• The School District of Clayton Libraries are an integral part of the District’s total program. They function as the center of information for the schools. The programming encourages patrons to use, produce and evaluate information, to become lifelong learners, and to become responsible citizens in our democracy. The library program provides free and equitable access to information in a variety of formats, promotes literacy and recreational reading, and provides leadership in using resources to access, use and evaluate information for the enhancement of learning.
     
     

    Enduring Understandings

    Below are the Enduring Understandings of the Library curriculum.  These are statements that summarize important ideas and core processes that are central to the discipline and have lasting value beyond the classroom. The School District of Clayton Librarians utilize information from the AASL Toolkit to speak of the skills that are central to our discipline and have lasting value beyond the school library. 

    • The school library inspires creativity by providing access to tools, stories, and resources to encourage imaginative thinking and problem-solving.
    • Reading is fundamental to both personal growth and academic success. School libraries with qualified librarians provide leadership and resources to foster this belief.
    • Libraries support lifelong learning and self-exploration by providing diverse resources that empower individuals to live with authenticity, purpose, and joy.
    • Inquiry and exploration are central to the library experience. Libraries inspire students to explore diverse topics, ask questions and take intellectual risks.
    • Libraries foster a culturally conscious and respectful community by celebrating differences, exploring commonalities and understanding one’s own worldview. This is accomplished through inclusive and diverse collections and programs.

     

    Profile of a Graduate Library Skills

    Our Students are Media Literate:

    Critically Analyze Media Messages: Students can identify the purpose, target audience, and potential biases in various media (news, advertisements, social media posts) and evaluate how these elements shape the message.

    Engage Responsibly with Media: Students can engage with media in an ethical and respectful way, understanding the importance of privacy, consent, and the potential consequences of sharing information online, including misinformation and disinformation.

    Consume Media Responsibly: Students choose media appropriately and make critical choices about what media to consume.

    Our Students are Information Literate:

    Evaluate Sources for Credibility: Students can assess the reliability and authority of sources, distinguish between credible (e.g., academic journals, reputable news outlets) and unreliable (e.g., biased websites, unverified blogs) information.

    Analyze Information Needs and Use Search Strategies Effectively: Students can develop research questions, ask questions pertaining to their topics, employ effective search techniques, such as using keywords, filters, and advanced search tools, to find relevant and accurate information across various databases and sources.

    Synthesize and Communicate Information: Students can organize and combine information from multiple sources to create clear, well-supported arguments or projects, while properly citing their sources to avoid plagiarism.

    Incorporate Varied Perspectives when Gathering Information Consider the wider community when gathering information. Interact and collaborate with local and global experts and community organizations in order to gain a deeper knowledge around areas of interest.

    Our Students are Engaged Readers:

    Make independent reading choices that build a foundation of intellectual freedom: Students can plan their reading to meet personal needs and apply their knowledge to various settings in their personal lives and within society and the wider world.

    Evaluate Reading Connections to Build Autonomy in Learning: Students can read for personal enjoyment and growth, as well as for community engagement. Students can expand their reading by accessing resources beyond the school resources.

    Partake in Reading as a Means to Generate Solutions to Complex Problems: Students can read in order to explore ways to challenge systemic norms.