Library Media Specialist

Library Media Specialist

Under the direction of the Director of Digital Learning and in collaboration with a district-wide team of Library Media Specialists, Digital Learning Teachers, and Library Paraprofessionals, the Library Media Specialist is responsible for delivering library services and instructional technology support to the school community.

Responsibilities:

Instructional Partner

• Participate in the development and delivery of a rigorous, standards-based curriculum that will provide students with a rich understanding of the National School Library Standards (AASL) and the Massachusetts Digital Literacy and Computer Science (DLCS)
• Collaborate with teachers to design and teach engaging learning experiences and assessments that incorporate the full range of literacy skills (information, media, visual, digital, and technological literacy), foster critical thinking, and promote a love of reading and lifelong learning
• Design, teach, and support professional learning opportunities for all staff
• Evaluate, promote and use existing and emerging instructional technology to improve learning outcomes

Information Specialist

• Collaborate with departmental and district staff in order to develop and maintain a collection of print and digital resources appropriate to the curriculum, the learners, and the instructional strategies of the school community
• Ensure that students and staff are effective and ethical users of ideas and information, including principles of copyright and fair use
• Provide students and staff with flexible access to and assistance in using information and educational technology resources

Teacher

• Empower students to be critical thinkers, enthusiastic readers, skillful researchers, and ethical users and producers of information
• Provide resources and programs that promote independent reading and writing in a variety of genres and reading levels
• Teach research skills required to locate, organize, analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and use information from a variety of sources
• Educate students and staff to be safe and responsible digital citizens and users of Arlington Public Schools online resources and tools

Program Administrator

• Strategize and make recommendations to ensure school library and educational technology planning meets the needs of the students and teachers
• Foster and maintain welcoming, flexible, future ready school libraries that are an essential part of the learning community
• Prepare and implement the school library budget including instructional resources, supplies, equipment, and repairs in order to support the curriculum and goals of the library program, the school, and the district
• Collaborate with and support the paraprofessional staff in running the day-to-day operations of the school libraries
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• In-depth knowledge of instructional strategies, children's and/or young adult literature as appropriate, and information and media literacy
• Demonstrated experience in the use of educational technology in a variety of content areas and grade levels
• Familiarity with emerging trends in libraries and digital learning to facilitate the development of students as global citizens
• Strong leadership, interpersonal, communication, and collaboration skills

Minimum Requirements

• Licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education as a Library Teacher
• Additional certification in Digital Learning preferred
• Master's degree or higher from an accredited college or university

Terms of Employment: 183 Days

Reports To: Director of Digital Learning

Arlington has a well established new teacher induction program with mentoring throughout the school year.

Salary and Benefits are consistent with the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Arlington School Committee and the Arlington Education Association.

The Arlington Public Schools are committed to creating an inclusive and safe learning and working environment that reflects a diversity of perspectives, values, and experiences. We welcome staff who are aware of the role that bias and prejudice play in society, are creative and willing to try new approaches, and are reflective about their daily practice. We are looking for candidates who welcome a challenge, are eager to collaborate and contribute to the success of students, are ready to engage in two-way partnership with families, and who will contribute their diverse talents to the organization as a whole.

Eligible for benefits including health insurance, dental insurance and life insurance.