Library Media Specialist

Job Description
SHAWNEE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

 
Job Title:                          Library Media Specialist
Reports To:                      Principal and Coordinator, Communications & Library Services
Site:                                  Jefferson Elementary
 
Qualifications
Credentials:                    None
Education:                      Master's degree and State Certification
 
Training or Experience Required: Prior experience with computerized learning centers.
 
Job Summary: Performs professional-level responsibilities of a school librarian as teacher, leader, instructional partner, information specialist, and program administrator.
 
 Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

1. Communication Skills (oral, written, or business): Basic communication skills to exchange information, give/receive simple instructions and respond to inquiries. Includes filling out forms.
2. Knowledge of grammatical structure, vocabulary for preparing correspondence from rough draft or proofing of completed material.  Communicates in clear, grammatically correct English.
3. Data Recording/Record Keeping: Performs data recording/record keeping operations determining what changes need to be made to existing records, including computerized records
4. Mathematical Skills: Performs routine computations requiring knowledge of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division using whole numbers, fractions, decimals and/or percentages.
5. Reads and interprets routine written or printed materials such as charts, diagrams, maps or instruction material.
6. Business Machines (like computers, copiers, etc.): Uses business machines that can be easily learned from non-complex manuals or verbal instructions. Such machines include but are not limited to photocopiers, laminators, duplicator, CRT/computers (no software experience). May on occasion use more difficult machines without any proficiency required, such as data entry.
7. Office Filing and Retrieving: Responsible for filing and retrieving from an existing filing system.
8. Contact with Others: has regular contact by telephone or in-person with the public to determine actual information needed, to locate media from other libraries, etc.  Job requires interpreting and translating facts and information, explaining situations and issues to persons and advising them of alternative courses of action.  

 Essential Job Functions (Performance Responsibilities):

1. Empowers all members of the learning community to become critical thinkers, enthusiastic readers, skillful researchers, curators, and ethical users of information
2. Collaborates and co-teaches with classroom educators to establish learning objectives and assessment strategies to develop individual and group inquiry-based learning experiences
3. Develops and maintains a teaching and learning environment that is inviting, safe, flexible, collaborative, inclusive, and conducive to learning
4. 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
5. Fosters exploration, discovery, creation, and innovation in a growth mindset
6. Supports learners' success by guiding them to read for understanding, breadth, and pleasure
7. Empowers learners to work with each other in successful collaborations and to constructively assess their own work and the work of their peers
8. Models and champions digital citizenship and safety and adherence to copyright and fair use requirements
9. Teaches all members of the learning community to engage with and use information in a global society
10. Models and develops a commitment to respect equity, diversity, and inclusion in collection development and within the learning community
11. Supports learners as they make meaning for themselves to create new knowledge by collecting, organizing, and sharing resources of personal relevance
12. Addresses broader educational issues with other educators in the building, at the district level, and at the professional association level
13. Develops and supports the school's and the school library's mission, strategic plan and policies
14. Manages the staff, budget, and the physical and virtual spaces of the school library
15. Evaluates, introduces, and models emerging technologies for the learning community, and uses technology tools to supplement school resources
16. Participates as an active leader of the local and global learning community, building relationships with organizations and stakeholders
17. Performs other duties as assigned

 Other Performance Measures: 

1. Requires good customer service/people skills to resolve problems and provide information as requested.
2. Requires following safety guidelines and policies, inclusive of the District Exposure Control Plan for Bloodborne Pathogens, to reduce accident or injury to self or to students.
3. Requires following school dress standards, proper attendance or leave policies, and other work-habits concerns.
4. Creativity, initiative and effective problem solving are important to the success of the position.
5. Must maintain a positive attitude and be cooperative toward other staff members, the public, and students within the educational system.

 Supervision exercised:  Employee does not supervise other employees.
 
Complies with Shawnee's Mission Statement in which students are to be provided with skills, knowledge and attitudes to become lifelong learners, complex thinkers, and responsible citizens in an ever-changing global society.
 
Physical/Mental Requirements and Working Conditions:

1. Requires frequent bending/stooping and occasional to frequent squatting/crouching, reaching above the shoulder, and pushing and pulling.
2. Occasional lifting to assist the lifting of chairs, classroom equipment and supplies.
3. Must have the dexterity to operate keyboards, computers, copy machines, and other office/instructional machines.
4. Must be able to supervise students in the classroom and outside.
5. Must be able to communicate with students and parents.
6. Must be able to assist students with normal activities.

 
Terms of Employment:  Length of the work year and hours of employment shall be those established by the District. (180-day contract)

Evaluation:  Performance of this job will be evaluated in accordance with provisions of the Shawnee Board Policy on evaluation of personnel.

FLSA Status:                     Exempt
 
Revised:                            July 14, 2020