AASL's learning standards offer a vision for teaching and learning to both guide and beckon the school library profession as education leaders. The learning standards shape the library program and serve as a tool for school librarians to use to shape the learning of students in the school.

AASL's newest set of program guidelines defines the future direction of school library programs. Empowering Learners ensures that school library program planners go beyond the basics to provide goals, priorities, criteria, and general principles for establishing effective school library programs.