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The Role and Responsibilities of the School Library Media Specialist
The library media specialist is an essential link in the educational learning community, which includes students, teachers, administrators, and parents, as well as local, regional, state, national, and international communities.
The role of the library media specialist is diverse. He or she is at once a teacher, an
instructional partner, an information specialist and a program administrator. Library
media specialists play an essential role in the learning community by ensuring that
students and staff are efficient and effective users of ideas and information. They
collaborate with teachers, administrators, and others to prepare students for future
successes. (School Libraries Work 2008)
As An Information Specialist, the library media specialist is responsible for locating, acquiring, disseminating and tracking information resources of various types; and serves to:
q Provide expertise in acquiring and evaluating information resources in all formats.
q Provide expertise in information literacy and the skills it encompasses.
q Attend workshops, in-service activities and conferences and take courses to update professional expertise.
q Be aware of electronic resources (e.g. listservs) that foster professional growth.
q Bring an awareness of information issues to teachers, students and others.
q Access a broad network of information resources within and outside the school to provide information and relevant research to help guide the school staff in making informed decisions.
q Model and teach strategies for locating, accessing, and evaluating information within and beyond the library media center.
q Develop a balanced collection representative of diverse points of view and conscious of our pluralistic society in accordance with the district materials-selection policy.
q Acquire resources in response to the individual user’s needs, interests, and learning styles; and provide guidance in the use of those resources.
q Make resources available to all patrons through an efficient retrieval system and equal access policies.
q Collect organize and supply information on community resources.
q Master pertinent electronic resources and maintain a constant focus on the nature, quality, and ethical uses of information available in these and in more traditional tools.
As An Instructional Consultant, the library media specialist is an important member of and contributor to the building-level, decision-making team, as follows:
q With administrators and other teachers, develops policies, practices, and curricula that guide students to develop the full range of information literacy skills.
q With administrators and other teachers, serves as a partner in instruction, budgeting, program planning and collection development.
q Collaborates with teachers to design, implement and evaluate authentic and effective instructional experiences
q Consults with teachers about students’ needs and weaknesses.
q Is knowledgeable about current research on teaching and learning
q Views the school’s curriculum with a broad perspective.
q Understands that the information curriculum is an integral part of the content and objectives of the school curriculum and joins with teachers to identify links with curricular content, learning outcomes, student information needs, and information resources.
q Integrates the information and communication abilities required to meet subject matter standards.
q Provides equal access to Media Center materials to supplement the instructional program.
q Acts as a resource for staff in the selection of materials and informs teachers and other staff as to the arrival of new materials.
q Encourages faculty input concerning suggestions for purchase.
q Provides topical and new materials bibliographies to support class assignments and promote interest in reading.
q Functions as a resource for issues regarding copyright and intellectual freedom
q Takes a leadership role in promoting the principles of intellectual freedom by creating and sustaining an environment that promotes free inquiry and exposes students to a broad range of ideas.
q Functions as an in-house resource for staff in the effective use of media and technology.
q Maintains professional library materials for staff use.
As A Teacher, the library media specialist works with all students of all grades and abilities in all subject areas, as well as with adults in the educational community to:
q Identify learning and information needs.
q Locate and use resources to meet those learning needs.
q Facilitate students’ efforts to gather, evaluate, reflect upon and use information ethically.
q Understand and communicate the information the resource provides.
q Use information for critical thinking and problem solving.
q Help students develop attitudes, habits and skills leading to lifelong library use.
q Apply current and innovative methodology in delivering instruction.
q Provide group and individual instruction in information skills, research strategies, and use of resources and equipment.
q Facilitate student development of independent library-information skills.
q Help students to develop effective research habits, including critical thinking and inquiry-based pursuits.
q Promote reading and library usage.
q Provide reference and readers’ advisory services.
q Provide orientation for new students.
q Understand the role of technology in instruction.
q Informally instruct students in the use of various types of materials, equipment, and technology.
q Incorporate reading incentive programs when appropriate.
As A Program Administrator, the library media specialist guides and directs all of the activities related to the library media center, as follows:
q Establishes annual and long-range goals for the library information program.
q Plans, arranges, administers, operates and supervises the library media center; developing policy for efficient operation and optimal service.
q Shares decision-making with administrators and other teachers as a partner in instruction, budgeting, program planning, and collection development.
q Executes, and evaluates the program to ensure its quality and relevance in the learning community.
q Advocates for the library media program as key to the effective use of information to students' personal and economic success now and in their future lives.
q Provides the knowledge, vision, and leadership to steer the library media program creatively and energetically in the 21st century.
q Participates actively in professional associations on the local, state and national level.
q Is proficient in the management of staff, budgets, equipment, technology, collection, program and facilities.
q Trains and supervises any other library staff including library clerks, paraprofessionals, and adult & student volunteers.
q Evaluates and selects new media center materials, and informs teachers and other staff of new acquisitions, as stated in materials selection policy.
q Maintains an efficient system of classifying, cataloging, and circulating all library materials.
q Provide for ongoing maintenance of materials, equipment, facilities and the automated circulation/cataloging systems.
q Designs the library media facility in relationship to the space needs of the total school programs and creates an environment that fosters use by students and staff.
q Keeps records of student use, circulation, purchases and losses; and provides regular reports on the library to administration.
q Supervises the regular inventory of the library collections; weeds obsolete and worn materials; and updates inventory records.
q Works cooperatively with and understands the needs of many groups, e.g., teachers, students, administrators, parents, and community members.
q Maintains professional relationships w/ faculty and administrative staff and is an effective communicator within the system.
q Maintains cooperative relationships with local public and academic libraries, the school’s parent teacher association and other community organizations.
q Arranges for interlibrary loans within the district and outside the district.
q Implements a public information program.
SOURCES CONSULTED
SOURCES CONSULTED
AASL Position Statement on the Role for the School Library Media Specialist in Site-Based Management. 2006. http://www.ala.org/ala/aasl/aaslproftools/positionstatements/aaslpositionstatementroleschool.cfm
Power Tools: Forms and Presentations. American Library Association, 1998.
Information Power: Guidelines for School Library Media Programs. ALA / AASL. 1988.
Media Programs: District and School. ALA, 1975.
School Library Media Specialist Role and Responsibilities. Adapted from Information Power: Buildilng Partnerships for Learning. American Library Association, 1998. http://www.bcps.org/offices/lis/office/admin/roles.html
Simpson, Carol. The School Librarian’s Role in the Electronic Age. 2002-2004. http://www.libraryinstruction.com/school-librarians.html.
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