Personalized Professional Learning
Action Item:
By 2026, each member of the Library Team will continue to be an active participant in the CESA 2 LMS Network. Each member of the library team will also identify at least one further area of interest or area of growth that could be developed with a professional development opportunity. Further professional development should be approved and communicated with school admin.
Summary
Twin Lakes #4 School District has shown a dedication to providing students with a high-quality education by means of ongoing support of the school library program. The Lakewood School Library, as of November 2020, is staffed by two personnel. Their roles and responsibilities can be found below, along with ALA's statement on advocacy where it concerns school libraries and their personnel. The three year plan for library personnel is to retain the oversight of a state certified K-12 librarian, while ensuring that the library is staffed full time while school is in session. Our action item is intended to support the Lakewood School Library staff in accessing and participating in ongoing personalized professional learning, and to maintain access to the network of school librarians throughout the state.
Certified Library Media Specialist - Remote Consultant
Erin Sawaski
Description of Role:
The Certified Library Media Specialist - Remote Consultant is responsible for overseeing and guiding the long-term growth and development of the Lakewood School Library, and aligning the library collection and programming to standards and research-based best practices as set forth by American Library Association (ALA), American Association of School Librarians (AASL), International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), and Department of Public Instruction (DPI).
Responsibilities:
Purchasing / CSF budget
Overseeing weeding and collection maintenance projects
Oversee accurate cataloging of materials, as well as adapting and improving the library's organization systems
Consulting with on-site librarian to align library lessons to standards
Developing the long-term plan and goals
Provide ongoing support to on-site librarian as needed
Continue to develop and improve the school library's online presence
Advocate for student privacy, intellectual freedom, and responsible sharing of data
On-Site Librarian/Library Teacher
Kristine Hedrick
Description of Role:
The On-Site Librarian/Library Teacher is responsible for maintaining ongoing circulation and access to library programming and resources, creating and implementing library curriculum, and carrying out ongoing library projects.
Responsibilities:
Process and circulate library materials
Create and implement library curriculum
Provide reference services to students and staff
Develop and support the school library's community partnerships
Provide input for purchases based on student needs/interests
Assess and communicate student and staff needs that could be addressed through library resources and/or programming
Manage the use of library time and space to support equitable access to library space and services
American Library Association's Statement on Advocacy, School Libraries & Personnel
"ALA believes that every school should have an effective school library program. While reading and books are mainstays of the school library program, today’s effective school library programs are also sophisticated learning environments that provide the education and skill building to succeed in college and the workplace.
[...] Research repeatedly shows that a well-funded and fully staffed school library with a state-certified school librarian is an integral component of a student’s education. Across the United States, studies have demonstrated that students in schools with effective school library programs learn more, get better grades, and score higher on standardized tests than their peers in schools without comparable resources." - ALA, "School Libraries & Education"