AASL supports National Board Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) certification as recognition of accomplished teaching in the field of library media. AASL further recognizes that the National Board standards are closely aligned with its own which support the role of the library media specialist as a teacher, instructional partner, information specialist, and program administrator as outlined in Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning.
National Board assessment measures what an accomplished library media specialist should know and should do in the context of their daily work. AASL members are encouraged to pursue National Board certification as a way of demonstrating their accomplished practice and as a means of professional development.
Library media specialists who complete National Board certification are encouraged to mentor candidates in appropriate ways and to use the knowledge they have gained to better the field. They should also continue their professional development as contributing members to their professional organizations on the local, state, and national levels.
Further, library media specialists should support all teachers seeking National Board certification by providing a space to work in the school/district library media center and providing research tools for test and portfolio preparation.
(Approved by the AASL Board in January 2005)