Planning Resource for Wisconsin School Libraries
In Wisconsin, district long-range plans for library services are required through Wisconsin Administrative Code PI8.01(2)(h). Completed, board approved plans are submitted in the WISEadmin Portal. The Future Ready Librarian framework provides a foundation for building a plan to align with district goals and priorities. Below, a brief description of each wedge is followed by some initial guiding questions to consider when creating program goals, planning instruction, and budgeting for resources to meet those goals.
In addition to the questions, these two tools will help guide the planning process:
- Library Planning Infographic: Use these talking points to introduce and advocate for creating and implementing a district long-range plan for library services.
- Library Planning Checklist: Use this outline as a guide for completing a district long-range plan for library services.
The work being done in Wisconsin around library planning has been recognized nationally. This 22 minute podcast, Making a Difference with School Libraries Throughout an Entire State, illustrates how a constructive process creates much more than a library plan. This 55 minute webinar, Planning for Excellence in Your Library Program Using the Future Ready Librarian Framework, highlights the successful creation and implementation of library plans by three different library media specialists.
Once your district library plan has been approved by your school board, data about your plan needs to be entered into the WISEadmin Portal. Information and instructions for this process can be found in the WISEadmin: Info, Help and User Guide.
Other resources related to library planning are found in the School Library Planning Group on WISELearn Resources.
-
Personalized Professional Learning
Facilitates Personalized Professional Learning: Leads and curates learning experience that build educator capacity in multiple literacies, critical thinking, and instructional technology. 
- Does the school library media specialist (LMS) provide or facilitate professional development?
- What formats are used to provide professional development?
- How does the LMS identify the professional learning needs of the staff related to technology and information literacies, including digital, media, and AI?
- Does the LMS provide professional development to build capacity in multiple literacies, critical thinking, and instructional technology?
-
Robust Infrastructure
Ensures Equitable Digital Access: Advocates for equitable access to print and digital resources transforming the library into a hub for student learning.
- How does the district library plan align to the district technology plan?
- Does the school library program utilize technology and digital resources to support and promote equitable access to information?
- How does the school district support the library program to ensure students have access to the print and digital resources they need to optimize their learning and interests?
-
Budget and Resources
Invests Strategically in Resources and Learning Spaces: Champions funding and equity by investing in inclusive collections, technologies, and spaces that reflect student needs and interests.
- How is the library media specialist (LMS) intentionally investing Common School Funds?
- How is the LMS currently involved in the school and district planning processes for creating inclusive spaces?
- Are there any areas of communication that need to be improved?
-
Community Partnerships
Builds Meaningful Partnerships with Families and Community Organizations: Collaborates to advocate for the library, share its impact, and showcase the value it adds to student learning, school improvement, and the broader community. 
- What partnerships currently exist between the school library and families and the community?
- What partnerships can the library media specialist cultivate and what strategies should be used?
- How does the library media specialist highlight the positive impact of the school library program?
-
Data and Privacy
Advocates for Student Data Privacy: Promotes and protects student data privacy by modeling responsible practices and advocating for policies that safeguard student information to create safe, inclusive learning
environements.
Promotes the Ethical Use of Research, AI, & Literacies: Teaches ethical use of information, technology, and media, guiding students to be responsible and respectful digital citizens.
- What student privacy policies are currently in place in the school district?
- How does the library media specialist (LMS) help ensure everyone in the district understands and practices those policies?
- What opportunities exist for the LMS to provide leadership in building broader understanding and awareness of the ethical use of AI?
- How does the LMS and the library program promote and support digital citizenship and ethical use of information and technology, including AI?
-
Use of Space and Time
Designs Collaborative Spaces: Creates flexible, inclusive spaces that support collaboration, well-being, and inquiry for students, staff and the community.
- How does the library space support student inquiry?
- How does the library space support collaboration?
- How does the library support student and staff well-being?
- How is the library space accessible and inclusive to the entire school community?
-
Collaborative Leadership
Leads Beyond the Library: Aligns library goals with district priorities, driving collaboration and innovation across the learning community. 
- Has the district library plan been aligned with district priorities?
- How does the library media specialist (LMS) communicate what the library program does to support district priorities?
- How does the LMS identify barrier to collaborative leadership and implement strategies to overcome them?
- How is the library program evaluated and analyzed through the use of data and program statistics?
-
Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment - Curation
Curates Print and Digital Resources: Selects, organizes, and shares high-quality, diverse resources to support instruction, equitable access, and intellectual freedom.
- Do the district selection and reconsideration policies for school libraries include collection management procedures?
- Are resources in a variety of formats and from multiple viewpoints included in your collection?
- How is resource availability communitcated to students and staff? How does the school community contribute to curation?
- How is intellectual freedom supported through the library program?
-
Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment - Instructional Partnerships
Builds Instructional Partnerships: Collaborates with educators to design lessons and curriculum that promote critical thinking, multiple literacies, creativity, research, and responsible technology use.
- How is the library media specialist collaborating with other educators in instructional settings?
- Does the library media specialist model effective integration of responsible technology use and information literacy across content areas?
- Does the library media specialist support strategies for encouraging critical thinking, research, and creativity?
- How is the library media specialist supporting literacy through partnering with other educators?
-
Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment - Student Creators
Empowers Students as Creators: Encourages students to "ethically" create digital products that showcase critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and authentic problem solving.
- Does the school library have individual and collaborative spaces for students to create products documenting their learning?
- What strategies are used during library instruction to promote critical thinking and creativity?
- How does the library program support authentic problem solving?
- How does the library media specialist model and encourage ethical use of resources?
