work both informally and through Task Forces
Actively engage in Professional Development

Library Leadership Team Roles

Document challenges/barriers to inform continuous improvement
Monitor LMTS process and engagement and identify needed supports
Evaluate progress of first two years and identify steps for next library plan
Engage in PD and share learning with cohorts and team
Deliver PD to cohorts, team, and beyond district
Help LMTS build and identify professional learning communities, tools, and resources

Monitoring the Plan

Implementation Data

Regular Check-ins with LMTS
PD Exit Slips
EOY Reports
LMTS Schedules
LMTS Participation in District-led PD
Counts of staff PD delivery and collaboration
Tracking progress on teaching library standards
LMTS Surveys
Climate Survey