Principals' Corner

Welcome to the Office of Library Services Principals’ Corner. Our staff can help you develop and support a library program that positively impacts student achievement. We can assist you in the following areas:

  • Planning your library program
  • Integrating the teaching of information/inquiry skills
  • Automating your library's catalog
  • Updating your facilities
  • Building a collection that meets the needs of your students, teachers, and parents
  • Infusing technology throughout your school

Commissioner's Regulations

The Office of Library Services has compiled several documents outlining the Commissioner's Regulations for school library media programs.

· New York State Education Law Establishing School Libraries

· New York State Funding Requirements for School Libraries

· New York State Staffing Requirements for School Libraries

Program Administration

21st Century Checklist 
The 21st Century Checklist provides guidance to school administrators about the state and federal regulations that apply to school libraries.  Two of the items are on the Principal's Compliance Checklist; other items are provided for principals to monitor the status of their library program.  If you have any questions, please contact Library Services at libraries@schools.nyc.gov.

Collaborative Responsibilities
The development of an integrated school library program is a collaborative effort involving administrators, teachers and the librarian. Each individual is an essential contributor and has several responsibilities.

· Principal Responsibilities

· Librarian Responsibilities

· Teacher Responsibilities

Program Planning
The Office of Library Services has developed several documents to assist in the development of an effective school library media program.

  • Campus Librarian Handbook
  • Citizenship in the Digital Age
    This publication was supported by Federal Library Services and Technology Act funds, awarded to the New York State Library by the Federal Institute of Museum and Library Services.  The guide contains sample lessons from grades 1 to 12 in the areas of responsibility and online safety.  The lessons are aligned to the NYC Information Fluency Continuum and Common Core Learning Standards.
  • Collection Development Policy
  • Comprehensive Education Plan Guiding Questions
    Schools may wish to refer to this set of Guiding Questions as they are preparing their Comprehensive Education Plan. The questions will help educators think through the essential elements of exemplary library programs and determine the areas where they would most like to improve their library services in order to impact the education of every student in the school.
  • Family Literacy Guide
    The Family Literacy Guide provides support for librarians working with parents and caregivers on how to make literacy a part of family life from birth to grade 12. The guide provides lists of books that are appropriate for each grade level.
  • Empire State Information Fluency Continuum The Empire State Information Fluency Continuum provides a framework for the instructional aspects of a library program. The framework is based on three standards that form the basis for the skills and strategies that are essential for students to become independent readers and learners. The Empire State Information Fluency Continuum is endorsed by the School Library Systems Association of New York State  and aligned to the Common Core Learning Standards. Information Fluency Continuum and Common Core Learning Standards

  • Internet Acceptable Use and Safety Policy (IAUSP) NYCDOE's policies and expectations for use of email and Internet access.
  • LMC21 Rubric
    How does your Library Media Center rate? Use the LMC21 Rubric to determine how your library matches the characteristics of a 21st Century Library Media Center. The strengths and needs identified will lead to focus areas for your Library Learning Walk.
  • Library Learning Walk
    The Library Learning Walk is designed as a collaborative tool for administrators, librarians, and teachers to define the vision for their library program and the path to achieve that vision. It is an observation and planning document that is based on the national standards for school library media programs and is based on the philosophy of centering a library program on student learning.
  • Libraries: School Quality Review 
  • Project-Based Learning: Inspiring Middle School Students to Engage in Deep and Active Learning This 2009 edition of Project-Based Learning: Inspiring Middle School Students to Engage in Deep and Active Learning is a major revision and update of the Exit Project Guide that was originally published for Science and Social Studies in 2000. This newly revised guide provides an overview of Project-Based Learning, guidance on planning projects, assistance on creating an optimal learning environment to teach skills and content, and supports to structure the project around an Inquiry Process.
  • Social Media Guidelines These Social Media Guidelines provide guidance regarding recommended practices for professional social media communication between DOE employees, as well as social media communication between DOE employees and DOE students. 

Principals’ Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to some of the most commonly asked questions by principals