WakeForward: Advancing School Libraries to Empower Student Learning

We believe that strong school library programs  are  vital to every school community. 

The WakeForward initiative launched in the 2018-2019 school year as a way to better define, strengthen, and advocate for our school library programs. 

Each year, schools assemble a Media and Technology Advisory Committee (MTAC) with representatives across grade levels and content areas. The MTAC collaboratively assesses the school library program and selects 1-2 areas in which to focus growing the program for that year:

• Curriculum & Instruction

• Equity & Cultural Competency

• Use of Space &  Time

• Family & Community Partnerships

• Budget & Resources

• Professional Learning

• Technology & Infrastructure

• Data & Privacy

School library media coordinators engage in learning opportunities related to their selected focus area, and the MTAC documents their progress in  an MTAC digital portfolio. 

The continued Covid-19 pandemic prohibited us from holding in-person professional learning to support WakeForward focus areas. Rather, participants engaged in virtual PLCs. Library Media Services plans to return to in-person learning opportunities in the 2022-2023 school year. 

Learn more about specific goals and evidence of progress for this initiative here.

View schools' MTAC digital portfolios for the 2021-2022 school year, organized by focus area, below.