The L
ibrarian’s Role & the IB Accreditation Team
Librarians are often nervous about the accreditation team questioning how the school library supports the IB curriculum. The library is considered the centre of the teaching and learning of the IB curriculum.
A gentle reminder to the Librarian: it is a collaborative process with the school admin, coordinator and librarian, who work hard to meet the IB accreditation criteria. So, as librarians, you can reach out for support from your team; it is not your sole responsibility.
Here are some questions to consider and think about when preparing for the accreditation team.
As an IB Assessor, the following questions may be asked to librarians during an IB evaluation visit to assess alignment with IB Standards and Practices in an MYP or DP program:
1. Library Role and Support for Inquiry-Based Learning
- How does the library support inquiry-based learning across the MYP and DP programs? (0202-01-0600)
- Can you provide examples of how the library encourages independent research for students?
- How do you collaborate with teachers to integrate Approaches to Learning (AtL) research skills in student projects? (0402-01-0100)
2. Collection Development and Access to Resources
- How do you ensure that the library collection supports the IB curriculum, including core components like the Extended Essay (EE) and Theory of Knowledge (TOK)? (0202-01-0600)
- How does the library provide multilingual resources to support students’ language development and the school’s language policy? (0301-04-0300)
- What steps do you take to ensure digital access to research databases and e-books for students and teachers?
3. Academic Integrity and Research Skills
- How do you teach students about academic integrity, citation, and avoiding plagiarism? (0402-04-0300, 0301-03-0400)
- How does the library support students in developing research skills for the Extended Essay and Internal Assessments (IA)?
- How is the school’s academic integrity policy communicated to students, and what role does the library play in it?
4. Collaboration with Teachers and Leadership
- How do you collaborate with subject teachers to support research projects, inquiry-based learning, and the IB curriculum? (0203-01-0100)
- How do you contribute to curriculum planning discussions and ensure library resources align with MYP and DP learning goals?
- What support do you receive from school leadership regarding professional development and resource allocation? (0203-02-0100, 0201-05-0100)
5. Community and Parent Engagement
- How does the library engage parents and the wider school community in fostering a culture of reading and research? (0202-05-0200, 0301-01-0200)
- Can you provide examples of workshops, literacy events, or collaborations with parents and local organizations?
- How does the library support students who speak multiple languages or require additional learning support?
6. Professional Development and Continuous Learning
- What IB training and professional development have you participated in? (0203-02-0100)
- How do you stay updated with best practices in school librarianship and IB-specific research methods?
- How does leadership facilitate your ongoing professional learning and growth?
7. Digital Resources and School Library Website
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- Does the school have a library website or digital platform where students and teachers can access research databases, citation guides, and book catalogs? (0202-01-0600)
- How is the library’s cataloging system structured to ensure easy accessibility to books and digital resources for students and teachers?
- Can you provide examples of how the library organisation supports inquiry-based learning and independent research?“ (Aligned with Practice 1.6, 0202-01-0600)
- How does the library use technology to enhance student access to academic resources?
- What initiatives have you introduced to promote digital literacy and responsible research practices?
8. Documentation and Evidence of Impact
- Can you provide examples of library policies, research lesson plans, or collaboration records that demonstrate your role in student learning? (0301-06-0700)
- How do you track and document student engagement with library resources and research skills development?
- Can you show evidence of how the library supports interdisciplinary learning and IB’s global contexts?