Library Learning Commons Media Specialist

POSITION TITLE:          High School Library Learning Commons Media Specialist

QUALIFICATIONS:        Library Media Specialist license preferred or a valid state of Ohio teaching license with experience in education and demonstrated                                          knowledge of technology use and integration.

REPORTS TO:                Director of Teaching & Learning: 6-12 and Building Principal

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT:  Pay and benefits provided according to the Teacher’s Negotiated Agreement.

SUPERVISES:   Paraprofessional(s) who comprise the school library staff, and if applicable, volunteers and student assistants.

JOB GOAL:  To empower students to be critical thinkers, enthusiastic readers, skillful researchers, and ethical users of information.  To ensure equitable access to information.  To provide the leadership and expertise necessary to ensure that the school library program is aligned with the mission, goals, and objectives of the school and the school district, and is an intergral component of the learning/instructional program.

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

LEADER:

As a leader the library media specialist creates an environment where collaboration and creative problem solving thrive.

The library media specialist demonstrates his or her role as a visible and active leader within the school community and

an advocate for the library learning commons by:     

• serving on decision making teams in the school 
• taking an active role in school improvement
• sharing expertise by presenting at faculty meetings, parent meetings, and school board meetings
• creating an environment that is conducive to active and participatory learning, resource-based, instructional practices, and collaboration with teaching staff            

Instructional Partner

As an instructional partner the library media specialist works with teachers and other educators to build and strengthen connections between student information and research needs, curricular content, learning outcomes, and information resources. The library media specialist demonstrates his or her role as an essential and equal partner in the instructional process by: 

• participating 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
• collaborating with teachers and students to design and teach engaging inquiry and learning experiences and assessments that incorporate multiple literacies and foster critical thinking
• joining with teachers and others to plan and implement meaningful experiences that will promote a love of reading and lifelong learners
• providing and planning professional development opportunities within the school and district for and with all staff, including other library media specialists

Information Specialist

As information specialist, the library media specialist 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 library media specialist ensures equitable access and responsible use of information by:

• developing and maintaining a collection of resources appropriate to the curriculum, the learners, and the teaching styles and instructional strategies used within the school community
• evaluating, promoting, and using existing and emerging technologies to support teaching and learning, to connect the school with the global learning community, and to provide 24/7 access to library services
• understanding copyright, fair use, and licensing of intellectual property, and assisting users with their understanding and observance of the same
• organizing the collection for maximum and effective use

Teacher

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

• reading for understanding, for exposure to diversity of viewpoints and genres, and for pleasure
• embracing the world of information and all its formats

Program Administrator

As program administrator, the library media specialist 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 library media specialist maximizes the efficiency and effectiveness of the school library program by:

• ensuring that school library program goals and objectives are aligned with school and district long-range strategic plans
• using effective management principles, including the supervision of personnel, resources, and facilities, in developing and implementing program goals and objectives
• 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
• creating and maintaining in the school library a teaching and learning environment that is inviting, safe, flexible, and conducive to student learning
• selecting and using effective technological applications for management purposes
• arranging for flexible scheduling of the school libraries to provide student accessibility to staff and resources at point of need