ANTICIPATED VACANCIES - LIBRARY MEDIA SPECIALIST - ELEM, JH, HS (2024-2025)
: Job Details :

Reports to: PrincipalDuty Days: 197 DaysWage/Hour Status: ExemptPay Grade: I00 Qualifications:Graduate of an accredited college or universityPossess a Bachelor's DegreePossess a valid Texas Teacher's certificateTexas School Librarian CertificatePreferred Master's Degree in Library Science, Master's Degree in another field or Certification in one of the following:

• Learning Resources Specialist Certificate or Learning Resources Endorsement
• Provisional or Professional Librarian Certificate

Complete 200 Hours of Continuing Education every 5 yearsMinimum of two years successful classroom teachingROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:Leader:As a leader the school librarian creates an environment where collaboration and creative problem solving thrive. The school librarian is an excellent communicator who instills enthusiasm in others by making them feel that they are important members of a team. Strong leaders foster an environment of creativity, innovation, and openness to new ideas, welcoming and encouraging input from others to create consensus. They anticipate future obstacles and continually retool to meet challenges. The school librarian demonstrates his or her role as a visible and active leader within the school community, an advocate for the school library program, and a professional member of the school library community by:

Serving on decision making teams within each campus.

Aligning the school library program to school, state, and national program standards.

Sharing expertise by presenting at various meetings such as: faculty meetings, parent meetings, and other campus and district committees and board meetings.

Creating an environment that is conducive to active and participatory learning, resource-based instructional practices, and collaboration with teaching staff.

Disseminating with the learning community up-to-date district policies concerning such issues as materials selection, circulation, reconsideration of materials, copyright, privacy, and acceptable use.

Encouraging 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.

Collecting and analyzing data to improve instruction and to demonstrate correlations between the school library program and student achievement.

Advocating for school library programs and the guiding principles of the school library profession; the school library media specialist is an active, accessible, and informed proponent of the school library profession.

Maintaining frequent and timely communication to stakeholders through the school and library website, parent newsletter, e-mail, and other formats, video/audio streaming, and on-demand video, podcasts, or webinars.

Instructional Partner:As an instructional partner the school librarian works with teachers and other educators to build and strengthen connections between student information and research needs, curricular content, learning outcomes, and information resources. The school librarian demonstrates his or her role as an essential and equal partner in the instructional process by:

Collaborating with teachers and students to design and teach engaging inquiry and learning experiences and assessments that incorporate multiple literacies and foster critical thinking

Joining with teachers and others to plan and implement meaningful experiences that will promote a love of reading and lifelong learning

Information Specialist:As an information specialist, the school librarian provides leadership and expertise in the selection, acquisition, evaluation, and organization of information resources and technologies in all formats, as well as expertise in the ethical use of information. The school librarian ensures equitable access and responsible use of information by:

Developing and maintaining, in accordance with district policy, a collection of resources appropriate to the curriculum, the learners, and the teaching styles and instructional strategies used within the school community.

Cooperating and networking with other libraries, librarians, vendors, and other entities to provide access to resources outside the school.

Modeling effective strategies for developing multiple literacies.

Evaluating, promoting, and using existing and emerging technologies to support teaching and learning, supplement school resources, connect the school with the global learning community, communicate with students and teachers, and provide 24/7 access to library services.

Understanding copyright, fair use, and licensing of intellectual property, and assisting users with their understanding and observance of the same.

Disseminating information regarding copyright regulations and plagiarism in addition to the district's Responsible Use Guidelines for Internet use.

Organizing and maintaining the collection for maximum and effective use.

Remaining current in professional practices and developments, information technologies, and educational research applicable to school library programs.

Teacher:As a teacher, the school librarian empowers students to become critical thinkers, enthusiastic readers, skillful researchers, and ethical users of information. The school librarian supports students' success by guiding them in:

Reading for understanding, for exposure to diversity of viewpoints and genres, and for pleasure.

Using information for defined and self-defined purposes.

Building on prior knowledge and constructing new knowledge.

Embracing the world of information and all its formats.

Working with peers in successful collaboration for learning.

Constructively assessing their own learning and the work of their peers.

Becoming their own best critics.

Program Administrator: As program administrator, the school librarian works collaboratively with members of the learning community to define the policies of the school library program, and to guide and direct all activities related to it. The school librarian maximizes the efficiency and effectiveness of the school library program by:

Using strategic planning for the continuous improvement of the program.

Ensuring that school library program goals and objectives are aligned with school and district long-range strategic plans.

Using effective management principles, including the supervision of personnel, resources, and facilities, in developing and implementing program goals and objectives.

Using evidence of practice, particularly in terms of learning outcomes, to support program goals and planning.

Generating evidence in practice that demonstrates efficacy and relevance of the school library instructional program.

Conducting ongoing action research and evaluation that creates data that is used to inform continuous program improvement.

Supervising support staff, which may include library clerks, volunteers, and student assistants.

Preparing, justifying, and administering the school library program budget to support specific program goals.

Following district processes and procedures for selection, acquisition, resource sharing, etc. that assure appropriate resources are available when needed.

Creating and maintaining in the school library a teaching and learning environment that is inviting, safe, flexible, and conducive to student learning.

Selecting and effectively using appropriate applications provided by the district for managing circulation, cataloging, budgeting, and purchasing.

Participating in the recruiting, hiring, and training of other professionals, educational library assistants, students, and volunteer staff.

Arranging for flexible scheduling of the school libraries to provide student accessibility to staff and resources.

Providing a systematically organized, cataloged and balanced collection of books, software and electronic resources that supports curriculum, satisfies the needs of a diverse student population and is based on Katy ISD Board approved selection policies.

Maintaining comprehensive MARC records employing established cataloging standards for both print and non-print material.

Preparing, administering and maintaining current, accurate financial records following district budgetary guidelines.

Compiling and maintaining files of all reports, records and other documents required.

Working Conditions:Ability to maintain positive attitude under the stress of frequent interruptions, multiple tasks, deadlines, and technical problems/delays.Frequent standing, stooping, bending, kneeling, pushing and pulling; prolonged use of computer and repetitive hand motions; occasional lifting up to 50 pounds.The foregoing statements describe the general purpose and responsibilities assigned to this job and are not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties that may be assigned or skills that may be required.