Library/Media Center Specialist

Job Purpose: The Library/Media Center Specialist is responsible for coordination of the Momence Junior High School Library Media Program. The primary responsibility will be to ensure appropriate library media programs 5-8 and to support these programs at MJHS. This position works in collaboration with the elementary and high school librarians.

Qualifications:

• 
  Minimum: Valid Illinois State Paraprofessional Certificate

• 
  Preferred: Valid Library Information Specialist Certificate

Reports To: Building Principal

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities:

• Ensure equitable access to resources and information for all students, in all formats and a broad range of ideas in an atmosphere of free inquiry, ethical use, and confidentiality.
• Maintain the collection a well-developed appropriate, current collection at MJHS, specifically, overseeing inventory, selection, and weeding. Organize materials, resources and space to support learning. Coordinate the acquisition and circulation of library media materials.
• Assists students in identifying, locating, interpreting, and evaluating information housed in and outside the library media center.
• Inform teachers, students, parents, and administrators of materials, equipment, and services that meet their information needs.Guide and assist students and staff in the use of new media and technologies.
• Enhance library media spaces to support innovation and exploration of new learning.
• Creates and fosters an environment that is conducive to active and participatory learning, inquiry, resource-based instructional practices, and collaboration with teaching staff. Encourage and empower students to be critical thinkers, enthusiastic readers, skillful researchers, and ethical users of information.
• Provide expertise necessary to ensure the MJHS school library program is aligned with the mission, goals, and objectives of MJHS and the District.

• Work collaboratively with the learning community to develop and implement procedures and practices that make resources, facilities, and professional assistance available at the time of learning.
• In collaboration with other district librarians, ensures the continuous implementation of district processes for collection development and evaluation.
• Provides instruction in accessing, evaluating, and communicating information and the production of media. Model the effective, enthusiastic and ethical use of books, video, multimedia and other creative expressions of information and sources of pleasure and information

• Work collaboratively and individually to design, develop, and implement programs that encourage reading for enjoyment and for information.
• Participate in on-going professional development. Demonstrate a growth mindset and positive professional attitude.
• Demonstrate a commitment to the principles of the library profession regarding intellectual freedom, confidentiality, and other intellectual property concerns.
• Other tasks assigned by the Building Principal

Knowledge

• Comprehensive knowledge of library media programs and children’s literature.
• Maintain an understanding of current legislation and regulations regarding access, copyright, and other legal issues that affect the library media program.
• Remain current on all issues, methods and tools for assessing library media programs.

Skills

• Possess high levels of proficiency with technology tools and applications.
• Possess excellent communication skills, verbal and written
• Possess enthusiasm and positive interpersonal skills.
• Possess practical problem solving skills and solid troubleshooting skills
• Demonstrate ability to effectively and efficiently utilize technology
• Possess a desire to learn new things
• Exhibit self-motivation and ability to work with minimal supervision

Abilities

• Ability to work effectively with diverse groups of individuals, ranging from employees to parents of students.
• Ability to work effectively and collaboratively with central office staff, administrators, faculty, staff, and external entities to support the library media program.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-performing, and at times, unpredictable environment.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
• Demonstrate strong work ethic, accept responsibility, and the ability to be self-motivated.
• Ability to take the initiative to resolve problems without direction.
• Ability to process large amounts of information and organize the information to present it to various individuals who do not possess firsthand knowledge of the situation.
• Ability to work well with other people in a multifunctional, team-oriented environment.
• Ability to review and analyze library media program data collected by the District; ability to analyze and interpret data for decision making
• Ability to incorporate and translate organizational and department missions into day-to-day practices
• Ability to use effective instructional strategies and techniques.
• Ability to assess the effectiveness of programs and activities.
• Ability to maintain complete and accurate records and statistics and to develop meaningful reports from them.
• Ability to interpret educational policies and procedures.
• Ability to take the initiative to resolve problems without direction