• Strive for Excellence

• SL 21 Measurement Criteria for Michigan School Libraries for 21st Century Schools 
SL 21 is a tool to help measure the quality of School Library programs within individual school buildings in Michigan. To achieve Qualified and Exemplary Status for a School Library program, submit completed criteria measurement evaluations to the Library of Michigan, an Office of the Michigan Department of Education. School administrators are to evaluate their building's School Library program in conjunction with their School Librarian and submissions require the signature of their District Superintendent. Status earned are valid for three years. SL 21 is a companion to the Michigan School Library Media Program Guidelines approved by the Library of Michigan Board of Trustees in January 2007.

See here for a Word version of the SL 21 Measurement Criteria for Michigan School Libraries For 21st Century Schools.

• School Library Advisory Group
The School Library Advisory Group is a group of school librarians who assist the Library of Michigan. Through two meetings a year, the group keeps the Library of Michigan abreast of current issues in Michigan school libraries and reviews the SL 21 measures annually.

• SL 21 Qualified and Exemplary School Libraries List 

• SL 21 Sample Press Release 
Example of how your school can spread the word!

• SL 21 Sample Press Release - PDF version 

• 21st Century Media Center Video Download Site
The Library of Michigan and the Michigan Association for Media in Education offer this video to help you inform parent-teacher organizations, state legislators, school administrators, boards of education, and others about school libraries in Michigan.

• Guidelines for Michigan Library Media Programs 
Guidelines for Michigan School Library Media Programs prepared by Information Media Program Advisory Committee. These have a focus on the relationship between student reading achievement and school libraries. Reivsed 2006.

• The Impact of Michigan School Librarians on Academic Achievement: Kids Who Have Libraries Succeed 
A Library of Michigan research project that showed school library media programs have a statistically significant positive impact on reading achievement in grades 4, 7, and 11.

The Impact of Michigan School Librarians on Academic Achievement: Kids Who Have Libraries Succeed (Flyer)

• 2010 State of Michigan Educational Technology Plan 

• MORE: Michigan Online Resources for Educators

• Teacher Certification Administrative Rules

• Appropriate Assignments for Elementary Certified Teachers 

• Utilization of Noncertified Personnel in Elementary and Secondary Schools 

• 21 Things for the 21st Century Educator
Technology every educator should know from the Clinton RESA, Ingham ISD, Macomb ISD & the Shiawassee RESD.

• AASL: American Association of School Librarians
See also Best Websites for Teaching and Learning

• Act4SL
A national advocacy group working "to ensure that every Pre K-12 student has access to a quality school library program and certified school librarian."

• "Ask Why" from MAME
MAME created PSA to raise awareness among parents and school administrators of the need for certified school librarians in public schools. Joe Staley of the San Francisco 49ers, the son of a Michigan school librarian, is the spokesperson. The PSA is 30 seconds in length. Please feel free to broadcast/distribute.

• Campaign for Grade Level Reading
3rd Grade Reading Success Matters - The Campaign is a collaborative effort by dozens of funders across the nation to: close the gap in reading achievement that separates many low-income students from their peers; raise the bar for reading proficiency so that all students are assessed by world-class standards; and ensure that all children, including and especially children from low-income families, have an equitable opportunity to meet those higher standards.

• Characteristics of Public and Bureau of Indian Education Elementary and Secondary School Library Media Centers in the United States. (2007-08) 

• Department of Education Evaluation Highlights Success of Improving Literacy Through School Libraries Program
2009 American Library Association press release on the Second Evaluation of the Improving Literacy Through School Libraries (LSL) Program released by the U.S. Department of Education.

• DigitalLiteracy.gov
Federal digital literacy resources and collaboration site.

• Information Literacy in the Wild 
University of Michigan School of Information Class 641's essays on field experiences in libraries of all types.

• Informational Brief: Impact of School Libraries on Student Achievement; October 2011
Report from the New York Comprehensive Center (NYCC)/RMC Research Corporation, the New York State Education Department, the New York State Library and the New York Library Association. This comprehensive brief provides a current and rigorous research analyses which demonstrates the positive impact that school libraries and school librarians have in advancing student learning.

• International Association of School Librarianship

• Library Research Service: School Library Section
Results of school library studies from other states, school library statistics, and resources of interest to school librarians.

• LOEX Clearinghouse for Library Instruction: Instruction Resources

• MACUL: Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning

• Michigan Association for Media in Education - MAME
Michigan Association for Media in Education (MAME) is an association of library media specialists dedicated to excellence in library / media services in Michigan's schools.

• Michigan's Teaching for Learning Framework
Instructional Resources to achieve Effective Teaching for Equitable Outcomes

• Partnership for 21st Century Skills

• Positively Impacting Student Achievement: Studying the Effects of Library Resources in the Classroom 
Gale Cengage study on the effects of digital content on student outcomes when that content is integrated into curriculum.

• Power Libraries Program
Colorado statewide program designed to bring recognition to the role that school library media programs and teacher librarians play in promoting student achievement.

• Project Enable
Syracuse University project to provide high quality, comprehensive, train-the-trainer continuing education...for New York's school librarians to...deliver effective service to students with disabilities.

• Resources for School Librarians
Topical links by school librarians.

• School Libraries Count! National Longitudinal Study of School Library Media Programs 
2009 study by the American Association of School Libraries. The 2012 Survey is in process.

• School Libraries in Michigan 2010 
An August 2010 presentation by Lakeview High School Librarian Margaret Lincoln. Specific concepts include: How did school library media centers emerge and develop historically? What role does the school librarian fulfill today? You can view the recorded version here.

• School Library Impact Studies
Mansfield University's School of Library & Information Technologies site that compiles school library research, including a Summary document.

• School Library Monthly Blog

• Survive and Thrive!
An Advocacy toolkit from the Colorado Association of School Librarians

• W-A-Y Program
W-A-Y Program is a personalized learning experience for students who struggle with traditional high school. . . an alternative approach to education; one that encourages self-esteem, independence, and the development of 21st century skills . . .

• What Does a Teacher Librarian Really Do? Video on YouTube

• Letters about Literature

READ. BE INSPIRED. WRITE BACK.
We have our 2012 winners!!! Please click More to see the student letters and our winning teacher too. For 2013, we will be mailing the forms to school and public libraries in early September.

The Michigan Center for the Book participates in the annual Letters about Literature program from the Library of Congress, in partnership with Target. This national reading-writing contest invites readers in grades 4 through 12 to write letters to authors of books that have changed their lives.