The Philadelphia Public School Library Media Division of the Office of Teaching and Learning consists of a team of innovative specialists who excel in the integration of the core curriculum, technological resources and literature with explicit instructional practices.

The team provides Professional Development and Small Study Groups for library staffers to promote the school library media program that strengthens the curriculum, bridges the digital divide, and puts state and national standards into action.             

If you would like to learn more about the School District of Philadelphia Library System, please call Rachelle Nocito, Content Specialist for Libraries, at 215-400-4210.

Our Vision

The library media program has a clear vision on empowering our 21st Century students with intellectual, social and civil capabilites to support our society in it's growth from political, environmental and 'sign of the time' change.

Our Mission

Our mission of the school library media program is to have librarians provide and maintain a welcoming atmosphere conducive to learning and to teach students the importance of accessing information and discerning its value, using various forms of technology. Our mission is the librarian inspires the students and school community by being an instructional partner, and informational specialist who brings the essential question to a higher level of inquiry for 21st Century Learners. The librarian encourages reading for learning, reading for pleasure and reading for life. Our mission is for the librarian to directly affect student achievement by collaboraing and planning with teachers and teaching information literacy.

Our mission of the school library media program facilitated by paraprofessionals is to circulate books, maintain an atmosphere conducive to learning, present the love of  literature through book displays and support the school schedule and community events. Paraprofessionals will support students and teachers in their quest for information and prepare the library materials according to the needs of the student, staff and school community.

The Impact of Teacher-Librarian & Library Assistants

The positive impact on student achievement occurs in schools where the emphasis is on effective teaching and learning facilitated in the library by well-developed library staff. In our schools the Teacher-Librarian is a curriculum leader and the Library Instructional Materials Assistants (LIMA) and Support Staff are the guides for all patrons in using the library.

• Teachers and teacher-librarians collaborate in the design of lessons and student experiences.
• Information literacy travels across all subject areas in the curriculum
• Technologies in the library connect our students to the world
• Through continuous communication practices, library staff will inform entire school communities of the themes, events, special learning projects and new books in the library.