Standards of professional excellence for teacher librarians

Standards are a must for all teacher librarians. (http://www.asla.org.au/policy/standards.htm)

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The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) and the Australian School Library Association (ASLA) are pleased to endorse and promote this statement of standards of professional excellence for teacher librarians. This statement describes the professional knowledge, skills and commitment demonstrated by teacher librarians working at a level of excellence. It represents the goals to which all Australian teacher librarians should aspire, and provides inspiration for quality teaching and ongoing professional practice.

Why are they are must?

Well .... standards ensure greater recognition within and beyond the profession, provide an improved, common understanding of what excellent teaching looks like, attract quality entrants to the profession, recognise and reward quality teachers, emphasise reflection and evaluation to improve teaching, form a basis for accrediting teachers and promote an integrated approach to long term professional development. They foster teacher excellence, allow for consistency, encourage teacher professionalism and improve student learning outcomes.

The TL standards are divided into four areas. Each area has three standards and each standard has indicators which can be used as benchmarks to help you achieve that standards.

The standards are aspirational. They give you goals to attain.