MISSION STATEMENT: To promote life-long learning by the students, this library will provide leadership and support for

the development, promotion, and improvement of the school library media profession and programs.

GOAL I: Promote efforts to ensure that every student has intellectual access to information in all formats and a broad range of ideas in an atmosphere of free inquiry, ethical use, and confidentiality. GOAL II: Provide leadership to initiate and sustain collaborative planning and teaching which integrates information literacy into the curriculum. GOAL III: Support the professional development and personal achievement of school library media personnel. GOAL IV: Promote the library media professionals and the value of school library media programs in the learning process in the educational community, library community, and the community as a whole.

This mission statement was taken almost verbatim from the Illinois School Library Media Association adopted and practiced by Illinois schools since 2000. Although this particular mission statement was adopted over thirteen years ago, the goals provided by it are still relevant today. The ALA notes that, Libraries are major sources of information for society and they serve as guardians of the publics access to information more generally. The advent of the digital world has revolutionized how the public obtains its information and how libraries provide it. Goal I, or access to information in all formats, was deemed the most important strength of the library by a survey of library workers by the Pew Internet & American Life Project. Librarians and other staff members noted that the library provided free access to patrons, who do not have access anywhere else. In addition to providing access to books, the internet, and other information forums, the library also provides guidance and support for using them. The importance of goal II can be seen in numerous research studies, particularly Lance, Rodney, and Hamilton-Pennells research. Conducted in Colorado in 2000, researchers found that students whose librarians collaborated with teachers scored 21% higher on reading scores. Goal III, is important especially because of the changing face of the library and information. As libraries become more technology centered, librarians must continually be ahead of the technological curve to be able to assist every type of patron. George Williams, the Media Relations Manager for the D.C. Public Libraries system, says that libraries, [are] not only bridging the digital divide in terms of what people say when they mean about access to the internet, for us its access to tech and the skills theyre going to need as tech continues to change the way that we interact, the way that we work, and the way that we learn. The Campaign for Americas Libraries, launched by the ALA, identifies why goal IV is important to the library. Libraries are in each community, but are often not utilized to their full potential. Advocating for libraries will ensure that our library will have proper funding, be current, and employ staff who are professionals in the field.

Works Cited "Access." American Library Association. 02 Sept. 2013 <http://www.ala.org/advocacy/access>. Illionois School Library Media Association. ISLMA Mission and Goals. Rep. 17 July 2013. 2 Sept. 2013 <http://www.islma.org/about_islma.htm>. Lance, Keith Curry, Marica J. Rodney, and Christine Hamilton-Pennell. How School Librarians Help Kids Achieve Standards: The Second Colorado Report. Rep. Spring: Hi Willow Research and, 2000. Peterson, Andrea. "The digital age is forcing libraries to change. Heres what that looks like." The Washington Post (2013). The Switch. 7 Aug. 2013. 2 Sept. 2013 <http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2013/08/07/the-digital-age-isforcing-libraries-to-change-heres-what-that-looks-like/>. Pew Internet & American Life Project. Library Services in a Digital Age. Rep. 2013.