Library Media Services

The Library Media Specialists partner with and support classroom teachers to ensure students develop skills in research, information fluency, literature appreciation, technology operations and communications, and digital literacy.

• Provide dynamic support for skills development

• Support assured experiences across grade levels and content areas

• Develop collaboratively planned lessons and units to support classroom instruction

• Engage in curriculum development with subject area teachers to ensure skills and resources are developmentally appropriate

The Library Media Specialist selects a wide range of library materials for students, staff and faculty that support student achievement, and present varying levels of difficulty, diversity of appeal, and a variety of points of view.  Library materials support curricular areas as well as student interests and abilities.

• Select print and digital resources to support curriculum and personal learning, per the GPS Library Media Resource Selection Process.

• Provide students and staff with relevant and current resources

• Support teachers in the process of finding and evaluating appropriate materials for the curriculum

The Library Media Specialist supports students, staff and parents with District approved technology: devices, tools, and digital platforms. Support ranges from teaching students and staff best practices for use  to troubleshooting technology issues as they arise.

• Support 1:1 devices in collaboration with district and building IT staff

• Support/Manage District approved digital tools

• Support local, state and national digital standardized testing

• Just-in-time tech troubleshooting - in person, in building, over the phone, and virtually - for students, teachers, staff, parents

The Library Media Specialist ensures relevant information is distributed to parents, staff and the community as needed, through serving as school Webmaster and supporting in-building efforts to produce newsletters and share other information via available technology. 

In addition, the media team communicates relevant department information with stakeholders as appropriate.

• Administer, edit and publish web page content for school and department based on district guidelines and ADA compliance
• Assist principal/district with social media

• Create engaging displays to foster student engagement and encourage reading

• Share timely news, current research, community resources to Department Heads and relevant teachers to support existing curriculum

The Library Media Specialist organizes events and programs for their schools to encourage reading, learn more about technology, and highlight important school, community and national events.

The Library Media Specialist oversees the library media center, the central hub of the school.  While each space is unique, all centers offer a place for learning, personal growth, exploration and support for all stakeholders.

• Oversee budget and purchasing

• Manage and evaluate non-certified staff

• Facilitate space scheduling and usage: class visits, drop-ins, small groups and events

• Liaise with facilities team to ensure safety and upkeep of the media center space

The Library Media Specialist is often the first in the building to learn new tools and bring this new learning to colleagues.  Library Media Specialists help to turnkey important new initiatives to make it manageable for staff.  In addition, Library Media Specialists focus on new developments to help their buildings and the district maintain relevance and currency.

• Provide professional learning for teachers and staff

• Attend professional learning conferences and webinars virtually and in-person - stay ahead of new developments

In addition to all the above responsibilities, Library Media Specialists often serve on both building and district committees, ensuring that the unique perspective they gain from working with all grade levels, subject areas and abilities levels can inform key decisions moving forward.