Draft: Library/Media Specialist Job Description

DRAFT: Job Description Modified and adapted from Official Position Description for School Librarians, School Library Services, State of Hawaii Department of Education, c 1999. Committee Members: Lorraine Bentley, Chairperson, St. Andrew the Apostle Margaret Cambone, St. Jane de Chantel Cathy DeVaughn, St. Mary's of the Assumption Janice Haltigan, St. Mary's (Landover Hills) Shelia Martin, St. Martin's Anne Murphy, Retired Carol Murray, St. Pius Joan Nolte, St. Anthony Sue O'Brien, St. Hughs Ann O'Hare, St. Matthias Fran Sabine, Mater Dei School Mary Stafford, St. Mary's Nan Venit, St. Jane de Chantel

Job goal: As an information specialist, a program administrator, a teacher, and an instructional partner, to provide students and staff with an enriched library environment containing a wide variety of materials that will invite intellectual growth, to aid all students in acquiring the skills needed to take full advantage of media center resources, and to foster in all students the development of a life-long habit of reading. Summary of duties: Plans, develops, selects, implements, and evaluates the school library instructional media center, program, policies and services. Encourages students to read by sharing quality literature. Selects materials supporting the school and community. Coordinates the planning and implementations of an information skills continuum. Collaborates with teachers in implementing integrated instructional activities. Serves as an information specialist to assist teachers and students Performs other related duties that may be required or directed. Administration, planning, and evaluation Plans, implements and evaluates the library media center's program, policies, and services that support the school's mission and instructional objectives. Prepares and administers the library media center budget. Serves on appropriate school committees, such as departmental, grade level curriculum, textbook selection, etc. Selects, trains, and supervises paid and/or volunteer library media center staff. Maintains the library media center so that it is attractive and efficient to use. Writes reports relating to the library media center as necessary or required. Prepares request for funds and orders for materials from federal and other resources. Promotes the library media center programs and services to students, staff, and parents. Designs a schedule that ensures timely access to the library media. Center resources for all students and staff, as well as time for library management activities. Monitors rights and responsibilities of users relating to the generation and flow of information and ideas (e.g. copyright, intellectual freedom, etc.). Selection and acquisition of resources Develops and updates a school selection policy. Reviews professional journals, bibliographies, selection aids, publishers' catalogs and brochures. Confers with sales representatives as appropriate. Consults with staff, students, other library media professionals in evaluating, selecting, and acquiring library resources and equipment. Provides a variety of print and media/technology related resources. Organization and maintenance of resources: Classifies, catalogs, and organizes the library media center's materials for maximum accessibility and availability. Maintains an inventory of the library media center's materials and equipment. Maintains a system for circulating and retrieving the library media center's resources. Weeds obsolete and worn materials from the collection. Instructional and curriculum support Coordinates and participates in the planning and implementation of an information skills curriculum which includes an appreciation of resources, information retrieval, and utilization and interpretations of resources, integrated throughout the school's instructional program. Collaborates with teachers in implementing integrated instructional activities, applying current instructional strategies. Prepares bibliographies and lists of resources. Coordinates promotional library media center activities (e.g. book fairs, summer book lists, book clubs, etc.). Coordinates a variety of services, including class visits, individual and small group instruction. Serves as an information specialist to assist teachers and students in selection and use of instructional materials. Conducts staff orientation to the library media center's services and programs. Provides library/technology in-services training activities for staff. Maintains professional materials collection, including periodicals and publishers' catalogs. Coordinates selection of materials for reserve collections and/or classroom collections for special units of study. Assists teachers in promoting reading and in providing reading experiences for students, individually as well as in groups. Promotes life-long reading and learning by fostering positive attitudes toward libraries and by working to develop students' viewing, listening, and critical thinking skills. Professional growth Participates in professional development activities relating to librarianship and information technology (e.g. Catholic Library Association workshops) and education. Continues to acquire knowledge through in-service education and academic courses.