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Posted RILINK Strategic Plan

Support the Diverse Needs of Student Populations

Vision for this goal: All students have equitable access to school library resources and services, provided by a certified Library Media Specialist, that reflect and address the needs of their communities.

Advocate for all students to have access to a high quality library-media program provided by a certified Library Media Specialist

Purpose Empower students to succeed through regular and frequent access to grade-level-appropriate information literacy instruction, readers advisory services, and diverse and up-to-date print and digital collections that are delivered and managed by an MLIS-credentialed school library media specialist within a thoughtfully-designed library media center.
Status

Ongoing

Activities

  • Added the RI School Library Curriculum Guide to our LibGuide
  • Offer Professional Learning sessions on the new curriculum guide
  • Encourage administrators to hire certified school librarians for fill positions in schools that do not have a certified librarian, emphasizing the benefits to students and teachers.
  • Attended hearings in support of School Libraries Act in RI General Assembly (04/2024)
  • Submitted written testimony in support of School Libraries Act in RI General Assembly (04/2024)
  • Spoke with legislators to advocate for School Libraries (04/2024)

Analyze population demographics at the state and municipal level

Purpose Understand the socioeconomic, cultural, and educational differences from district to district and school to school in order to improve how programs and services are delivered.

Status

 

Ongoing

 

Activities

  • Identified sources of demographic data to analyze.
    • The RI DataHUB is a central resource for anyone interested in using data to understand the well-being of people in Rhode Island. The RI DataHub brings together data sets from multiple federal, state and local sources.
    • Rhode Island KIDS COUNT engages in information-based advocacy to achieve equitable public policies and programs for the improvement of children’s lives. 

Partner with organizations that support diversity and inclusion

Purpose Solicit input from experts who understand the nuances of age-appropriate identity.

Status

Ongoing

Activities

 

Model inclusive collection development that reflects diversity of student populations

Purpose Tailor RILINK’s shared print and digital collections to meet the needs of all students from every background and of every identity, using information obtained in Objectives 3.2 and 3.3.
Status  Ongoing

Activities

Encourage collection weeding by providing inventory workshops, ongoing individual help, and information on RILINK website.
Highlight different selection tools and tips in monthly newsletters.
Highlight model collections such as (link)
Participate in collection development professional learning opportunities.
Prepare and share curated, themed book lists when requested.
Select and promote resources that are geared for meeting specific needs of diverse segments of student populations. Most resources presented by authors of different cultures and races include
  • Mackin Webinars
    • Lifting Voices Webinar Series:
      • "Christian Robinson on the Art of Communicating through Pictures"
      • "The Black Friend: On Being a Better White Person”
      • "Black Joy and the Craft of Literature" 
      • "We are Water Protectors”
      • ”The Power of Seeing Yourself Reflected in a Book.”   
      • Formal Presentation about Latino and Hispanic literature
Highlight different resources in the monthly newsletters.
Work with RISOCKS Committee 

 

Promote a balance between reading and technology

Purpose Use a standards-based approach to develop strategies to ensure that proficiency in and use of technology does not come at the expense of proficiency in and affinity for reading.
Status Ongoing

Activities