To paraphrase Herbert Hoover, my Vision and Philosophy for a Media Center Program would be a book in every student's hand, and a lesson plan in every teacher's in box.

The School Media Program should support students in their quest to acquire skills, obtain knowledge, and develop problem solving methods as they progress through their education.  The Media Specialist should instruct students on all aspects of information literacy, along with selection of required and leisure reading materials. Additionally, the School Media Specialist should promote leisure reading and life long learning. 

Collaboration with colleagues should be the foundation of a Media Specialist's work.  After working as a technology teacher for many years, I know how difficult it can be to get a teacher to collaborate with you.  Even when you are offering something that will require no effort on the teacher's part, they still sometimes have blinders on and do not see the great opportunity for education and collaboration that exists.  It will be my duty as a School Library Media person to work hard to expose teachers to all resources available to them through the Media Center that will help in their daily teaching.

Reaching out to the surrounding society and other library programs was not something I had envisioned as part of a school Media Specialist's job before starting this program.  However, after some experiences in my internship, I have come to realize that such efforts can prove to be valuable activities regarding the exchange of ideas and resources.  With local libraries sharing patrons, the strengths of your media center can compensate for any weak areas in other centers, and vice-versa.  The thought of an individual school media program as an autonomous being has to be erased, and the vision of an Inspiration web map with the Media Program bubble reaching out to all areas of the community should replace it.

Finally, the Media Specialist should keep abreast of the latest innovations and trends in the library world by reviewing professional journals, networking and sharing with other librarians, participating in professional organizations, and attending conferences.  In my years as a classroom teacher, I have seen how powerful an example the simple act of having a book with you at all times can be in demonstrating to the students that leisure reading and life long learning do not stop at the end of their formal education.