Media+Specialist+Role

[] - Building Indispensablility by Doug Johnson

** Job Description ** **__ Library Media Specialist __** Responsibilities:
 * Collaborate with teachers in the planning of integrating library media resources with the classroom curriculum.
 * Actively participate in school wide planning
 * Make diverse materials and instruction available
 * Have a variety of resources available in many formats (print, visual, digital etc.)
 * Implements technology
 * Make the library media center accessible
 * Provide a welcoming environment for patrons
 * Motivate students in reading
 * Provide professional development for faculty and staff
 * Have an open flexible schedule for students to come to the media center
 * Maintain and update collections
 * Develop a policy and procedures manual
 * Keep records of equipment and library resources
 * Stay current on new technologies
 * Mange library staff and volunteers
 * Maintain a budget
 * Promote the use of the library
 * Advocate for the library

**__ Library Media Aide __** Responsibilities:
 * Circulates books and other resources
 * Helps teachers and students locate resources
 * Shelves or files books and other learning resources
 * Maintains book conditions—mending, cleaning, labeling
 * Assist in the supervision of the students
 * Helps keep the library clean and welcoming

**__ Volunteers __** Responsibilities:
 * Assist students in locating books
 * Put up bulletin boards or promotional materials
 * Check-in/out library material
 * Label resources with barcodes
 * Helps the LMS or LM aide in any way

**__ Student Aide __** Responsibilities: >     **       The school librarian's function in the school is to provide leadership and expertise in the effective use of > information and instructional technologies in order to meet the established academic standards. "They > take the lead in educational reform by showing the connections between information-based learning > and the skills that will be needed in the global community." (AASL 52) School librarians exert strong > curricular and instructional leadership in which information literacy and the use of technology are common > threads across all subjects and grade levels. In a standards-based environment, the school librarian > must collaborate with other school professionals to integrate information literacy skills with instructional > activities. School librarians must assume a leadership role in promoting the principles of fair use > and intellectual freedom. > School librarians have responsibilities in nine major areas: instructional leadership, curriculum development, > information management, instructional collaboration, program administration, information technology, > fair use and intellectual freedom, educational leadership role, and professional and community > development. > To carry out the mission of the program, the school librarian performs the following separate, but overlapping, > roles to link the information resources and services of the school library program to the information > needs of the students and staff. In order to meet the established academic standards, the librarian's > activities include planning, implementing, and evaluating the library program; developing policies > and delivering services; and coordinating the planning and implementation of information literacy skills. > They also collaborate with teachers in implementing integrated instructional activities; serve as an information > specialist to assist classroom teachers and students; and perform other related duties which > include, but are not limited to: >     **       1. Instructional Leadership >     **       • Plans common objectives and instruction with teachers. > • Works to ensure the integration of research skills throughout the school's instructional program. > • Develops a collaborative planned course. > • Assesses student achievement. > • Facilitates flexible scheduling of classes. > • Provides instruction to meet information literacy standards. > • Plans formal and informal reading, viewing, and listening activities. > • Provides individualized instruction to students and staff. > • Provides information and experiences that support learner-initiated activities, such as keeping > up-to-date in personal skills and knowledge, as well as in current research on teaching and > learning. >           9 >            • Encourages use of critical-thinking skills by students. > • Promotes the use of global resources. > • Ensures that all students receive literacy skills instruction. >     **       2. Curriculum Development >     **       • Develops benchmarks for information literacy standards. > • Links information literacy standards to established academic standards. > • Facilitates the integration of information literacy skills. > • Teams with classroom teachers to identify appropriate resources and learning strategies to help > students reach defined learning objectives. > • Teams with classroom teachers to design instruction which incorporates information resources > needed to achieve outcomes, and assists in program and assessment of student achievement. > • Serves on building and district curriculum teams. > • Actively participates in the development and assessment of the school's curriculum. >     **       3. Information Management >     **       • "Selects, collects, organizes, stores, and disseminates information in various formats." (AASL > 86) > • "Organizes and facilitates a physical environment designed to meet the needs of all learners." > (AASL 86) > • Facilitates intellectual access to traditional and electronic resources, including resources on the > Internet. > • Creates and fosters a climate that motivates effective use of information. > • Promotes library information services and resources. > • Maintains current and in-depth knowledge of the best practices related to information management. > • Uses interlibrary loan and resource sharing to enhance the learner's access to information. > • Maintains an accurate electronic or manual catalog of resources, using current cataloging standards. > • Maintains current records in statewide or local union catalogs (where applicable). >     **       4. Instructional Collaboration >     **       • Actively partners in planning authentic interdisciplinary learning activities. > • Collaborates with teachers in selecting appropriate information resources to meet instructional > goals, various learning styles, and special needs of students. > • Collaborates with teachers in assessing and evaluating integrated, instructional activities. > • Recommends and orders appropriate materials to support curriculum areas. > • Translates curricular needs into library goals and objectives. > • Stays informed of curricular needs and trends as they relate to library services and provides > resources as needed. > • Collaborates with other school librarians for professional development and resource sharing. >     **       5. Program Administration >     **       • Guides and directs all of the activities related to and acts as the main advocate for the school > library program. > • Works collaboratively to define and recommend the policies of the school library program. > • Meets and confers with other school librarians in the district. > • Creates and maintains library policies and procedures. > • Prepares, justifies, and communicates budgetary needs. > • Develops a collection development plan which includes selecting and acquiring resources, > maintaining a current inventory, weeding materials, and assessing and evaluating the collection. > • Performs ongoing assessment of the school library program. > • Establishes cooperatively with the principal and the technology coordinator, the policies for the > use of electronic hardware and software within the library. > • Directs, monitors, and supervises support staff. > • Implements district policies and procedures. >           10 >            • Supervises library facilities and is responsible for a proper learning environment which stimulates > and reinforces the student’s easy access to information. > • Supervises and maintains all ongoing and daily functions of the school library media center, > including the use of electronic resources, software, and hardware. > • Initiates and routes to the proper administrative levels all proposals for the improvement of > library services. > • Communicates on a regular basis with students and staff regarding ongoing library activities, > collection additions, plans, etc. > • Establishes and maintains cooperative relations with staff and students. >     **       6. Information Technology >     **       • Collaborates with the computer coordinator, classroom teachers, and administrators in identifying > needs and integrating technology into the educational and informational process. > • Collaborates with all staff to identify and use the full range of current technologies and software > required to meet learners’ information needs. > • Maintains an accurate and efficient retrieval system, while maintaining a constant focus on the > nature, quality, and ethical uses of the external and internal resources available. > • "Collaborates with the learning community to plan, design, implement, and continually refine an > effective, student-centered technology plan." (AASL 55) > • Collaborates in distance learning initiatives. > • Serves as a primary leader in the school's use of instructional and information technologies to > enhance learning. > • Instructs students and staff to use technology to address their information needs. > • Uses technology for school library program administration. > • Is knowledgeable about information resources accessed via the Internet. > • Serves on building and district technology committees. >     **       7. Fair Use and Intellectual Freedom >     **       • “Creates and disseminates district policies related to freedom of information that are consistent > with the mission, goals, and objectives of the school." (AASL 92) > • Provides services and resources that create and sustain an atmosphere of open inquiry. > • "Serves as an active advocate for intellectual freedom within the school and in the larger community." > (AASL 55) > • Models ethical and responsible use of information and information technology by observing all > legal guidelines related to access and duplication by ensuring the confidentiality and security of > information. > • "Maintains an understanding of current legislation and regulations regarding access, copyright, > and other legal issues." (AASL 94) > • Collaborates with staff and administrators to develop and publicize policies and procedures that > advocate compliance with copyright and other relevant laws. >     **       See Appendix F: Guide to Copyright Law > 8. Educational Leadership Role >      **       • Works as a curriculum and instructional leader on the school’s leadership team. > • Leads in educational reform by showing connections between information-based learning and > the skills students will need. > • Serves as a leader in staff development activities. > • Takes a proactive role in promoting the use of technology by staff. > • Models and promotes lifelong learning. > • Shows effective leadership strategies. >      **       9. Professional and Community Development >      **      • “Remains current in the school library profession through conferences, workshops, professional > [])
 * Check-in/out library material**      Responsibilities
 * Keep media center clean and organized
 * Maintain bulletin boards
 * Shelve books
 * Read with students
 * Assist students in locating books

PENNSYLVANIA HANDBOOK FOR SCHOOL LIBRARIES (Donna)