Roles of the School Library

Media SpecialistStephanie Suzanne Helms

Final Portfolio

Practicum

Spring 2012

The SLMS is a …

The SLMS is a Teacher

The role of teacher for the School Library Media Specialist is fundamental for increasing student achievement. The SLMS empowers students to become lifelong learners by:

promoting a love and enthusiasm for reading

improving reading skills and comprehension

building new knowledge

helping students to access and use information and technologies appropriately, ethically and efficiently

assisting students in reflecting on their own learning and thinking

The SLMS is a Teacher

The SLMS is a Leader

The School Library Media Specialist’s role of leader in the school setting is crucial to the development of an effective and successful school library media program.

The SLMS must lead the school in introducing and implementing the AASL Standards for the 21st Century Learner.

The SLMS will lead the school’s media committee in implementing school wide programs that promote the school library media program throughout the school and community.

The SLMS will also lead the school in discovering and implementing new and innovative technologies that help improve and deepen student learning.

The SLMS is a Leader

The SLMS is a Program AdministratorAs Program Administrator the School Library Media Specialist

makes certain that all members of the learning community have equal access to needed materials and resources.

When developing and implementing the school library media center’s mission, policies and procedures, the School Library Media Specialist’s highest priority is the needs of the learners and stakeholders of the media program.

The SLMS, as program administrator, ensures that the staff, budget and physical space of the media center are managed effectively and efficiently.

The SLMS is also actively engaged and involved in a wide variety of educational concerns, keeping current on educational issues that affect the school and students.

The SLMS is a Program Administrator

The SLMS is an Information Specialist

The School Library Media Specialist is the gateway between the school and new, innovative technologies that can increase student achievement and expand learning.

The SLMS as Information Specialist identifies, evaluates, implements and conducts training of software, hardware and technological tools that enhance learning, access to, and use of information.

The SLMS is also responsible for educating staff and students on the ethical use of information and must stay abreast of copyright, fair use, and licensing issues as well as implementing policies and procedures related to the ethical use of information.

The SLMS is an Information Specialist

The SLMS is an Instructional PartnerAs Instructional Partner the School Library Media Specialist

collaborates with administrators, teachers and staff members to develop and enhance policies, procedures and curriculum that affect student learning.

The SLMS plans alongside teaching teams to build lessons guided by state standards that integrate technology, critical thinking skills, information literacy skills, social skills and cultural proficiencies.

The SLMS is an instructional designer, trained to collaborate, support, plan and implement curriculum lessons and activities to promote student achievement.

The SLMS is an Instructional Partner

The School LibraryMedia Specialist …

Must be organized, innovative, flexible, versatile, cooperative

Is responsible for many roles- teacher, instructional partner, program administrator, leader and information specialist. The ability of the SLMS to fulfill these roles is interconnected and crucial to implementing a high quality, successful, and effective school library media program.

Promotes student achievement and success. Study after study has shown that an effective school library media program increases student achievement. This means that the SLMS greatly effects student achievement and the school community by performing these crucial roles.