K-12 Curriculum Renewal Process: Library & Media Center Program

Mission

Thomas Metcalf School is a caring community of life-long learners. One of the school's primary functions is to provide a model school in which excellence in educational theory and practice can be observed, studied and experienced by teacher education candidates. As another function, Thomas Metcalf provides an environment in which research and developmental activities can be conducted to support the university teacher education programs and the research goals of the institution. By recognizing a moral and ethical responsibility to the students who attend, Thomas Metcalf School accepts a third obligation that assures a comprehensive, high quality academic program for the students enrolled. Finally, Thomas Metcalf accepts the mission to promote effective, quality education throughout the profession by aiding other educators in improving the quality of education in their schools.

The Thomas Metcalf Library Media Program is to be an important component of the total overall Thomas Metcalf educational program. In the effort to maintain the integrity of the Thomas Metcalf School mission, it is vital for the library media center to focus excellence in supporting the educational goals for students. Through the instructional activities, resources, facilities, and technologies provided in the library media program, students and staff become effective and efficient users and creators of ideas and information. In collaboration with teachers and others, the library media specialists: teach information literacy through the content areas, enhance learning opportunities through technology, build reading literacy, design and deliver instruction, and provide intellectual and physical access to an organized system of ideas, information and resources (adapted from The Illinois School Library Media Program Guideline (1999), Linking for Learning, written by The Illinois School Library Association).