Utah Core Standards

The Utah Standards for Elementary Library Media were updated in September 2015.

Elementary Library Media Standards Scope and Sequence

Utah Core Standards K-5 Library Media

Utah Core Standards 6-12 Library Media

Presentations

Library Media Core Curriculum: Elementary

Library Media Core Curriculum: K-6

Library Media Core Curriculum: Secondary

Philosophy

The needs of learners in today's society are growing increasingly complex. Resources and technologies have changed; information literacy is more than just using reference books to look up a definition or simple description. The skills of the 21st century include being literate in a variety of digital, visual, textual, and technological tools, and individuals must have the thinking skills that will enable them to learn continually. Becoming an educated user of information in this potentially overwhelming culture of information is a critical part of students' education. The comprehensive school community must support the development of these skills in general and in content-related areas.

The library is central to the school community in this process of developing students who are literate users of technology. Highly-qualified teacher librarians, working in conjunction with content-area teachers, provide instruction for students that develops their ability to find and use information to support their academic learning and personal development. The Utah Standards for Library Media were created by librarians in schools to demonstrate the integration of information literacy skills across all curricular areas.

The school library media teacher's role as master teacher, information specialist, and standards partner encourages the involvement of global access to information use of technology as an effective learning and teaching tool, and the continuation of reading for information and enjoyment. The school library media teacher must continue to seek the best techniques and strategies to empower students.

In the absence of a licensed school media teacher, the classroom teacher must take the lead in the implementation of the Library Media Core Standards with the support of school library media personnel and resources. The responsibility for achieving the purpose of the School Library Media Standards resides in the collaborative efforts of the school library media teacher staff, classroom teacher, student, support staff, administrators, board of education, and communities.

The Library Media Standards are divided into three main areas:

1. Reading Engagement
   Reading engagement is a foundational skill for learning, personal growth, and enjoyment.The degree to which students can read and understand text in all formats and all contexts is a key indicator of success in school and in life.The goal is to actively promote reading and provide equitable access to literary and informational texts in a variety of subjects, genres, and formats. The standards facilitate the acquisition of tools, knowledge and skills to allow every student to read for interpretation and the development of new understandings.
2. Information and Research
   Through engagement in the research process, students will apply critical thinking skills (e.g., analysis, evaluation, organization, synthesis) to draw conclusions and construct new understandings. Additionally, students will engage in research processes (e.g., inquiry-based, information problem solving). Such experiences will develop student self-confidence in solving problems in an environment where information resources and technologies are increasingly complex.
3. Media Literacy
   Media literacy is the competent application of literacy skills to media and technology messages. Its goal is to help students develop the habits of inquiry and skills of expression that they need to be critical thinkers, effective communicators, and active, digital citizens in today's world. By learning the standards and objectives, students will acquire an understanding of the elements, construction, and potential impact of media messages while learning to make informed choices in the use of media. Through collaboration with classroom teachers, these standards can be integrated into curricular units throughout a wide range of subjects to ensure students are equipped with these essential 21st century skills.

Educator Endorsements

Programs

Statutes and Rules

Model Policy

Instructions for Local Education Agencies (LEAs) to Consider When Creating a Library Materials Policy
Utah State Board of Education (USBE) Policy, Law and Professional Practices

Board Rules

R277-123. Process for Members of the Public to Report Violations of Statute and Board Rule
R277-628. School Libraries
Utah State Board of Education Administrative Rules

State Statutes

House Bill (H.B.) 374: Sensitive Materials in Schools
Title: 53G-10-103. Sensitive Instructional Materials
Utah State Legislature

Memorandum to Local Education Agencies (LEAs) - Laws Surrounding SchooI Libraries (May 4, 2022)
Memorandum to the Utah State Board of Education - Laws Surrounding SchooI Libraries (June 1, 2022)
State of Utah Office of the Attorney General

Report Sensitive Material Complaints

Sensitive Material Reporting Tool

Utah Code 53G-10-103 (HB374) Reporting Tool
Google Docs

• This reporting tool is to be completed by LEAs who have received a complaint regarding instructional materials and the material was reviewed and decision determined.

R277-123 Appeals

R277-123 Request for a Board Review of LEA Determination on a Library Materials Appeal
Google Docs

• This form may be completed by any individual who requests that the USBE review an appeal of a school's decision, only to determine if the school appeals process violated the school’s library materials policy. 

Resources

Posters

BIG 6 Bookmarks | BIG 6 Poster (Size: 11" x 17")

Reports

The 2016 Fiscal Year Legislative Appropriation Report has been sent to all Local Education Agency (LEA) Library Media contacts. If you have questions about this report, or if you are the LEA (not individual school) representative, please contact Jennifer Throndsen at (801) 538-7893 or via e-mail at jennifer.throndsen@schools.utah.gov.

Organizations

National

American Association of School Librarians (AASL)
The mission of the AASL is to advocate excellence, facilitate change, and develop leaders in the school library media field.

American Library Association (ALA)
ALA provides leadership for the development, promotion, and improvement of library and information services and the profession of librarianship in order to enhance learning and ensure access to information for all.

Utah

Children's Literature Association of Utah (CLAU)
CLAU is a volunteer organization of individuals who have a personal or professional interest in children's literature. The organization's purposes are: to encourage the reading, study, and writing of children's literature; to provide a forum for all points of view and levels of experience in children's books; and to gather and share information about children's literature. The association sponsors book awards that motivate reading. CLAU annually sponsors awards in four categories: Utah Children's Picture Book Award; Utah Children's Book Award; Utah Children's Informational Book Award; and Utah Young Adults' Book Award. Winners are chosen from the nominated books by the children of Utah, who vote for their favorite books.

Utah Educational Library Media Association (UELMA)
UELMA is an association of library media teachers, support personnel, vendors of educational media, and friends who serve the children of Utah by making educational media accessible to children and teachers. We teach the science of how to find and make good use of literature and information; we manage school library media services; we are advocates of children's reading and access of information. UELMA's mission is to provide professional support, leadership and enrichment for library media educators and associates.

Utah Library Association (ULA)
The mission of the ULA is to serve the professional development and educational needs of its members and to provide leadership and direction in developing and improving library and information services in the state. In order to accomplish these goals, ULA supports and provides continuing education programs for Utah librarians and library employees, especially at its annual spring conference. The Association also initiates and supports legislation promoting library development and monitors legislation that might threaten Utah libraries and librarians. ULA also offers members a number of opportunities for library leadership, professional growth, networking, and community service. We hope that you will find the Utah Library Association to be an organization that makes a difference for you, for Utah librarians, for Utah Libraries, and for the citizens of Utah.

Websites

Information Literacy

BIG 6
This is the most widely-known and -used approach to teaching information and technology skills in the world. Used in thousands of K-12 schools the BIG 6 information problem-solving process is applicable whenever people need and use information.

BIG 6 For Kids
BIG 6 has created an interactive website designed to help students learn and use the Big6 Skills for information problem solving. The site, Big6 Kids, contains helpful hints, templates worksheets, songs, games and fun to help children master essential information problem solving skills.

Literature

Children's Literature Association of Utah (CLAU)
A volunteer organization of individuals who have a personal or professional interest in children's literature. The organization's purposes are: to encourage the reading, study, and writing of children's literature; to provide a forum for all points of view and levels of experience in children's books; and to gather and share information about children's literature.

The Children's Literature Web Guide
This is an attempt to gather together and categorize the growing number of Internet resources related to books for Children and Young Adults. This is a great gateway to other resources.

Media Literacy

Center for Media Literacy (CML)
This is dedicated to a new vision of literacy for the 21st century: the ability to communicate competently in all media forms, print and electronic, as well as to access, understand, analyze and evaluate the powerful images, words and sounds that make up our contemporary mass media culture.

Common Sense Education®
The Common Sense curriculum is designed to empower students to think critically, behave safely, and participate responsibly in the digital world. From lesson plans, videos, student interactives, and assessments, to professional learning and family outreach materials, our turnkey Curriculum provides schools with everything they need to take a whole-community approach to digital citizenship.

Don't Buy It: Get Media Smart
Public Broadcasting System (PBS) encourages young people, especially those 9-11 years old, to think critically about media - television, radio, magazines, the Web, advertising, and more.

Miscellaneous

The Lexile Framework for Reading
This form allows you to search the Lexile Database. The Lexile measure is a number indicating an approximate range of reading difficulty in terms of the semantic difficulty (vocabulary) and syntactic complexity (sentence length).

Virtual Field Trips
Utah Education Network (UEN) has developed three virtual tours to help you with the Library Media Core. These tours are titled "Pioneer, Utah's Free Online Library, Integrating the Internet, and Pioneer's World Book Online".

Sensitive Materials by LEA

LEA Library and Sensitive Material Status Links 
The resource above includes links to the LEA's main library page, library policies and material challenge status.