Job Title: Library/Media Specialist

FLSA Status: Exempt                                                           

Employment Status: Non-Classified                                                                                   

License Required: Yes

Reports to: Principal

Contract Length: 203 Days

 

Summary

Conduct the media program in a manner that supports the instructional objectives of the individual school.  Maintain a clearinghouse of up-to-date information concerning school and community resources for instructional purposes. Collaborate with classroom teachers and specialists to design and implement lessons and units of instruction, and assess student learning and instructional effectiveness. 

 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. 

 

Leader

As a leader the school librarian creates an environment where collaboration and creative problem solving thrive. The school librarian is an excellent communicator who instills enthusiasm in others by making them feel that they are important members of a team. 

• Serves on decision making teams in the school.
• Shares expertise by presenting at faculty meetings, parent meetings, and school board meetings.
• Creates an environment that is conducive to active and participatory learning, resource-based instructional practices, and collaboration with teaching staff.
• Shares with the learning community collaboratively developed and up-to date district policies concerning such issues as materials selection, circulation, reconsideration of materials, copyright privacy, and acceptable use. 
• Encourages the use of instructional technology to engage students and to improve learning, providing 24/7 access to digital information resources for the entire learning community. 
• Remains current in professional practices and developments, information technologies, and educational research applicable to school library programs. 

 

Instructional Partner

As an instructional partner the school librarian works with teachers and other educators to build and strengthen connections between student information and research needs, curricular content, learning outcomes, and information resources. 

• Participates in the curriculum development process at both the building and district level to ensure that the curricula include the full range of literacy skills (information, media, visual, digital, and technological literacy) necessary to meet content standards and to develop lifelong learners. 
• Collaborates with teachers and students to design and teach engaging inquiry and learning experiences and assessments that incorporate multiple literacies and foster critical thinking. 
• Participates in the implementation of collaboratively planned learning experiences by providing group and individual instruction, assessing student progress, and evaluating activities. 
• Attends staff meetings, PTO meetings and serve on staff committees as required.

 

Teacher

As a teacher, the school librarian empowers students to become critical thinkers, enthusiastic readers, skillful researchers, and ethical users of information.  The school librarian supports students’ success by guiding them. 

• Promotes appropriate conduct of students using media center facilities.
• Provide instruction in cooperation with the staff in media and resource skills in the classroom and the media center.

 

Information Specialist

As information specialist, the school librarian provides leadership and expertise in the selection, acquisition, evaluation, and organization of information resources and technologies in all formats, as well as expertise in the ethical use of information.  The school librarian ensures equitable access and responsible use of information by:

• In accordance with district policy, develops and maintains a collection of resources appropriate to the curriculum, the learners, and the teaching styles and instructional strategies used with the school community.
• Evaluates, promotes, and uses existing and emerging technologies to support teaching and learning, supplement school resources, connect the school with the global learning community, communicate with students and teachers, and provide 24/7 access to library services.
• Provides guidance in software and hardware evaluation, and develops processes for such evaluation.
• Understands copyright, fair use, and licensing of intellectual property, and assists users with their understanding and observance of the same.
• Organizes the collection for maximum and effective use.

 

Program Administrator

As program administrator, the school librarian works collaboratively with members of the learning community to define the policies of the school library program, and to guide and direct all activities related to it.  The school librarian maximizes the efficiency and effectiveness of the school library program by:

• Using effective management principles, including the supervision of personnel, resources, and facilities, in developing and implementing program goals and objectives.
• Supervising and evaluating support staff, which may include educational assistants, computer education assistants, volunteers, and student assistants.
• Preparing, justifying, and administering the school library program budget to support specific program goals.
• Establishing processes and procedures for selection, acquisition, circulation, resource sharing, etc. that assure appropriate resources are available when needed and meet the individual interest, ability and maturity level of students.
• Creating and maintaining in the school library a teaching and learning environment that is inviting, safe, flexible, and conducive to student learning.
• Arranging for flexible scheduling of the school libraries to provide student accessibility to staff and resources at point of need. May include interlibrary loans of materials. 
• Ensuring equitable physical access to school library facilities by providing barrier-free, universally designed environments.
• Perform other duties that may be assigned by the Superintendent, or designee.

 

Qualifications

• Hold a valid Virginia Teacher’s License
• Endorsement in School Library Media Pre K-12 from the Commonwealth of Virginia
• Extensive knowledge of children/young adult literature and materials, and current trends in school library media services.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the Virginia Standards of Learning.
• Knowledge of computer applications and technology for schools and school library media centers.
• Ability to work with students.
• Strong teaching, research, organizational, communication, and program management skills.
• Ability to multi-task and work to meet a deadline.

 

Education and/or Experience

Bachelor’s degree with major or minor in library science, Master’s degree preferred.

Coursework and/or experience in providing instructional technology resource services. 

Hold or posses appropriate Virginia Teaching License.

 

Language Skills

Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.  Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.  Ability to speak effectively before groups of parents or public.

 

Reasoning/Other Abilities

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out simple one-or two-step instructions.  Ability to deal with standardized situations with only occasional or no variables.

 

Physical Demands

Work involves limited physical tasks and may involve infrequent operation of office equipment.  Above-average amount of walking, bending, standing, stooping, and lifting in a library/media environment.

 

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

 

Evaluation

Performance on this job will be evaluated in accordance with school board policy and administrative regulations on evaluation of licensed personnel. Setting SMART goals and maintaining a Documentation Log are required methods of providing evidence of performance related to the specific performance standards required by the Code of Virginia.