Position Title: Library Media Specialist

A current Oklahoma School Library Media Specialist Certificate is required. A masters degree in Library and Information Studies is preferred.

Reports to: Directly responsible to the principal of the building to which assigned: may also consult the Director of Media Services.

Selected, Recommended and Evaluated by: Applicants are screened by the Director of Media Services who recommends two or more for interviews by the principal of the school. Library Media Specialists are evaluated by their building principals who may consult the Director of Media Services.

Nature and Scope of Position: The library media specialist develops, implements and interprets an effective library media program which strives to achieve the Mission of the Norman Public Schools Library Media Program.

A. Information Specialist: The library media specialist provides access to information and resources for all students, staff and community users. As information specialist the library media specialist:

1. Makes resources available to students and teachers through a systematically developed collection within the school and through access to resources outside the school.

2. Provides access to the library media center collection through the management of an accurate and efficient organization and retrieval system.

3. Assists students in identifying, locating and interpreting information housed in the library media center and helps students locate information outside the library media center.

4. Provides access to the library media center throughout the school day, scheduling class visits flexibly to encourage use at the point of need: organizes and manages the library media facility in a manner that encourages access.

5. Develops and implements policies and procedures which ensure that access to information is not impeded; interprets laws and district policies regarding information.

6. Informs teachers, students, parents and administrators of new materials, equipment and services that meet their information needs.

7. Manages selection and ordering of materials through a process which involves teachers, administrators, students and parents; administers budgets for library media resources.

8 Communicates library media program needs to the administration.

B. Instructional Consultant: The library media specialist acts as a consultant to coordinate student learning experiences with school, district and outside resources. As instructional consultant the library media specialist:

1. Participates in department, grade-level, school and district curriculum development and assessment projects.

2. Offers assistance to teachers in the selection and purchase of instructional materials, and in the use of information resources.

3. Plans cooperatively with teachers to incorporate information skills into the classroom curriculum and to assist teachers in developing resource based units and activities.

4. Provides leadership in assessing, evaluating and implementing information and instructional technologies.

5. Recommends student-level literature to teachers and encourages them to read to their classes as well as reading personally for an awareness of the literature available.

C. Teacher: The library media specialist is an integral part of the instructional team. She/he fosters a positive attitude toward the use and communication of information by students and teachers and creates an environment where literature and language is valued.

As a teacher, the library media specialist:

1. Teaches information sills as an integral part of the content and objectives of the school’s curriculum.

2. Jointly plans, teaches and evaluates instruction which incorporates information access, use and communication skills with the classroom curriculum.

3. Provides instruction in the use of technology to access information outside the library media center.

4. Uses a wide variety of teaching methods, media, and ways of communicating information to insure that students can access and use all types of information sources.

5. Takes a leadership role in promoting and demonstrating the use of new technologies and media with teachers and other adults.

6. Encourages students to read for pleasure and motivates their reading through a variety of methods.