The Mission of Union High School library is to provide the best available resources for positive, creative, and enriching learning so each student excels to their highest potential.
The Vision of Union High School library is to inspire and encourage learners and seekers of information that drive educational, scientific, creative, and humanitarian advancement.
The philosophy at Union High School Library is to be the academic and intellectual hub of the school. The center for academic achievement, wonder and learning. According to the American Association of School Librarians (2017), “The school library is a unique and essential part of a learning community” (p.11). The library allows for UHS students to thrive in a safe environment that promotes learning, individualism, and community. It embodies the collective learning environment and encourages innovative ideas and thinking. Bennett et al. (2005), suggest that the library acts “As an extension of the classroom, library space needs to embody new pedagogies, including collaborative and interactive learning modalities”. Online databases and laptops have been replacing the printed word, but students still desire to pick up the printed book and to sit quietly and read. UHS is constantly maintaining its collection with up-to-date and classic books and resources to support the curriculum.
Technological advances bring to the forefront ethical decisions and promote information literacy. Understanding real versus fake information and resources establishes lifelong learning and awareness. Thinking, sharing, creating, and growing are all part of the main competencies along with inquiring, inclusiveness, and collaboration as part of the foundation and commitments of the library (standards.aasl.org).
Information and technologies at UHS are shared equally and each student is afforded a laptop so there are no disparities among the student population. Access to information is a key priority of UHS library. At UHS our Philosophy is “rooted in beliefs” (Weisburg and Toor, p.11), and it is our belief that every student has the best opportunity to succeed in whatever endeavors he or she desires and to be provided with the place and space to do so without any financial or technological or societal restrictions.
References
American Association of School Librarians. (2017). National school library standards for learners, school librarians, and school libraries. Chicago: American Library Association.
Weisburg, H. K. and Toor, R. (2015). New on the job: A school library media specialist’s
guide to success, 2nd ed. Chicago: American Library Association.
Council on Library and Information Resources. (2005). Library as place: Rethinking roles, rethinking space.