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Library Media Specialist

Hamden Public Schools, Hamden, CT 06517

Employee Qualifications:

• Current Connecticut certification (062)
• Master's degree in Library Science from an ALA accredited university preferred
• Demonstrated strength in library organization and professional practices
• A thorough knowledge of best practices and standards, including the district's curricula, the Connecticut Information and Technology Framework and Grade Level Expectations, and the recommendations of state and national library media organizations (CASL, CECA, ALA, AASL)
• Demonstrated strength in interpersonal skills, time management, organizational abilities and communication skills
• Such alternatives or additions to the above qualifications as the Board of Education may find appropriate and acceptable

Job Goal:

The library media specialist must work as experts who ensure that students and staff are effective users of ideas and information by providing intellectual and physical access to materials in all formats; by providing instruction to foster competence and stimulate interest in reading, viewing, and using information and ideas; and by working with other educators to design learning strategies to meet the needs of individual students.

Essential Performance Responsibilities:

• As a Teacher:
• Plan lessons and teach classes according to designated schedule.
• Provide provisions for absences (e.g. contact substitute service and provide plans, reschedule classes).
• Collaborate with students to analyze learning and information needs to locate and use resources that will meet those needs, and to understand and communicate the information the resources provide.
• Increase knowledge about current research on teaching and learning.
• Constantly update personal skills and knowledge in order to work effectively with teachers, administrators, and other staff to provide them with opportunities to develop skills in information literacy, including the uses of information technology.
• Assumes other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Director of Language Arts or building or the building principal.
• As instructional partner:
• Collaborate with teachers and others to identify common links across student information needs, curricular content, learning outcomes, and a wide variety of print, non-print, and electronic information resources.
• Take a leading role in developing policies, practices, and curricula that guide students to develop a full range of information and communication abilities.
• Work closely with individual teachers in the critical areas of designing authentic learning tasks and assessments and integrating the information and communication abilities required to meet subject matter standards.
• As information specialist:
• Provide leadership and expertise in acquiring and evaluating information resources in all formats.
• Bring an awareness of information issues into collaborative relationships with teachers, administrators, students and others.
• Model for students and others strategies for locating, accessing, and evaluating information within and beyond the library media center.
• Master technology resources and maintain a constant focus on the nature, quality, and ethical use of information available in these and in more traditional tools.
• As program administrator:
• Work collaboratively with members of the learning community to support the curriculum through collection development of print and non-print resources.
• Advocate for the library media program and provide the knowledge, vision, and leadership to steer it creatively and energetically in the twenty-first century.
• Plan, execute, and evaluate the program to ensure its quality both at a general level and on a day-to-day basis.
• Maintain library collection according to professional standards and support curriculum through collection development of print and non-print resources.
• Promote school/community awareness by maintaining and updating the school website.
• Work with district leadership to develop and administer the library media budget.
• Perform other duties as designated by the Director of Language Arts or building principal that are related to the improvement of student achievement.

Job Responsibility Requirements:

All work is to be conducted in compliance with applicable employer, state, local and federal safety and environmental requirements.

Assignment: Hamden High School

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, sit, and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee is regularly required to reach with hands and arms. The employee may be required to lift, push and/or move up to 25 pounds or more, including office materials and equipment. The employee must be able to hear clearly (correctable to within normal limits) to record telephone information. The employee needs to be able to tell where a sound is coming from in a noisy environment. Specific vision abilities required by this job include vision correctable to 20/20, distance vision, depth perception and peripheral vision. Adaptive technology may be used. There is stress in interacting with the public in routine as well as emergency situations.

Work Environment:

Limited exposure to illnesses. There is intermittent exposure to computer screen. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate and is acceptable to this particular environment. The employee must work with public and staff, continuously meeting multiple demands from several people, sometimes in emergency situations.

Terms of Employment:

Salary, benefits and work year to be established by HEA contract. Evaluation: Performance of the person holding this position will be evaluated annually in accordance with provisions of the Board's policy on evaluation of certified personnel. The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the American with Disabilities Act (A.D.A) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position. Additional duties are performed by the individuals currently holding this position and additional duties may be assigned.