Opportunity is here! The generation of learners who fills our libraries, classrooms, and school buildings has the vast ability to impact our world in ways other generations only dreamed about. Technology has changed how, when, and where we learn, connect, and engage, thus creating a “flat” world. As acknowledged by Thomas Friedman (2007), the “flat world” allows for a singularly connected field of knowledge that can bring with it an amazing era of innovation (8)—an era where individuals need to be prepared to not only compete with people all over the world but also work and collaborate with them (11). Schools must outfit our learners for success in today’s globally connected world. Librarians are prepared to be the leaders in arming our schools with innovative learning experiences that equip our students for the future. It’s time to unleash our skills, talents, and creativity to make a huge impact on learning and learners. I am proud of our profession. The work done by Future Ready Librarians with the support of the Alliance for Excellent Education (n.d.). in defining the progressive role of a Future Ready Librarian™ is cutting edge and both inspirational and aspirational. Cou- ple that with the rollout of the 2017 American Association of School Librarians (AASL) National School Library Standards and we have two powerhouse resources for meeting the needs of twenty-first-century learners. Kudos to the leaders in our profession for recogniz- ing the need to adapt the standards and principles of our work to meet the changing needs and demands being placed on our learners. Now, it is the responsibility of each of us to embrace their work and use it to empower the creation of innovative learning experiences in our libraries and schools. What are you doing in your libraries to meet the changing demands? In 2008, Dr. Tony Wagner published The Global Achievement Gap: Why Even Our Best Schools Don’t Teach the New Survival Skills Our Children Need—and What We Can Do about It, where he shared his research that resulted in a list of “Seven Survival Skills for the 21st Century Learner.” These skills focus on the need for schools to change their systems in order to produce innovative thinkers, communicators, and collaborators. Later, Wagner copublished Most Likely to Succeed: Preparing Our Kids for the Innovation Era, where he again touted the need to develop these skills in schools, emphasizing the fact that since the publication of The Global Achievement Gap: Why Even Our Best Schools Don’t Teach the New Survival Skills Our Children Need—and What We Can Do about It, he had not received one objection to the need for schools to place value on changing their systems to address these essential Preface
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