Library Media

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

For information on endorsement options and requirements, please refer to the following: 

K-12 Library Media  Endorsement Requirement Options

K-12 Library Media Endorsement Competencies

To apply for a K-12 Library Media Endorsement, visit USBE Educator Endorsements.

Programs

The following university programs have been approved by the Utah State Board of Education (USBE), to provide Utah educators with rigorous course content eligible for higher education credit, while allowing maximum flexibility for participants.

Resources

Organizations

Utah

Utah School Library Association (USLA)

• professional support, 
• leadership, and 
• enrichment

for school library personnel and others who support school library programs.

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.

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.

All4Ed - Future Ready Librarians

Since 2016, Future Ready Librarians® has been focused on supporting equitable and accessible student learning through powerful librarianship. As educators, Future Ready Librarians® lead, teach, and support learners both young and old. Embracing change and innovation, Future Ready Librarians teach and promote diverse literacies, integrating engaging digital tools, and collaborating with leaders and colleagues to implement equitable and inclusive learning environments in their libraries and beyond. The Future Ready Librarians® Framework guides and inspires the professional practice of librarians, directly linking the library program to the strategic needs and priorities of schools and districts. Future Ready Librarians challenges librarians, educators, and the community to see school libraries informed by the past, grounded in the needs of the present, and planning for a dynamic future.

Websites

Research Literacy

BIG 6 Instructional Materials
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
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.

Information 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.

Civic Online Reasoning  

The Stanford History Education Group (SHEG) is a research and development group based in Stanford’s Graduate School of Education. The COR curriculum is designed to help educators teach students the methods that fact checkers use to evaluate the trustworthiness of online sources. The lessons and assessments that make up the curriculum provide students with opportunities to apply fact checkers’ questions to real-world examples.

News Literacy Project   

The News Literacy Project, a nonpartisan education nonprofit founded in 2008, is building a national movement to create systemic change in American education to ensure all students are skilled in news literacy before they graduate high school, giving them the knowledge and ability to participate in civic society as well-informed, critical thinkers.

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".

Meetings

USBE Library Media Supervisors

Who?

District Librarians and Supervisors who oversee and provide support for school librarians

When?

Meetings occur monthly with a focus on:

Informational Meetings and Committee Collaborations

2024-2025 Meetings

K-12 Librarian Community of Practice

Who?

K-12 School Librarians

When?

Coming Soon!

Please contact Davina Sauthoff for more information on attending these meetings.

davina.sauthoff@schools.utah.gov

801-538-7530

Statutes and Rules

Model Policy

Instructions for Local Education Agencies (LEAs) to Consider When Creating a Library Materials Policy

Utah State Legislature Statutes

Sensitive Material

Title: 53G-10-103. Sensitive Instructional Materials

 State of Utah Office of the Attorney General Memoranums

Utah State Board of Education Administrative Rules

R277-628. Sensitive Materials

R277-628. Sensitive Materials  (Revised June 7, 2024, link coming soon)

Instructional Materials Guidance Document

Sensitive Materials Flow Chart and Definitions

R277-123. Process for Members of the Public to Report Violations of Statute and Board Rule

R277-123. Process for Members of the Public to Report Violations of Statute and Board Rule

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. 

Sensitive Materials

Reporting

Each LEA has a designated individual who reports sensitive materials to the Utah State Board of Education.

List of titles to be removed from Utah public schools  (Last updated May 5, 2025)

• This spreadsheet lists the titles that should be removed from student access in all Utah public schools. These titles were determined to contain objective sensitive materials according to §53G-10-103 and have been removed for this criteria in at least three school districts OR at least two school districts and five charter schools.

FAQ for titles removed from Utah public schools

• This document contains answers to commonly asked questions regarding titles that have been removed statewide. 
• This document provides guidance to support LEAs as they work with their legal counsel to determine the appropriate implementation strategies and procedures for their schools in accordance with §53G-10-103. 

Sensitive Materials Flow Chart and Definitions

• This document contains resources for Utah school districts and charters on implementation and reporting of sensitive materials per §53G-10-103  and R277-628.

Statues and Rules

Utah State Legislature Statutes

53G-10-103. Sensitive Instructional Materials

53G-10-103. Sensitive Instructional Materials

76-10-1201. Pornographic and Harmful Materials and Performances.

76-10-1203. Pornographic material or performance.

76-10-1227. Indecent public displays -- Definitions.

State of Utah Office of the Attorney General Memoranums

Utah State Board of Education Administrative Rules

R277-628. Sensitive Materials

R277-628. Sensitive Materials  

Instructional Materials Guidance Document

R277-123. Process for Members of the Public to Report Violations of Statute and Board Rule

R277-123. Process for Members of the Public to Report Violations of Statute and Board Rule

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. 

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.