Mission+and+Function+Statements

Mission statement: The Task Force is an action-oriented membership group whose charge is to address three basic specific goals (similar to the ACRL’s IIL, and Blueprint for Collaboration): Prepare librarians to become effective teachers in a PK-20 information literacy curricula; Support librarians, other educators and administrators in playing a leadership role in the development, implementation and culmination of information literacy programs; Forge new relationships throughout the educational community to work towards information Literacy curriculum achievement.

Function statement: This task force may include any or all the following functions, growing along a timeframe: A. Gathering nationwide information and making recommendations 1. Interim November 2010: Professional Learning Community engenders communication within the academic community to garner support for the program 2. (Spring 2011) Personnel for an information literacy program: 3. Intially (Fall 2011): develop glossary definition, and an AASL Position Statement on Capstones/Senior Project® 4. Establish measurable outcomes for evaluation for the program, multiple methods and purposes for assessment/evaluation [formative and summative; short term and longitudinal], and schedule periodic review. B. Research: Studying an issue and preparing a report 1. Characteristics of an Information Literate Capstone/Senior Project ® that Illustrate Best Practices a. Senior Project ® Program Certification 2. Address, with clear priorities, human, technological and financial resources, current and projected, including administrative and institutional support.

C. Carry out a specific project or Joint Association Activities, inc. Collaboration 1. Establish formal and informal mechanisms for communication and ongoing dialogue across the academic community. 2. “Reviewing successful models and using them as a springboard for developing campus programs is the most effective means of spreading information literacy best practice (ACRL | Info Lit in Action).”

D. Include a program for Continuing Education for Librarians, professional, faculty, and staff development, 1. Conducting programs at conferences 2. Establishing or coordinating with committees or other subunits as need develops.

E. Outreach, Globally, nationally and locally 1. Communicate a clear message defining and describing the program and its value to targeted audiences: AASL CP Toolkit 2. provide targeted marketing and publicity to stakeholders, support groups and media channels; 3. use a variety of outreach channels and media, both formal and informal. 4. target a wide variety of groups, as to date, “over 93+ national and international organizations have recognized the critical importance of including the concept of information literacy within the context of their own, organizational missions (Information Literacy Supporters, NFIL).” An overall goal of this effort is to build information literacy community partnerships. These partnerships will bring together librarians from school, academic, public and special libraries with community members and organizations to help prepare the public to utilize information efficiently and effectively. Intensifying our at home efforts to mainstream information literacy as an essential, 21st century “habit of mind” needed by all Americans pursing academic, professional, civic, and/or personal success will be strengthened by building international associations. “Information literacy is the backbone of lifelong learning practice and must remain a top priority for all nations concern with social and economic freedom in the decades ahead.”

To address this critical, urgent and ongoing situation requires a strong, visible organization effort and/or activist response, so we request to use a Task Force, eventually interdivisional or joint with ACRL. Our joint focus will be the urgency and importance of a visible CP program coordinating effort on behalf of the issue of outcomes-based info lit capable graduates. This task force will require bringing together people representing specific interests in order to address the concern and complete Capstones/Senior Project® support networks locally, nationwide and internationally. Given initiatives such as the ESEA Reauthorization package for Career and College Readiness (CCR), now is an ideal time to consider an "AASL/ACRL Joint Task Force on IL culmination via Capstone Projects, etc.”

Timeline When established, a Task Force should have a length of term that recognizes what is to be done and sets a realistic goal for the completion of the particular task. There may be a designated time frame defined by the nature of the task or set forth in the function statement. The life of Task Forces may be extended, on petition of the Board, if necessary to complete the assignment.

Why not ask for a Committee? It may come about as a recommendation from a special committee, which has explored an issue and now sees the need for taking specific action on this topic. However, a Task Force is differentiated by the specificity of its charge, the need for action within a specified time frame, and the critical nature of the effort.