TITLE: Library Media Specialist Paraprofessional

CLASSIFICATION: Classified – Hourly

REPORTS TO: School Principal

SUMMARY: It is the basic objective of Media Specialist to provide accessible tools for students and staff to direct, enhance, and support the learning process.  Knowledge of curricular areas is essential in order to serve the interdisciplinary needs of the learning community.  The Media Specialist will manage the library collection and perform a variety of media center responsibilities, including working with groups of students in developing media skills and maintaining the school’s library collection.  It is the goal of the Media Specialist to work in a flexible environment, collaborating with staff, teaching skills to students and staff, and maintaining the holdings of the Media Center.

PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide instruction to individual students and small groups of students.
• Catalogs and processes new books and equipment.
• Informs students and staff of available technology/media and assist with its integration in the classroom.
• Encourages staff and students to access the media center and its resources.
• Assembles, selects and maintains collections of media that will compliment and supplement district curriculum.
• Models a variety of effective research techniques for a variety of formats for diverse purposes.
• Joins with teachers and others to plan and implement meaningful experiences that will promote a love of reading and lifelong learning habits. ?
• Selects materials for a variety of student/staff interests, learning styles and reading levels.
• Assists in the development and administration of building media budget.
• Eliminates outdated, inappropriate and unsuitable materials.
• Maintains an accurate and current inventory of media materials and equipment, and submits reports in a timely manner.
• Prepares materials for circulation.
• Catalogs, classifies and organizes media according to accepted standards and ready accessibility.
• Arranges for the inspection, maintenance, replacement and repair of media under the realm of the responsibility assigned by the District.
• Works with technology and its integration.
• Assists staff to ensure technology is utilized to the fullest extent possible through meaningful integration into the District adopted curriculum.
• Plans, develops and encourages selection and purchase of age/interest appropriate literary and media materials in collaboration with students and staff.
• Supervises students during media center visits.
• Prepares materials as needed for instruction.
• Processes check-ins and check-outs of books, reference materials, and audio-visual resources, etc. to staff and students.
• Coordinates and sets-up of special events and book fairs in the media center.
• Performs general office duties including answering phone, greeting students and staff, typing, copying, filing, and sorting materials.
• Develops and reinforces acceptable student behavior, attitudes and social skills while in the media center.
• Supervises and trains student and adult volunteers.
• Arranges for flexible scheduling of the school libraries to provide student accessibility to staff and resources at point of need. ?
• Attends appropriate staff and department meetings.
• Provides and plans professional development opportunities within the school and district for and with all staff, including other school librarians.
• Remains current in professional practices and developments, information technologies, and educational research applicable to school library programs.
• Supervises students before school, during lunch time/recess and after school as a daily assigned duty.
• Perform any and all job-related duties assigned by School Principal and/or District Administration.

EDUCATION:

• An AA degree or 60 hours of college credits
• A Bachelor’s degree in Library Media/Science strongly preferred

LICENSES OR CERTIFICATIONS:

• A valid AZ Subsitute Teaching Certificate
• A valid IVP Fingerprint Clearance Card

EXPERIENCE:

• Experience in elementary education and demonstrated knowledge of technology use and integration.
• Experience working with an ethnically diverse urban population.
• Experience working with minority and ELL students preferred.
• Experience in Library Systems strongly preferred.

SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE/ABILITIES:

• Bilingual, English and Spanish preferred.
• Strong technology skills.
• This position requires strong communication and interpersonal skills with demonstrated ability to work effectively with students, teachers, parents and administrators.
• Willingness to pursue additional training in job-related areas.
• Ability to interpret local, state, and federal regulations, policies and procedures related to the job.
• Ability to bend, carry and lift 40 pounds, kneels, push and pull 25 pounds.
• Ability to maintain a safe, learning environment.

WORKING CONDITIONS: 

The work environment is a normal school setting; the noise level ranges from quiet to loud, but is usually moderate.  The playground setting can include exposure to dirt, dust, and extreme seasonal temperatures.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT: 

• Nine-month year, At-Will, hourly.

EVALUATION: 

• Performance to be evaluated in accordance with Board policy on evaluation of classified staff.