The goal of a school library is to enhance student achievement and appreciation of literature by ensuring that students and teachers are effective users of ideas and information. This goal is accomplished by

• providing intellectual and physical access to materials in all formats,
  
• providing instruction to foster literacy competence and stimulate interest in accessing, evaluating and applying information and ideas,
  
• promoting literacy throughout the day,
  
• working with other educators to design learning so that students' literacy needs are met,
  
• serving as an independent learning center.

When the school library is reaching its goal, students will visit the library frequently to access the full range of available information resources including print and non-print materials, electronic databases and information systems. The librarian will know students by name and communicate with them about their personal and school-related interests. Students who come to a fully functioning library will exhibit on task behavior associated with the appropriate use of materials. A large number of students will come to the library asking for a "really good" book, and will congregate in the library because it is a safe and inviting place.

When the school library is reaching its goal, teachers will be collaborating with the librarian to develop units and lessons that provide authentic learning for students. They will come to the library with their students requesting that reference and research skills be taught to their students. They will ask for books to be put on reserve, and request interlibrary loans. They will expect and get the resources and materials they need for their curriculum. They will engage in continuing dialogue with the librarian who will make them aware of resources related to the curriculum.

This job description is organized into three areas: Learning and Teaching, Information Access, and Program Administration. The descriptive statements within each of the three areas are followed by examples of activities the librarian may perform in fulfilling that role.

A. Learning and Teaching

1. Performs the duties of information specialist, teacher, and instructional consultant as a specialist in learning literacy resources and strategies.

a. Collaborates with teachers and team teaches research related projects.
b. Integrates a research model across all grade levels, including inservice for teachers.
c. Develops online, web-page orientation lessons to help students distinguish differences in information among databases, encyclopedias and the internet.
d. Teaches basic library skills so students become independent and life-long learners.

2. Collaborates with teachers to integrate research, information retrieval skills, and literature appreciation into the curriculum.

a. Networks among teachers to develop activities which stress literacy and interdisciplinary strategies.
b. Implements activities that relate all areas of the curriculum as a kickoff to the schoolwide silent independent reading program.
c. Provides literature connection to the science and social studies curriculums.
d. Meets with teachers to get to know curriculum programs and classroom needs in order to help teachers see relationships between multiple curriculum areas.
e. Co-teaches units with teachers.
f. Assists teachers and students in the literacy skills of using information resources and incorporating information skills into classroom curriculum.

3. Utilizes current research and methods in the areas of technology, library and information resources, and learning and teaching.

a. Attends workshops and reads professionally to be a resource for technology and literacy concerns of the school.
b. Attends subject area workshops to focus instruction toward benchmark issues.

4. Exercises leadership and serves as a catalyst in the instructional program, providing services to students and staff.

a. Serves on committees designing literacy and learning activities for instruction.
b. Serves on the school site council.
c. Participates in grade level, departmental, and staff meetings.

5. Uses a variety of materials and activities to stimulate and maximize learning to help students achieve educational and personal goals.

a. provides areas for independent viewing of videos, computer stations with self-help signage to indicate location of materials.
b. Encourages students to use print and nonprint resources on assignments.

B. Information Access

1. Creates and maintains a collection development process which includes such aspects as maintaining accurate and current catalogs and records, weeding, and inventories.

a. Selects materials and technology which support the school's educational philosophy and curriculum.
b. Purchases new materials and deletes outdated items from the collection to provide materials so students can meet the benchmarks.
c. Involved in the check-out process to increase librarian's awareness of book circulation to make informative decisions concerning collection development.

2. Provides leadership in adhering to established policies, laws, principles of intellectual freedom and ethical behavior.

a. Serves on the district internet guidelines committee assisting in developing acceptable use policy.
b. Reinforces freedom to read with annual Banned Books Week celebration while providing opportunities for student involvement through classes.
c. Provides staff inservice to help teachers develop lessons to eliminate copyright violation and plagiarism.

3. Selects and provides resources and technologies needed to integrate and produce authentic learning experiences.

a. Presents alternatives to move the student past a simple recording of information to a synthesis or discovery model.
b. Recommends specific media in the library, recommends online sites, and identifies media available from the ESD.
c. Introduces multimedia options to students so that they can demonstrate a clear understanding of their research.

C. Program Administration

1. Develops short and long-range goals to guide the development of the library program.

a. Discusses short term and long term goals regularly with school administrator.
b. Convenes a library advisory committee that may include teachers, parents, and students.

2. Promotes the library media program, services, and its materials by maintaining a positive relationship with students, staff and community.

a. Presents book talks to classes, e.g. Young Reader's Choice nominees, Newbery winners.
b. Prepares displays on special events, e.g. Banned Book Week, Black History Month.
c. Attends faculty, team, and department meetings.
d. Develops relationships with other staff members in order to function as a member of the school culture.

3. Develops and implements policies and procedures to accommodate a "mixed" environment with some classes scheduled for regular times, and flexible access for staff and students when students are free to come and go from the library as needed.

a. All students in the school come and go from the library to check out books for personal enjoyment and to receive assistance from the librarian in research.
b. Classes are scheduled into the library as needed while they are studying specific topics.

4. Works with administration and staff to implement a technologically advanced facility and program.

a. Serves on school technology committee.
b. Teaches search strategy skills and web site evaluation to students and teachers.
c. Assists teachers with web page development.
d. Provides inservice for teachers demonstrating how to use information literacy resources and technology.

5. Evaluates library media programs, services, facilities, and materials to ensure optimum use.

a. Surveys students and teachers on level of service and satisfaction.
b. Reads professional literature to gauge programs against national trends.
c. Suggests changes to the physical layout of the library to improve the student learning environment.
d. Maintains records to reflect use of information resources and shares findings with administration.
e. Updates report on class and individual use on a regular basis.
f. Shares statistics from the library automation system.
g. Reviews units with teacher to see if objectives were met.

6. Prepares and oversees a library media program budget which reflects the needs of the entire school community.

a. Researches prices for materials teachers need to supplement the benchmarks.
b. Requests funds to purchase online resources e,g, Exegy, Contemporary Literary Criticism.

7. Selects, trains, and supervises clerical support, student assistants, and adult volunteers.

a. Trains volunteers to check out materials using the library automation program.
b. Trains library clerical support staff to enter new students into the patron database.

8. Maintains and enhances professional knowledge in technology and trends in information literacy by participating in professional organizations and activities which relate to the library media program and technology.

a. Is a member of AASL, OEMA and other library professional organizations.
b. Attends annual conferences, such as OEMA and NCCE.

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200 North Monroe Street - Eugene, Oregon, 97402 Phone: 541-687-3123
Last updated: November 17, 2000  Eugene School District 4J