Finally, a long-overdue article on school librarians and librarianship.
What is a School Librarian?
The Librarians in the 21st Century website from the School of Information Studies, Syracuse New York has an excellent section on K-12 Librarians. I highly recommend this site as a fantastic source of information on school librarians, or school media specialists as they are more often called. (Actually, I highly recommend this site as an excellent source of information about librarians and librarianship period -- it's listed in my Best of General Sites section with a 5-star rating).
From the site:
"Today's school media specialists are expected to wear many hats. These include manager, teacher, collaborator, technology specialist, and public relations. The Colorado Study, done in 1997, found that "students in schools with well-staffed library media programs averaged reading scores five to ten points higher than those without such staffing." The demand for people with the MLS degree is growing and will continue to increase in the 1990s. (Source: US Department of Labor. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Bulletin 2400. Occupational Outlook Handbook: 1992- 1993 edition (May 1992): 137.) No matter what K-12 district you choose to work in you will need to be familiar with the learning standards of that state".
The Colorado Study mentioned is available as an ERIC Digest.
Also from the Syracuse site the job description and responsibilities of a school librarian are given as follows:
"A school media specialist is the manager of an elementary, middle or high school library. This position includes being the supervisor of staff, budget director, purchaser, cataloger, and many times the repairer and archivist. A school media specialist is a teacher of library and research skills and a collaborator. He/She works with the teaching staff to improve lessons, thus enabling the school to reach the learning standards required by the state. A school media specialist is up to date with the latest technology. This can include database knowledge, Internet skills, teaching Word or PowerPoint as well as instructing staff and students in their uses. A school media specialist promotes the school media center as a necessary part of the school. Salaries differ among schools according to district, number of graduate or inservice credits and experience."
What Education is Required?
In the United States and Canada a school librarian must have teacher certification. The University of Kentucky provides a guide to the 50 State's Certification Requirements. School Library Journal also has a helpful article Getting Certified in 50 States: The latest requirements for school librarians by Patsy H. Perritt, although it is from 2000 and therefore perhaps not entirely up to date. Learning to be a Teacher-Librarian: A Research Report by Dianne Oberg,
What is a School Librarian?
The Librarians in the 21st Century website from the School of Information Studies, Syracuse New York has an excellent section on K-12 Librarians. I highly recommend this site as a fantastic source of information on school librarians, or school media specialists as they are more often called. (Actually, I highly recommend this site as an excellent source of information about librarians and librarianship period -- it's listed in my Best of General Sites section with a 5-star rating).
From the site:
"Today's school media specialists are expected to wear many hats. These include manager, teacher, collaborator, technology specialist, and public relations. The Colorado Study, done in 1997, found that "students in schools with well-staffed library media programs averaged reading scores five to ten points higher than those without such staffing." The demand for people with the MLS degree is growing and will continue to increase in the 1990s. (Source: US Department of Labor. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Bulletin 2400. Occupational Outlook Handbook: 1992- 1993 edition (May 1992): 137.) No matter what K-12 district you choose to work in you will need to be familiar with the learning standards of that state".
The Colorado Study mentioned is available as an ERIC Digest.
Also from the Syracuse site the job description and responsibilities of a school librarian are given as follows:
"A school media specialist is the manager of an elementary, middle or high school library. This position includes being the supervisor of staff, budget director, purchaser, cataloger, and many times the repairer and archivist. A school media specialist is a teacher of library and research skills and a collaborator. He/She works with the teaching staff to improve lessons, thus enabling the school to reach the learning standards required by the state. A school media specialist is up to date with the latest technology. This can include database knowledge, Internet skills, teaching Word or PowerPoint as well as instructing staff and students in their uses. A school media specialist promotes the school media center as a necessary part of the school. Salaries differ among schools according to district, number of graduate or inservice credits and experience."
What Education is Required?
In the United States and Canada a school librarian must have teacher certification. The University of Kentucky provides a guide to the 50 State's Certification Requirements. School Library Journal also has a helpful article Getting Certified in 50 States: The latest requirements for school librarians by Patsy H. Perritt, although it is from 2000 and therefore perhaps not entirely up to date. Learning to be a Teacher-Librarian: A Research Report by Dianne Oberg,
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