The framework for the National School Library Standards for Learners, School Librarians, and School Libraries has been built upon the four domains from 2007 AASL's Standards for the 21st Century Learner and our roles within the domains from Empowering Learners: Guidelines for School Library Programs, 2009.
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I.  The four domains from the Standards for the 21st Century Learner are:
1. Think
2. Create
3. Share
4. Grow.

II.  Our roles from Empowering Learners are:
1.  Leader
2. Instructional Partner
3. Information Specialist
4. Teacher
5.  Program Administrator.

III.  The new National School Library Standards are also built upon the following Common Beliefs:
1. The school library is a unique and essential part of a learning community.
2. Qualified School Librarians lead effective school libraries.
3. Learners should be prepared for college, career, and life.
4. Reading is the core of personal and academic competency.
5. Intellectual freedom is every learner's right.
6. Information technologies must be appropriately integrated and equitably available.
Please click here to learn more about the Common Beliefs.

IV.  The new National School Library Standards are also built upon six Shared Foundations, as seen in the image below. According to the National School Library Standards for Learners, School Librarians, and School Libraries, "Each Shared Foundation is a one-word idea encompassing each standard" (ALA 2018).

Please click here to learn more about the six Shared Foundations.

V.  In addition, the new National School Library Standards are built upon ​Key Commitments. According to the new National School Library Standards for Learners, School Librarians, and School Libraries, "...the Key Commitments are expressed by the Alignments included in each functional Domain" (ALA 2018). The six Key Commitments for  Learners are as follows...Learners who hare empowered to deepen their own learning will:
1. acquire new knowledge by thinking critically and solving problems;
2. operate in global society by interacting with and acknowledging the perspectives of others;
3. work with others to achieve common goals;
4. collect, organize, and share sources;
5. harness curiosity and employ a growth mindset to explore and discover; and
6. follow ethical and legal guidelines while engaging with information. 

VI.  The new National School Library Standards are also built upon Competencies, which according to the National School Library Standards for Learners, School Librarians, and School Libraries, "...may be used as a progression of knowledge, skills, and dispositions" (ALA 2018).

                                                  Key Vocabulary
Shared Foundation: This level describes the core values that learners, school librarians, and shared libraries should reflect and promote. The six Shared Foundations of Inquire, Include, Collaborate, Curate, Explore, and Engage were derived from our research and community input. Each Shared Foundation is also inherent in your Common Beliefs. 
Key Commitment: The Key Commitments spell out the essential components of the Shared Foundations. Consider Key Commitments as expanded definitions of the Shared Foundations.
Domains: As mentioned earlier in this chapter, the interlinked nature of school librarians’ roles is translated into the learning categories of Think, Create, Share, and Grow.
Competencies: For learners and school librarians the Key Commitments are put into practice by doing the actions that demonstrate mastery of the core Competencies included in each functional Domain. Think, Create, Share, Grow may be seen as a continuum mirroring the inquiry process, from Discovery and questioning through to sharing the results of one’s work and reflecting on the process. The Competencies are not intended to be only linear, but may be used as a progression of knowledge, skills, and dispositions. 
Alignments: In school libraries the Key Commitments are expressed by the Alignments included in each functional Domain.
Key Vocabulary terms from the National School Library Standards for Learners, School Librarians, and School Libraries. ALA, 2018.

​Please email dehler-hansen@arsu.org, if you have any questions.