Elementary Media Specialist

Qualifications 
 

Education Qualifications:

• Master's degree in library media or advanced degree with media certification required

Skills Qualifications:

• Knowledge of library media, instructional/information technology, and curriculum
• Ability to work and communicate effectively with students, staff, and the community
• Demonstrated skills in oral and written communication; demonstrated skills in organization and problem solving
• Employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, or crouch
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus

 
Responsibilities
 

• Serve as an instructional partner to assure student achievement, while developing, managing, and administering a quality media program that provides media resources, facilities, and services to support all areas of the instructional program
• Develop collaborative partnerships to support learning
• Collaborate with teachers to design, implement, and evaluate inquiry lessons and units that integrate reading strategies and research skills
• Work with administrators to promote, support, and implement collaboration
• Seek input for the selection of print and online resources that reflect diverse learning abilities, styles, and needs
• Support reading and writing initiatives
• Promote reading for learning, personal growth, and enjoyment
• Create a learning environment where independent reading is valued, promoted, and encouraged
• Develop initiatives to encourage and engage learners in reading, writing, and listening for understanding
• Motivate learners to read through booktalks, displays, author studies, school-wide initiatives, and community involvement
• Model reading strategies in formal and informal instruction
• Provide instruction addressing information and technology literacy
• Promote critical thinking by connecting learners with information in multiple formats
• Guide students and teachers to formats appropriate for the learning task and encourage the use of multiple tools to present data and information
• Embed key concepts of legal, ethical, and social responsibilities in accessing, using, and creating information in various frameworks
• Provide instruction specific to searching for information in print and digital resources
• Model and integrate technologies for efficient and creative learning
• Develop digital-age best practices related to research
• Collaborate with teachers to create both short and long research topics/lessons, effectively matching available resources with the current curriculum
• Design research guides and/or text sets to scaffold the research process for students
• Design and provide learning tasks/aids that help learners collect information and data
• Stimulate critical thinking through learning activities that involve application, analysis, evaluation, and creativity
• Utilize a variety of diagnostic, formative, and summative assessments to evaluate student learning and adjust instruction as needed based on results
• Collaborate with teachers to use performance-based assessments such as rubrics, checklists, portfolios, journals, observation, conferencing, and self-questioning
• Assess student understanding and progress throughout lessons and research projects by asking questions, observing student work-in-progress, and communicating with teachers
• Develop a long-term strategic plan that reflects the mission and goals of the school
• Conduct ongoing evaluation that generates data used to create goals for program improvement
• Provide appropriate training and support for student aids and volunteers
• Create an environment of respect and collaboration where all staff members work toward the common goal of student learning
• Manage funding to support priorities and the media program goals and objectives
• Assist with seeking additional funding through fundraisers and grant writing
• Create an attractive, inviting, safe, and supportive media center environment
• Provide space and seating that enhances and encourages technology use, leisure reading, browsing, and use of materials in all formats
• Model and promote a climate of respect and communicate expectations for student behaviors
• Establish and maintain a positive rapport with students and faculty
• Evaluate the media collection to ensure alignment with school curriculum as well as state and national standards
• Implement collection development policies for selection, purchasing, and weeding of resources
• Collaborate with teachers, students, and the media committee to maintain an up-to-date collection of print and digital resources
• Acquire and promote a current, high-quality and high-interest collection of resources in multiple formats
• Manage the online media catalog and maintain an accurate inventory of resources
• Provide leadership and professionalism in the administration of a quality media program
• Participate and provide professional development opportunities for professional and paraprofessional staff
• Participate in local, regional, state, and/or national educational conferences as a learner and as a teacher
• Lead and collaborate with the school media committee to implement a quality media program and address challenges as needed
• Exhibit a commitment to professional ethics and the school’s mission
• Communicate to stakeholders through library website, parent newsletters, electronic mail, and other formats
• Provide concrete evidence of how the media program prepares learners to be successful in the twenty-first century
• Perform other duties as assigned