Library Media Specialist

JOB GOAL

To develop and implement procedures for identification, evaluation, acquisition, production, organization, and coordination of the school's media center resources, and to instruct, motivate, and assist students and staff in the effective use of those resources.

Qualifications

Holds a valid Tennessee teacher's license with appropriate endorsement, has strong written, verbal, presentation, analytical, and interpersonal skills, possesses computer skills; and meets health and physical requirements.

REPORTS TO Building Principal

FLSA STATUS Exempt

SCHEDULE 200 Day

Essential Functions

• Operates and supervises the media center to which assigned;
• Furnishes information on media center activities, facilities, rules, and services;
• Explains and assists in the use of reference sources, such as periodical indexes, and computerized search systems, to locate information;
• Describes or demonstrates procedures for searching files and computerized search systems to teachers, other staff members, and students;
• Searches files and shelves to locate information;
• Receives and issues materials, electronics, computers, textbooks, etc. for circulation or for use in the media center;
• Arranges frequently changing displays and exhibits likely to interest the students;
• Maintains reference and circulation materials;
• Uses evidence of practice, particularly in terms of learning outcomes, to support program goals and planning;
• Answers correspondence on special reference subjects;
• Selects, orders, catalogues, and classifies materials;
• Collaborates with teachers in planning assignments likely to lead to extended student use of media center resources and;
• Creates an environment where collaboration and creative problem solving thrive and that is conducive to active and participatory learning, resource-based instructional practices, and collaboration with teaching staff;
• Helps students develop habits of independent reference work and develop skills in the use of reference materials in relation to planned assignments;
• Encourages the use of instructional technology to engage students and to improve learning, providing 24/7 access to digital information resources for the entire learning community;
• Collects and analyzes data to improve instruction and to demonstrate correlations between the school library program and student achievement;
• Plans and directs or carries out special projects involving media center promotion and outreach activity;
• Instructs students in subject matter when appropriate, using a variety of teaching strategies and materials;
• Empowers students to become critical thinkers, enthusiastic readers, skillful researchers, and ethical users of information;
• Supports student success by guiding them in reading for understanding, for exposure to diversity of viewpoints and genres, and for pleasure;
• Develops and maintains an environment conducive to learning and maintains discipline in the media center;
• Evaluates, promotes, and uses existing and emerging technologies to support teaching and learning, supplement school resources, connect the school with the global learning community, and communicates with students and teachers;
• Remains current in professional practices and developments, information technologies, and educational research applicable to school library programs;
• Promotes ethical use of information;
• Supervises in the halls and during assemblies and programs, as assigned;
• Fosters cooperative social behavior and collaboration among students;
• Represents the school and the community in a positive manner;
• Participates in faculty and professional meetings, educational conferences, and teacher training workshops;
• Attends work regularly and on-time;
• Complies with board policies, school rules, and administrative regulations; and
• Performs other work-related duties as assigned.
  
  

TEMPERAMENT (Personal Traits)

• Adaptability to performing a variety of duties, often changing from one task to another of a different nature without loss of efficiency or composure;
• Adaptability to accepting responsibility for the direction, control, and/or planning of an activity;
• Adaptability to working with students; and
• Adaptability to making generalizations, evaluations, or decisions based upon sensory or judgmental criteria.
  
  

Capacity And Ability Requirements

Specific capacities and abilities may be required of an individual in order to learn or perform adequately a task or job duty.

• Intelligence: The ability to understand instructions and underlying principles; the ability to reason and make judgments.
• Verbal: The ability to understand meanings of words and the ideas associated with them.
• Numerical: The ability to perform arithmetic operations quickly and accurately.
• Data Perception: The ability to understand and interpret information presented in the forms of graphs, charts, or tables.
• Spatial: The ability to comprehend forms in space and understand relationships of plane and solid objects.
• Manual Dexterity: The ability to move the hands easily and manipulate small objects with the fingers rapidly and accurately.
• Color Discrimination: The ability to perceive or to recognize similarities or differences in colors or shades or other values of the same color.
  
  

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

This job may require lifting or carrying of objects that exceed fifty (50) pounds, with frequent lifting and/or carrying of objects weighing up to twenty-five (25) pounds. Other physical demands that may be required are as follows: pushing and/or pulling, stooping and/or kneeling, reaching and/or handling, talking, hearing, seeing, and climbing.

WORK CONDITIONS

Normal working environment.

General Requirements

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this position. They are not intended to be a complete list of responsibilities, duties, and skills of personnel so assigned.

NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY

The Wilson County Board of Education does not discriminate because of age, race, color, gender, national origin, disability, religion, genetics, creed, or veteran status in the provision of services, in programs or activities, or in employment opportunities or benefits. The Wilson County School System is an Equal Opportunity Employer and member of TN Drug-Free Workplace. Employees or applicants who need reasonable accommodations should contact Human Resources for assistance.