Library Media Specialist at Manchester Park Elementary

Olathe Public Schools•Lenexa, KS

About The Position

The mission of the school library program is to empower all members of the learning community to become critical thinkers, enthusiastic readers, skillful researchers, curators, and ethical users of information. The library media specialist supports the educational philosophy and objectives of the school district by participating in five key roles: leader, teacher, instructional partner, information specialist, and program administrator.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree and valid State of Kansas teaching certificate.
State certification as a school library media specialist.
Background Check/TB Test

Nice To Haves

Master of Library Science degree, Master of Educational Technology degree or comparable degree from a program recognized by appropriate bodies such as the American Library Association, American Association of School Librarians, or state education agencies.

Responsibilities

Actively serves on teams and committees to further the mission of the school, including serving in leadership roles.
Supports the school improvement plan.
Helps plan whole-school professional development efforts, especially those focused on improving reading, writing, research, and the integration of technology.
Provides professional development for the faculty in such areas as new information technologies and information literacy.
Offers expertise on committees for policy development for academic integrity, documentation, and information and technology use policies.
Serves on curriculum revision committees for content areas, including providing input for adoption of curricular resources.
Provides instruction, models behaviors for and provides in depth information for copyright guidelines and ethical use of information.
Nurtures and grows professional relationships through committee work with local, state, and national organizations.
Promotes reading as a foundational skill for learning, personal growth, and enjoyment.
Supports educational and program curriculum and standards as defined by local, state, and national associations.
Provides instruction that addresses multiple literacies, including information literacy, media literacy, visual literacy and technology literacy.
Implements quality instruction and collaboratively creates authentic learning experiences.
Uses differentiated strategies with respect to reading ability, personal interests, and prior knowledge to engage learners in reading and inquiry.
Supports learners’ success by guiding them to read for understanding, breadth, and pleasure.
Fosters exploration, discovery, creation, and innovation in a growth mindset within a global society.
Models inquiry-based approaches to learning and the information search process.
Consistently assesses student learning to ensure program is meeting its goals.
Assumes a leadership role in promoting the principles of intellectual freedom and exposes students to a broad range of ideas and resources.
Empowers learners to work with each other in successful collaborations and to constructively assess their own work and the work of their peers.
Helps students develop attitudes, habits, and skills that promote lifelong learning and library use.
Collaborates with classroom teachers to develop assignments that are matched to academic standards and include key critical thinking skills, technology and information literacy skills, and core social skills and cultural competencies.
Guides instructional design by working with classroom teachers to establish learning objectives and goals, and by implementing assessment strategies before, during, and after assigned units of study.
Assists teachers in identifying and accessing materials to support content-area instruction.
Consults with teachers about students’ unique instructional and learning needs.
Provides leadership in the integration of technology into all areas of the curriculum and instructional practices.
Supports the continuing educational research of faculty and administrators.
Champions equity, access, and intellectual freedom for users within the physical space and beyond, including providing 24/7 access to the online library catalog, digital and audio books, and various information resources.
Understands the role of technology in instruction, student learning, and professional development.
Organizes, retrieves, and disseminates or circulates resources to support learning community needs.
Promotes effective use of information resources and services.
Ensures intellectual and physical access to materials in a variety of formats for all learners.
Promotes use of school information services and programs for independent reading, listening and viewing.
Promotes awareness of information resources beyond the school facility.
Prepares lists of topical and new materials to support class assignments and to promote interest in reading.
Provides orientation for new students and faculty.
Develops and maintains a teaching and learning environment that is engaging, inviting, safe, flexible, collaborative, inclusive, and conducive to learning.
Establishes and evaluates annual and long-range plans for the library information program, seeking input from the learning community.
Plans, operates, administers, supervises, and evaluates the library media program, developing policies and guidelines to ensure efficient operation and optimal services.
Manages the staff, budget, and the physical and virtual spaces of the school library.
Maintains an efficient system of classifying, cataloging, and circulating library materials.
Disseminates policies relating to appropriate use of the LMC resources.
Maintains an environment that encourages learning and fosters use of all LMC resources.
Builds and maintains cooperative relationships with local public and academic libraries and other community organizations.
Provides regular reports on the library as required by the administration and as needed for planning purposes.
Trains and supervises library media clerks (when staffed) and adult and student volunteers.
Supervises the inventory of library materials, evaluates the collection, weeds obsolete and worn materials, and updates inventory records.
Promotes use of library media center materials and programs through effective, ongoing public relations.
Works collaboratively with many groups within the school culture; parents, teachers, students, administrators, and community members.
Adheres and contributes to policies, procedures, and criteria for selecting a balanced collection to support the curriculum and represent diverse points of view.
Participates in a wide variety of professional development activities.
Encourages faculty and staff input concerning suggestions for materials purchase.
Encourages and facilitates student development of independent information and literacy skills.
Promotes literacy, reading, and library use through activities such as storytelling, book talks, displays, publications and special events.
Provides reference and reading advisory services to the school community.