Roles of the Library Media Specialist
Leader • Communicates the mission of an innovative and effective school library • Promotes the profession by active participation in professional organizations and learning communities • Seeks opportunities for professional growth through continuous inquiry • Develops and provides professional development at the school/district level • Serves on school/district committees • Supports literacy across the curriculum • Promotes technology integration |
Program Administrator • Plans, executes and evaluates the library media program aligned with district and department goals • Develops and manages the budget • Manages a continuously updated collection by weeding and selecting materials that support the curriculum to meet the needs of diverse populations • Supervises support staff and volunteers • Manages the online catalog, circulation system, digital tools, and information databases • Manages the organization of the facility and the daily operations of the library • Initiates community outreach programs (i.e. author visits, book fairs, summer reading) • Manages the resource catalog of technology equipment |
Instructional Partner • Participates in curriculum, design, implementation and assessment • Collaborates with teachers to develop meaningful learning tasks • Recommends resources and technology for integration with instructional units • Relates library media program goals and objectives to classroom curriculum needs • Develops and provides professional resources for staff and parents |
Information Specialist • Curates, evaluates and selects resources to support curriculum • Provides assistance in selecting and locating materials appropriate to an individual’s needs • Teaches and provides guidance in the use of information and technology • Promotes legal, ethical and responsible use of information and technology • Serves as the research expert for teachers and administrators |
Teacher • Delivers instruction to students in meaningful information problem-solving strategies • Promotes reading through reading innovative programming and reader’s advisory • Instructs students and staff in analog and digital search strategies • Designs and implements formative and summative assessements of student learning • Teaches students and staff evaluation and navigation skills for the ever-changing online landscape • Provides orientation for students and staff concerning the facility, resources and services available |