Roles of the Media Specialist

By: Julie Schwoebel

Introduction

• My name is Julie Schwoebel and I am a School Library Media Specialist. As a SLMS I have many roles to fufill in the schools. Libraries have become much more than books and librarians have adapted to the new technological times.

What roles do today's media specialists fulfill in today's schools?

Leader

Instructional Partner

Information Specialist

Teacher

Program Administrator

To preform as a leader media specialist must...

Personal Examples of Leadership:

Budget

Two Year Media Program

E-Book Newsletter

• Media Specialists must become active members of the local and global learning communities which helps to advocate student learning on a larger scale

• Media Specialists must take the lead in building 21st century skills such as information literacy and technology skills

BudgetTwo Year Media ProgramE-Book Newslet t er

To preform as an instructional partner...

As an instructional partner, media specialists work with classroom teachers to develop assignments that correlate with academic curriculum standards and include technology, critical thinking, and information literacy skills

Examples of a media specialist as an instructional partner:

• Budget

• Two Year Media Program

• School Wide Media Program

To be an information specialist...

Media Specialists must introduce and teach emerging technologies, connect the school with the global learning community, provide 24/7 virtual access, and teach the ethical use of information

Examples:

• E-Book Newsletter

• Budget

• School Wide Media Plan

To preform as a program administrator...• A SLMS must

implement a successful school library program ensuring that all members of the school community have access to various resources to meet a wide variety of needs

Examples:• Budget• Two Year Media Program• School Wide Media Program

To preform as a teacher...

• A Media Specialist is the advocate for reading in all forms and all genres. The SLMS should know current reading trends and advocate for reading for pleasure and information.

Examples:School Wide Media Program

Outcomes, Standards, and Roles

• The SMLS must be able to acheive the proper outcomes and meet AASL, PSC, and NCATE standards while preforming in the roles of a Media Specialist.

Program Outcome 1:Candidates demonstrate content, pedagogical, and professional knowledge and skills

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• 1.e Knowledge and Skills

• 3.c Help All Students Learn

• 7.d Integration of Instructional Technology

• 7.e Georgia P-12 Curriculum

NCAT Standards• 1.e Knowledge and Skills

• 3.c Help All Students Learn

Program Outcome #1: Roles and ArtifactsSLMS Roles:

• Instructional Partner,

• Information Specialist,

• Leader,

• Program Administrator

Artifact:

Three Year Budget

3 year budget.doc

Program Outcome #1:Reflections I have worked at two different schools as a library media specialist and I

was never given the opportunity to create my own budget. While creating a three year budget for a school, I really had to research current trends, speak with with other librarians,and consider the academic needs of both the students and faculty. I learned how to justify amounts of money needed and the importance of having research to back up each budget item.

As a library media specialist, it is my role as program administrator and information specialist to show the importance of a fully funded library media center. We are living in a time of budget cuts and it is necessary for library media specialist to justify the money it takes to be the literary, academic, and technological center of the school.

Program Outcome #2Candidates develop, implement, and evaluate learning opportunities for all students

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• 1.f Student Learning• 3.c Help All Students Learn • 4.a Curriculum and Experiences• 4.d Working with Diverse Students in P-12

Schools• 7.c Children with Special Needs• 7.d Integration of Instructional Technology

NCATE Standards• 1.f Student Learning• 3.c Help All Students Learn• 4.a Curriculum and Experiences• 4.d Working with Diverse Students in P-12

Schools

Program Outcome #2:Roles and ArtifactsRoles:

Program Administrator,

Instructional Partner,

Leader

Artifacts:

Two Year Media Program

2 year media program.doc

Program Outcome #2:ReflectionsA school library media specialist is in charge of promoting and implementing

reading programs in the school. The two year media program I created utilized the roles of program administrator, instructional partner, and leader in many ways. As a program administrator, I not only would be implementing the program at a school but reaching out to the community to make sure there is community involvement. To implement a program like this, it is vital to work closely with classroom teachers as an instructional partner. By working with teachers and setting up clear learning objectives, students of all ability levels can be reached. It also helps creating a program that reaches across all the core curriculum.

Program Outcome # 3:. Candidates demonstrate professional dispositions and ethics

AASL Standards1.4 Integration of Twenty-First Century

Skills and Learning Standards2.4 Literacy Strategies3.1 Efficient and Ethical Information-

Seeking Behavior4.1. Networking with the Library

Community4.2 Professional Development4.3 Leadership5.2 Professional Ethic

PSC Standards1.g Professional Dispositions3.c Help All Students Learn7.f Ethical Standards

NCATE Standards• 1.g Professional Dispositions• 3.c Help All Students Learn

Program Outcome #3Roles and Artifacts

Roles: • Leader,

• Information Specialist

Artifacts:

E-Book Newsletter

ebooks newsletter.doc

Program Outcome #3:ReflectionsE-books opened up a new world for me. I am a lifelong reader and have

accumulated thousands of books in my lifetime. The addition of a Kindle several years ago was the best thing I could have ever gotten. I love ending a book and immediately downloading a new one without having to go without a book. I've wondered how e-books are being utilized in school library media centers if at all. I jumped at the chance to research the ebooks and the school library in the e-book newsletter project.

As an information specialist and leader in the media center, it is necessary to stay on top of current reading and technology trends. It is also important to be aware of copyright and fair use laws that govern technology. This project was a wonderful fact finding project on how to best implement e books into any school library.

Program Outcome #4:4. Candidates demonstrate ability to serve needs of diverse populations including special needs

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• 1.f Student Learning• 3.c Help All Students Learn• 4.a Curriculum and Experiences• 4.d Working with Diverse

Students in P-12 Schools• 7.c Children with Special Needs• 7.d Integration of Technology

NCATE Standards• 4.a Curriculum and Experiences• 4.d Working with Diverse

Students in P-12 Schools

Program Outcome #4Roles and Artifacts Roles:

• Teacher,

• Instructional Partner,

• Information Specialist

Artifacts:

School Wide Media Program

school wide media program.doc

Program Outcome #4ReflectionsThe school wide media program I created is a full of activities to use while

celebrating Children's Book Week. Each activity has correlating Alabama Core Curriculum Standards and AASL standards attached. Students with diverse backgrounds such as ESL students were included as well as special needs students. As a teacher and instructional partner, SLMS must include all students and ability levels in the activities.

Conclusion

A good and effective SLMS incorporates leadership, program administration, teacher, partner in instruction, and being a specialist in information together to help educate students. SLMS is a very important job in the ever expanding technological world of today.