GENERAL DEFINITION OF WORK

Under the supervision of the Principal, the Library-Media Specialist is responsible for developing, maintaining, and assuring dynamic use of the depository of books, magazines, films, filmstrips, and other media to assist students in attaining their educational and personal objectives and the purposes of the school system.

 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Assist students in identifying, locating and interpreting information housed in and outside the library media center
• Promote the development of independent search habits by enhancing the student's ability to evaluate those sources found
• Provide instruction in accessing, evaluating and communicating information and in the production of media to fit within the curricula
• Participate in building, district, department and grade-level curriculum development and assessment projects
• Plan jointly with teachers and administrators to provide and evaluate instruction in information access
• Work with teachers to improve instructional activities
• Provide an inviting environment in the library media center that promotes reading and research
• Maintain, store, secure and loan audiovisual equipment and send equipment for repair as needed
• Solicit recommendations from teachers and other professional personnel with respect to books, magazines, etc. that should be obtained
• Order, procure, and otherwise obtain within budget limitations those media needed in the library
• Maintain a system for utilizing and circulating all materials deposited in the library
• Process, acquire, and otherwise prepare all materials deposited for the use according to the system maintained
• Study the purposes of the school, objectives of the various areas of instruction, and obtain media of maximum utility for achieving these
• Revise collections of materials to assure that all items are kept up-to-date
• Maintain accurate records of all materials received, discarded, lost, or otherwise withdrawn from use
• Provide for repair, mending, and otherwise enhancing the use of materials deposited in the library
• Provide suitable activities that would increase the usage of materials stored in the library
• Provide instruction to students and groups of students that would assist them in developing the ability to use the library
• Keep accurate circulation records to assess the usage of all materials deposited in the library
• Supervise all students who are using the library at a particular time to assure an atmosphere of serious inquiry
• Keep, as neatly as possible, the library physically attractive and conducive to study
• Provide for annual inventory of all materials deposited in the library
• Prepare bibliographies of materials as may be needed
• Distribute to teachers and other personnel as required such catalogues and listing of materials as may be helpful and useful to them
• Attend all professional meetings, as practicable, and as would further the effectiveness of the media program
• Submit promptly all reports as may be required by the principal of the school, the media-center supervisor, or the State Department of education
• Perform other duties as assigned 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Proficient in selecting, evaluating, organizing and processing instructional materials and equipment
• Proficient in the production and use of a variety of media (print and non-print) and in organizing, managing and evaluating media programs
• Highly proficient in applying the principles of curriculum planning, learning and teaching as they relate to informational skills and to the role of the library-media specialist
• Possess an understanding of the knowledge, skills and processes of the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) and how curriculum can be organized to teach these standards to students
• Possess understanding and knowledge of the skills and processes of the issues surrounding ethical access and use of information, including copyright, intellectual freedom, privacy and security
• Highly proficient in the use of technology in the classroom
• Ability to demonstrate understanding of and proficiency in grammar, usage and mechanics and their integration in writing 

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Hold or is eligible for a teaching license with endorsement in Library media K-12
• Teaching experience preferred
• Hands on experience with circulation and collection analysis required