The Roles of the School Library Media Specialist

1. The Roles of the School Library Media Specialist By: Beth Holcomb MEDT 7487

2. The Five Roles of the Media Specialist • Program Administrator • Instructional Partner • Information Specialist • Teacher • Motivated Reader

3. Program Administrator The media specialist must build a media program that accommodates the needs of students, parents, teachers, and administrators. The librarian should design a budget, purchase resources, create regulations, and use the OPAC to improve the stakeholders’ access to library tools. The SLMS is the program administrator of the library; therefore, the media specialist can assist teachers and students in using books, reference tools, and other library texts.

4. Program Administrator My Role as Program Administrator My MEDT Assignments I must be an effective program administrator for my school building. I should review the Georgia Performance Standards and purchase resources that are linked to these objectives. I should also collaborate with teachers to design activities that will teach students how to access books, reference tools, and other library materials using the Dewey Decimal System. I must use my knowledge of library resources, the OPAC, and building an effective media program to accommodate the needs of teachers and students. • Order 1: Weather Resources for the Media Center • Dewey Tip Sheet • Policies and Procedures Handbook • Media Center Floor Plan • Automation System Qwik Start Tutorial • Media Specialist Interview Assignment

5. Program Administrator: The Standards AASL Standards • 1.1 Knowledge of Learners and Learning • 3.1 Efficient and Ethical Information-Seeking Behavior • 3.4 Research and Knowledge Creation • 4.4 Advocacy • 5.1 Collections • 5.3 Personnel, Funding, and Facilities PSC Standards • 1e. Knowledge and Skills • 3c. Help All Students Learn • 4d. Integration of Instructional Technology • 7e. Georgia P-12 Curriculum NCATE Standards • 1e. Knowledge and Skills • 3c. Help All Students Learn

6. Instructional Partner The media specialist should also assist teachers in building classroom assignments, educate these individuals about tools that could be linked to classroom activities, and collaborate with teachers to improve students’ knowledge of academic subjects. The media specialist can customize workshops, promote tutorials, and interact with teachers to learn how to accommodate their classroom needs. The media specialist is an instructional partner, and the SLMS can use library resources to collaborate with teachers.

7. Instructional Partner My Role as Instructional Partner My MEDT Assignments I must learn about the classroom objectives of teachers and provide suggestions and tools for achieving these requirements. I should also facilitate these individuals in using library resources and collaborate with teachers to design classroom assignments. The media specialist should be an instructional partner for teachers; therefore, I will promote collaboration and teach these individuals about the books, reference tools, online databases, periodicals, and other texts that could improve students’ ability to achieve academic requirements. • Media Center Orientation Assignment • Digital StoryAssignment: President Bill Clinton • In-Service and Professional Development Module 3: SIRS

8. Instructional Partner: The Standards AASL Standards • 1.2 Effective and Knowledgeable Teacher • 1.3 Instructional Partner • 2.1 Literature • 2.2 Reading Promotion • 3.2 Access to Information • 3.3 Information Technology PSC Standards • 1f. Student Learning • 3c. Help All Students Learn • 4a. Curriculum and Experiences • 4d. Working with Diverse Students in P-12 Schools • 7c. Children with Special Needs • 7d: Integration of Instructional Technology NCATE Standards • 1f. Student Learning • 3c. Help All Students Learn • 4a. Curriculum and Experiences • 4d. Working with Diverse Students in P-12 Schools

9. Information Specialist The SLMS must learn about updated technologies, websites, software programs, and other tools that can assist teachers and students. The librarian can also collaborate with teachers to add these Library 2.0 resources to classroom assignments and promote information literacy skills. The media specialist is an information specialist, and the SLMS should teach students and teachers how to use technology and provide suggestions for linking these tools to classroom objectives.

10. Information Specialist My Role as Information Specialist My MEDT Assignments I must learn about new internet tools and interact with other media specialists to assess how the SLMS can use current technology resources. I should also design library activities and workshops to teach students and teachers how to use these resources. The information specialist should also collaborate with classroom teachers to use technology and improve students’ ability to achieve the Georgia Performance Standards. • Policies and Procedures Handbook • Digital Story Assignment: President Bill Clinton • In-Service and Professional Development Module 1: AASL Standards

11. Information Specialist: The Standards AASL Standards • 1.4 Integration of Twenty-First Century Skills and Learning Standards • 2.4 Literacy Strategies • 3.1 Efficient and Ethical Information-Seeking Behavior • 4.1 Networking with the Library Community • 4.2 Professional Development • 4.3 Leadership • 5.2 Professional Ethics PSC Standards • 1g. Professional Dispositions • 3c. Help All Students Learn • 7f. Ethical Standards NCATE Standards • 1g. Professional Dispositions • 3c. Help All Students Learn

12. Teacher The media specialist should also teach students how to build a bibliography, use the OPAC, access an article on an online database, and other information literacy requirements. The librarian can create library activities and media programs that motivate students to read books, interact with classmates, and learn about classroom subjects. The media specialist is a teacher. The SLMS should learn teaching strategies and review classroom requirements to customize programs that will assist students in learning the academic standards.

13. Teacher My Role as Teacher My MEDT Assignments Although I must check out books to students, create library activities, and complete other duties as the media specialist, I should also be a teacher for students and other stakeholders. I should teach these individuals about how to use the OPAC and other library tools . I could also design media programs that are linked to the Georgia Performance Standards and teach students about classroom subjects using library resources. I could include hyperlinks on the media center website that are customized for teachers and students. These websites could teach students about classroom assignments. The teacher section could also emphasize hyperlinks to tutorials and worksheets that would teach the teachers about internet tools and websites that could be added to classroom activities. I will collaborate with the teachers and design media center activities that teach students about library resources. • School Wide Program Assignment • Order 2: The Arts Resources for the Media Center • OPAC Training Aid

14. Teacher: The Standards AASL Standards • 1.1 Knowledge of Learners and Learning • 1.2 Effective and Knowledgeable Teacher • 2.3 Respect for Diversity • 3.2 Access to Information • 5.4 Strategic Planning and Assessment PSC Standards • 1f. Student Learning • 3c. Help All Students Learn • 4a. Curriculum and Experiences • 4d. Working with Diverse Students in P-12 Schools • 7c. Children with Special Needs • 7d. Integration of Technology NCATE Standards • 4a. Curriculum and Experiences • 4d. Working with Diverse Students in P-12 Schools

15. Motivated Reader The media specialist should read the books included in the collection, learn about new resources, and assess potential library tools using book reviews and selection tools. The SLMS should also motivate other stakeholders by building media programs, designing reading activities, and using other strategies to facilitate learning. The media specialist should be a motivated reader, and the SLMS can use a knowledge of books and professional materials to assist students and teachers. This tactic will motivate readers to use library tools and become participants in media programs.

16. Motivated Reader My Role as Motivated Reader My MEDT Assignments I must be a motivated reader and use my skills to assist students and teachers. I would likely read to elementary school students or design a book club for high school students. This tactic would allow me to read books in the collection and motivate students to review and interpret a text. The motivated reader should also learn about professional development materials that could assist teachers. I would read these books, articles, and journals and provide suggestions for how a teacher could use these library resources to design classroom activities. The media specialist must be a motivated reader and use a knowledge of books and library tools to facilitate teachers and students. • Selection Tool Assignment • Order 2: The Arts Resources for the Media Center • In-Service and Professional Development Module 3: SIRS

17. Motivated Reader: The Standards AASL Standards • 1.1 Knowledge of Learners and Learning • 1.2 Effective and Knowledgeable Teacher • 1.4 Integration of Twenty-First Century Skills and Learning Standards • 2.4 Literacy Strategies • 3.2 Access to Information • 4.2 Professional Development PSC Standards • 1e. Knowledge and Skills • 1f. Student Learning • 3c. Help All Students Learn • 4d. Working with Diverse Students in P-12 Schools • 7e. Georgia P-12 Curriculum NCATE Standards • 1e. Knowledge and Skills • 3c. Help All Students Learn • 4a. Curriculum and Experiences