Media Specialist:

POSITION PURPOSE
    The school library media center plays a unique role in the school by serving as the
information resource center for the entire learning community—students, faculty and staff,
administrators, parents, and the community at large..
    The media specialist works in a special capacity in the school by assisting both student and adult learners in locating, retrieving, and evaluating a wide range of information, ideas, and information technology.
    The media specialist works closely with classroom teachers to design instructional activities and thematic units that will prepare students to work independently in the information-rich society of the twenty-first century.
    The media specialist knows the school’s curriculum, the state and national standards, the information needs of their patrons, and the composition of the learning community being served and develops a collection of resources that is developmentally appropriate for the students being served and that meets the information and recreational reading needs of all patrons.
    The media specialist is a partner with members of the learning community to select new resources for inclusion in the school library media center collection.
     The media specialist and other educators select resources without regard for their personal, political, social, or religious views. Students and other members of the learning community have equal and open access to the resources and services of school library media centers in South Carolina schools.

• develop and implement a mission statement, goals, objectives, policies, and procedures that reflect the mission, goals, and objectives of the school and the district;
• plan and evaluate information technology services to best meet student needs, district goals, and school objectives;
• develop a survey instrument to provide for continuous program evaluation of the library media center;
• collaborate with educational community members including students, teachers, administrators, and parents to assess regularly and systematically the effectiveness of the library media program;
• plan a budget and maintain appropriate records to accommodate keeping technology, print, and nonprint collections current;
• establish and maintain an inviting and attractive physical environment that encourages creative and independent use of all types of information technology;
• provide facilities and opportunities for individual and group study and production of resources;
• communicate the value and effectiveness of the library media program by using a variety of formats (written, verbal, visual) to keep the school community informed regarding services and resources available in and through the library media center;
• maintain and communicate current knowledge and research findings related to the impact of school library media programs on student learning;
• maintain an environment that meets the information needs of all members of the learning community, regardless of disability or other difference, through appropriate physical adaptations and instructional policies and practices;
• manage the library media center with policies and procedures that facilitate maximum use of services and resources;
• supervise staff assigned to the information technology center, including student assistants and parent/community volunteers;
• serve on the school’s management team (e.g., school improvement council);
• oversee all aspects of the daily operation of the library media program;
• actively participate in activities designed to make the entire school a productive learning environment;
• establish partnerships with agencies, businesses, and community groups to foster support for the library media program; and
• implement a public relations program that promotes literacy and use of the information technology center’s services and resources.

• monitor standards, guidelines, emerging practices, and innovations in the library, media, and information technology and education fields;
• develop a collection development policy, in collaboration with teachers and other members of the educational community, that provides for current and appropriate resources for all members of the learning community;
• coordinate the selection, acquisition, organization, and circulation of a collection of library media information resources to address the informational and recreational needs of all members of the learning community, including those with different abilities and learning styles;
• develop and direct a continuous collection development and evaluation process that focuses on regular and collaborative assessment of teaching and diverse learning needs and the formats and resources to meet them;
• provide consultative services in selection, evaluation, purchase, and use of materials and technology resources;
• promote and model the principles of intellectual freedom and the ethical and legal use of information;
• provide a developmentally appropriate collection of resources that meet the needs of all students;
• provide for appropriate access to external resource materials, such as those available through resource-sharing arrangements with other information agencies and those available on the Internet;
• provide consultative services to all patrons in selection, purchase, evaluation, and use of information technology resources and related equipment to support learning objectives as well as personal information needs;
• maintain a central collection of statistical data, media/technology reviews, publisher/vendor catalogs, and other pertinent information for educators; and
• maintain centralized systems for bibliographic control and the circulation and distribution of equipment, materials, and information.

• plan and schedule orientation for faculty and students concerning library media center services;
• plan collaboratively with teachers to develop curricular content that integrates a variety of instructional media and information literacy skills into classroom instruction;
• develop activities and instructional strategies to address the individual needs of all members of the learning community, including those with different abilities and learning styles;
• teach and assess student achievement of information literacy concepts as determined through collaborative planning with all members of the school community;
• collaborate with teachers to educate students in the process of and criteria for efficient and effective inquiry;
• use available technologies to contribute to students’ development in reading, viewing, listening, evaluation, and communicating;
• design, develop, and implement programs—including reading guidance and motivation— that encourage reading for enjoyment and for information;
• develop and demonstrate a knowledge of the school’s curriculum to assist teachers in the effective utilization of available professional development resources;
• serve as a member of the instructional design team through school curriculum and technology planning committees;
• educate the school community in uses of communication tools that engage students in reading, viewing, and listening for understanding and enjoyment;
• train teachers to use information technology effectively and to develop innovative instructional activities;
• use an open-access model to provide patrons (students and faculty) with full accessibility to the information technology resources;
• assist patrons in the production of learning materials such as multimedia presentations, videotapes, audiocassette tapes, and photography.

• organize and circulate information technology materials, services, and related equipment for easy accessibility according to established district standards;
• acquire and maintain expertise in assessing various technology products and processes for their potential to enhance learning;
• model and promote effective uses of technology for learning and teaching;
• provide in-service training and information for teachers to promote the effective utilization of information technology, the development of innovative instructional activities, and the seamless integration of technology into the curriculum;
• manage the information technology center with procedures that facilitate maximum use of services and resources; and
• provide storage, distribution, and a system of accountability for information technology resources.

• participate in professional development opportunities provided and/or promoted by district, state, and national organizations;
• continuously update his or her personal competence in information literacy, learning, and teaching; information access and delivery; administration and supervision; and technology utilization, as well as other areas to fulfill the requirements of a professional library media specialist;
• maintain current and in-depth knowledge of research and best practices in all aspects of the librarianship and information management;
• participate in local, state, and national professional organizations;
• support and participate in cooperative resource sharing with other information technology centers and local, state, and national information agencies through loan services and electronic communication formats; and
• serve as a member of professional committees for the development of activities, training materials, and programs to disseminate information technology.

SUPERVISES: Library media assistant (paraprofessional), parent and student volunteers
 
 

Library Media Aide

POSITION TITLE: Media Clerk Typist

REPORTS TO: Media Specialist

JOB ROLE: To perform general and specialized clerical duties in the school library in conformance with established procedures.

1. Clerical

1. Assuming general secretarial responsibilities:

• typing
• filing
• duplicating materials
• assisting with financial records
• operating computers

1. Compiling statistics:

• recording circulation and other service information
• assisting with annual reports

1. Ordering and processing print and nonprint materials:

• maintaining consideration and order files
• following processing procedures established by the media specialist

1. Maintaining inventory of and ordering supplies:

• checking supplies
• preparing order lists

1. Circulating print and nonprint materials:

• assisting with circulation process
• shelving materials
• assisting with interlibrary loan process
• compiling overdue records

1. Performing other library media center duties as assigned

1. Assisting student and staff with location and use of materials and equipment:

• answering directional questions
• demonstrating the proper use of equipment and software
• operating audiovisual and production equipment

1. Maintaining library media catalogs:

• adding entries
• deleting entries

1. Performing preventive maintenance and minor repairs on equipment:

• changing lamps and other easily replaced parts
• cleaning and lubricating equipment parts

1. Producing graphics and display materials:

• assisting in preparing transparencies, posters, charts, graphs, displays, exhibits, and materials for television programs
• gathering necessary materials

1. Scheduling use of and delivering materials and equipment:

• Maintaining records of rental materials and equipment
• Coordinating use of building materials and equipment

1. Assisting with technical processing of information and materials:

• performing tasks of bibliographic searching and processing of materials
• organizing bibliographic information
• preparing information in the appropriate format

• Maintaining the media collection:

• shelving and filing

• withdrawing items as directed by the library media specialist
• mending and repairing items
• assisting with inventory

1. Performing other library media center duties as assigned

High school diploma or equivalent with a general knowledge of office machines and completion of the typing and spelling test administered by Personnel must be on file in the Personnel Office.

EVALUATION

Performance of this job will be evaluated in accordance with provisions of the board’s policy on the evaluation of professional personnel.

LENGTH OF EMPLOYMENT: One academic year
 
 
 

Student Library Assistant

POSITION: Student Library Assistant

REQUIREMENTS: C average or higher for the current grading term. Promptness, accuracy, and dependability; ability to learn library organization, ability to follow directions. References from two teachers.

JOB DESCRIPTION

The following duties may be assigned according to the student assistant’s interests and abilities and usually will be varied:

• shelving books and other materials accurately,
• organizing periodicals display,
• repairing books,
• reading shelves,
• preparing overdue notices,
• caring for plants and animals,
• providing messenger service,
• stamping ownership marks on materials for circulation,
• alphabetizing and putting materials in correct order,
• applying detection stickers and barcodes,
• delivering AV equipment to classrooms,
• setting up and operating AV equipment
• helping students find needed equipment,
• informing teachers of new materials,
• filing media and educational catalogs,
• designing and preparing bulletin boards and library displays,
• participating in Book Week activities,
• participating in storytelling and read-aloud activities,
• assisting in the preparation of instructional materials,
• assisting with the annual inventory, and
• assisting with book fairs and other special activities.

http://www.scteachers.org/SCTeachers/Adept/specarea.htm.