The Role of the Media Specialist? By Amy Moxley Patricia Carey Karen Dockery Kelly Earnest Sheri Howard

1
The Role of the Media Specialist?ByAmy Moxley
Patricia Carey Karen Dockery
Kelly EarnestSheri Howard
2
So what does a librarian do all day besides
shushing library patrons? Apparently he/she does
quite a bit, most of which they were not told
about in library school. A librarian is a(n)
actor, animal control officer, cook, computer
wiz, construction worker, censor, delivery
person, driver, detective, exterminator,
gardener, janitor, keeper of knowledge, marketing
expert, moving person, negotiator, plumber,
police officer, student, teacher, and witness.

Ann Driscoll Reference Librarian

(2004)
3
THE WARRIOR LIBRARIAN SURVEY OF LIBRARIAN TIME
USAGE (2005)5 Patron assistance5 Library
operations10 Library management10 Networking
meetings10 Meal breaks15 Filling out
unnecessary paperwork45 Justifying existence,
policies and salary
4
The true role of a media specialist is ambiguous
to everyone other than the media specialist.
5
We know!
6
INFORMATION POWER Building Partners for Learning
(1998) outlines four major action roles for the
library media specialist

• Teacher
• Instructional partner
• Information specialist
• Program administrator

7
How do we let administration, teachers, and
parents know?
8
We propose a plan!

• Show a PowerPoint presentation at New Teacher
  Orientation
• Show the presentation at preplanning
• Create and distribute a brochure for teacher
  reference

9
The PowerPoint would look something like this
10
Welcome to Rockdale County!

• We are glad you have joined us for the
• 2006-2007
• school year.

11
What Can the Media Specialist do for You?

• Volumes!

12
What do you envision the role of the media
specialist to be?
13
So what does a librarian do all day besides
shushing library patrons? Apparently he/she does
quite a bit, most of which they were not told
about in library school. A librarian is a(n)
actor, animal control officer, cook, computer
wiz, construction worker, censor, delivery
person, driver, detective, exterminator,
gardener, janitor, keeper of knowledge, marketing
expert, moving person, negotiator, plumber,
police officer, student, teacher, and
witness. Ann Driscoll, Reference Librarian
(2004)
14

• Heres what some teachers at our school described
  the role of the media specialist to be
• To help find the resources students are looking
  for and lead students to be interested in reading
  and research.
• To keep up with Accelerated Reading new books
  and tests.
• To run the media center.
• To help students and teachers find materials and
  equipment.
• To facilitate learning in the library and
  learning about technology.
• To organize all literature, video, and technology
  resources.

15
INFORMATION POWER Building Partners for Learning
(1998) outlines four major action roles for the
library media specialist

• Teacher
• Instructional partner
• Information specialist
• Program administrator

16
Teacher

• Many people are surprised that media specialists
  are teachers!

17
As a teacher, the library media specialist
collaborates with students, teachers, and
community, plus provides opportunities to develop
information literacy skills through

• Conducting story time
• Teaching reference skills
• Evaluating online resources

18
Instructional Partner

• Media specialists know the curriculum and are
  here to make your life easier!

19
As instructional partner, the library media
specialist joins with teachers and others in
creating learning tasks and assessments that
integrate abilities required to meet subject
matter standards by

• Suggesting media to support the standard
• Sharing former lessons covering the topic
• Providing connections to online and outside
  resources
• Supplying materials to enrich the classroom

20
Information Specialist

• Media specialists know where it is or how to find
  it!

21
As information specialist, the library media
specialist provides expertise in locating,
evaluating, and creating information by

• Providing media to support standards
• Supplying answers
• Connecting students and teachers to community
  partners

22
Program Administrator

• Media specialists do all those things that make a
  media center a resourceful place.

23
As program administrator, the library media
specialist manages all activities associated with
the library media program such as

• Ordering new and suggested media to support the
  population and the curriculum
• Checking in/out materials
• Cataloging (making materials easy to find)
• Conducting Book Fairs

24
See our brochure for year-long reference!
25
(No Transcript)
26
(No Transcript)
27
I look forward to creating a community of
learning with you!
28
By immediately promoting our role, we relay that
we are a vital member of the learning community
and begin the team work required to support the
curriculum.
29
References
American Association of School Librarians (1998).
Information power Building partnerships for
learning. Chicago American Library
Association. Baumbach, D.J. (2005). The school
library media center web page An opportunity too
good to miss. Knowledge Quest, 33(3),
8-12. Bertland, L. (2004). School libraries on
the web. Knowledge Quest, 33(1), 36-37. Braxton,
B. (2004). Putting your school library online.
Teacher Librarian, 31(4) 52-53. Brown, C.
(2004). Americas most wanted Teachers who
collaborate. Teacher Librarian, 32(1),
13. Craver, K.W. (1994). School library media
centers in the 21st century Changes and
challenges. Westport, CT Greenwood. Credaro, A.
B. (2005). Survey of librarian time usage. The
Warrior Librarian, 223.
30

• Doll, C.A. (2005). Collaboration and the school
  library media specialist. Lanham, MD The
  Scarecrow Press, Inc.
• Donham, J. (2004). Enhancing teaching and
  learning A leadership guide for school library
  media specialists (2nd ed.). New York
  Neal-Schuman.
• Driscoll, A. (2004). Ten things I never thought I
  would do Electronic version. The Crab, 34(4),
  4.
• Eisenberg, M., Miller, D.H. (2002). This man
  wants to change your job. School Library Journal,
  48(9), 46.
• Erickson, R., Markuson, C. (2001). Designing a
  school library media center for the future.
  Chicago American Library Association.
• Fitzgerald, M.A., Waldrip, A. (2004). Not
  enough time in the day Media specialists,
  program planning, and time management, part I.
  Library Media Connection, 23(1), 38-40.
• Gustafson, C. (2003). If you give a teacher a
  cookie. School Library Journal, 49(2), 45.

31

• Hartzell, G. (2002). The metaphor is the message.
  School Library Journal, 48(6), 33.
• Hartzell, G. (2003). Taking the initiative.
  School Library Journal, 49(6), 39.
• Hartzell, G. (2003). Heard it through the
  grapevine. School Library Journal, 49(9), 41.
• Harvey II, C. (2004). The rookie. School Library
  Journal, 50(9), 50-53.
• Haycock, K. (1999). Foundations for effective
  school library media programs. Englewood, CO
  Libraries Unlimited.
• Howe, E. (1998). Make your library media center
  count. Knowledge Quest, 27(1), 28-30.
• Johnson, D. (1997). The indispensable librarian.
  Worthington, OH Linworth Publishing.
• Jurkowski, O. (2004). School library website
  components. TechTrends, 48(6), 56-60.

32

• Kaner, C., Fiedler, R. (2005). Testing library
  web sites for usability. Knowledge Quest, 33(3),
  29-31.
• Lance, K.C., Loertscher, D. V. (2001). Powering
  achievement School library media programs make a
  difference. San Jose, CA HI Willow Research
  Publishing.
• Lau, D. (2002). Got clout. School Library
  Journal, 48(5), 40.
• Loertscher, D.V. (2001). Reinvent your schools
  library in the age of technology. San Jose, CA
  Hi Willow Research Publishing.
• Renfroe, M. (2005). Products you can use to build
  your site. Knowledge Quest, 33(3), 17-18.
• Snyder, T. (2004). Gaining the hearts of
  administrators. Teacher Librarian, 31(4), 75.
• Warlick, D. (2005). Building web sites that work
  for your media center. Knowledge Quest, 33(3),
  13-15.
• Wassman, A.M, (1998). New steps to service
  Common sense advice for the school library media
  specialist. Chicago American Library
  Association.

33
Additional Sources

• Arant, W., Benefiel, C.R. (Eds.). (2003). The
  image and role of the librarian. Binghamton, NY
  The Haworth Information Press.
• This book is a collection of articles about the
  past and present roles of teacher librarians. It
  can be purchased in soft cover for 24.96 from
  the publisher at http//www.haworthpress.com/store
  /product.asp?sku4896
• Wilson, P.P., MacNeil, A.J., (1998). In the
  dark whats keeping principals from
  understanding libraries. School Library Journal,
  44(9), 114-116.
• Wright, J. (1998). Valuing the information
  professional The worth of a school library media
  specialist. University of Illinois at
  Urbana-Champaign, Graduate School of Library and
  Information Science.