Library Media Services Home
Mission & Vision
Mission
The Syracuse City School District Libraries foster a culture of inquiry, learning and literacy that supports the needs of our diverse community to cultivate innovative thinkers and communicators who are effective, responsible, and independent users of information, emerging technologies, and literature to support student success.
Vision
The Syracuse City School District Library System will provide equitable access for all students to the resources and skills necessary to pursue their life-long learning.
Instructional Vision
- Our libraries are the heart of our schools. They are a unique and integral part of our school communities because they facilitate and inspire inquiry, inter-disciplinary learning, reading, innovation, growth, communication, and connected sense of belonging.
- Our libraries are a welcoming, accessible, and safe space for all, where everyone can be themselves and be seen, honored, and celebrated.
- Our libraries help foster an enthusiasm for books, reading and stories by intentionally creating a meaningful, diverse, and inclusive collection of books, materials, and programming that serve the interests and needs of the entire school community.
- Our libraries provide meaningful and authentic learning experiences for students by facilitating high-quality, engaging instruction on critical information literacy skills at every grade level, aligned to SCSD content curriculums, with real-world application. Our instructional work is grounded in the four anchor standards from the Empire State Information Fluency Continuum- inquiry & design thinking, multiple literacies, social & civic responsibility, and personal growth & agency. The instructional process utilized in libraries empowers students to take ownership of their learning, to activate their curiosity, think critically, problem solve, discover information to create new understandings, effectively utilize technology, and communicate their learning in numerous formats. Instruction is dynamic, rigorous, and targeted to ensure every student learns and grows, with high expectations for all. Students are also encouraged to wonder, explore, tinker, design, and create through additional learning experiences offered in the library, such as makerspaces and craft activity areas.
- Our libraries partner and collaborate with students, staff, families, community members, and organizations, as their voices, ideas, and input are invaluable. We work together to continuously help improve and expand our services in the best interests of all those we serve.