What does the SLMS do?
What does the School Library Media Specialist do?
More than you might imagine!
The SLMS is a teacher librarian who wears many hats.
Program Administrator
As the program administrator, the teacher librarian is the chief advocate for the school library program and mission statement. The teacher librarian “ensures that all members of the learning community have access to resources that meet a variety of needs and interests,” (AASL 2009, 18) by maintaining a collection that is updated and diverse and meets the needs of the learners and stakeholders. In addition to maintaining the budget and managing library personnel, the program administrator creates a space for learning and collaboration that is safe and welcoming. The most important role of the program administrator is to uphold the foundational elements of the school library program by protecting students’ right to privacy, by upholding the library users right to intellectual freedom, and by promoting digital citizenship and ethical use of information.
Local Cataloging Policy Manual
American Association of School Librarians. (2018). National School Library Standards for
Learners, School Librarians and School Libraries. Chicago, IL: ALA.
American Association of School Librarians, Empowering Learners: Guidelines for School Library
Media Programs. (Chicago: American Library Association, 2009), 18.
Leader
The teacher librarian serves as a leader by advocating for the school library program, evaluating its effectiveness, and managing its resources. The teacher librarian participates in building and district leadership committees to advocate the value of the library program and demonstrate its impact on student learning (Weisburg & Toor, 2015). By surveying students and teachers and evaluating circulation data, the teacher librarian determines the effectiveness of the library program and identifies areas for growth and improvement (ISLPS, 2019). The teacher librarian also manages and allocates resources, materials, and technologies that effectively meet the program’s goals and align with the school’s mission (AASL, 2018)
Library Program Plan & Policy Manual
Weisburg, H., & Toor, R. (2015). New on the job: A school librarian’s guide to success. Chicago.
Iowa School Library Program Standards. (2019, February 1). Iowa Department of Education. Retrieved September 1, 2020, from
Information Specialist
The role of the teacher librarian as information specialist is to integrate "up-to-date instructional and learning technologies," (AASL, 2018) to enhance the learning experiences of all students and to curate a diverse collection of print and digital materials. The TL engages with classroom teachers to plan and implement engaging lessons where students learn how to use resources to find, assess, and utilize information in an ethical manner, paying attention to fair use and copyright standards (ISLPS, 2019). Lastly, the TL creates an online learning environment where students have unrestricted access to databases and resources that support their interests and learning needs (ISLPS, 2019).
Conceptual Text Set: Human Movement
American Association of School Librarians. (2018). National School Library Standards for
Learners, School Librarians and School Libraries. Chicago, IL: ALA.
Iowa School Library Program Standards. (2019, February 1). Iowa Department of Education. Retrieved September 1, 2020, from https://educateiowa.gov/documents/instruction/2019/03/iowa-school-library-program-standards
Instructional Partner
The role of the teacher librarian as instructional partner is to collaborate with classroom teachers to enrich the curriculum and give students the greatest opportunity to learn. Teacher librarians and classroom teachers collaborate to develop learning opportunities that meet the academic standards and needs of students while supporting the learning goals of the library program--the responsible use of information, evaluation of sources for authority and accuracy, critical thinking, inquiry, and the integration of technology.
Social Studies: Rights Unit Resources
American Association of School Librarians, Empowering Learners: Guidelines for School Library
Media Programs. (Chicago: American Library Association, 2009), 16-18.
Weisburg, H., & Toor, R. (2015). New on the job: A school librarian’s guide to success. Chicago.
Teacher
The role of the school librarian as a teacher is “[to empower] students to become critical thinkers, enthusiastic readers, skillful researchers, and ethical users of information” (Empowering Learners, 2009, p. 12). The teacher librarian creates a passion for reading by promoting books that represent the culture and interests of the school community. Teacher librarians and classroom teachers collaborate to plan engaging lessons where students develop inquiry skills such as generating questions, identifying reliable sources, and citing sources, as well as using information in an ethical way. By collaborating on the aspects of a project or unit of learning, the teacher librarian and content teachers can ensure that all curricular goals are met.
Rhetorical Appeals Lesson Plan
Black Out Poetry Co-Teaching Lesson
American Association of School Librarians, Empowering Learners: Guidelines for School Library
Media Programs. (Chicago: American Library Association, 2009), 12-13.