Factors of Engagement: Professional Standards and the Library Science Internship

Abstract

In today’s technological world, school librarians planning to be leaders should be ready to keep up with advances in standards significant to the profession. The professional standards, specifically American Association of School Librarians (AASL) Standards and International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Standards for Coaches offer direction for effective practices for school teacher/librarians. Attention to these standards can have a common purpose in moving learners towards the skills and behaviors needed in the digital age. Attention to professional standards will strengthen instruction, giving school librarians opportunity to play an ever growing role within the schools. Pre-service graduate programs are in unique positions to emphasize standards through program internships that prepare future school librarians for their pivotal role in supporting teachers with understanding and use of technology. This study examined the standards interns in library science graduate programs practiced in order to prepare pre-service librarians for their future librarian roles.