As schools change from passive learning environments into active ones, the role of the librarian has to adjust as well. School restructuring requires that the librarian venture from the library to collaborate with teachers andadministrators.School librarians expand their areas of influence to include the classroom when they collaborate with classroom teachers to meet the information needs of students.Librarians assist teachers and students to search out their information needs, critically evaluate the materials they locate, and use technological means to synthesize their findings into new knowledg.The information explosion has created far more information than one school library could possibly contain. The librarian is responsible for locating, acquiring, disseminating and tracking information resources of many types.As information center manager, the librarian will supervise and evaluate the performance of technical and clerical assistants. Training of these assistants will take a significant amount of time and expertise. Administration, Planning, and Evaluation Plans, implements and evaluates the instructional technology center’s program, policies, and services that support the school’s mission and instructional objectives. Prepares and administers the instructional technology center budget. Prepares for the opening of the instructional technology center so that services are available from the first day of school until the last day of school. Serves on appropriate school committees such as departmental, grade level, curriculum. Recommends for selection, trains, and may supervise other instructional technology center staff. Assists in planning for adequate instructional technology center facilities. Maintains the instructional technology center so that it is attractive and efficient to use. Writes reports relating to the instructional technology center as necessary or required. Prepares requests for funds relating to the instructional technology center from federal and other resources. Coordinates public relations highlighting the instructional technology center program and services. Designs a schedule that ensures timely access to instructional technology center resources for all students and staff, as well as time for library management activities. B. Instructional and Curriculum Support Coordinates and participates in the planning and implementation of an information skills continuum which includes appreciation of resources, information retrieval, and utilization of resources. Collaborates with teachers in implementing integrated instructional activities, applying current instructional strategies. Prepares bibliographies and lists of resources. Coordinates promotional instructional technology center activities (e.g. book fairs, library clubs, exhibits, read-ins). Coordinates a variety of services, including class visits, individual and small group instruction. Serves as information specialist to assist teachers and students in selection and use of instructional materials. Coordinates interlibrary loan services. Conducts staff orientation to the instructional technology center’s services and programs. Provides library/technology in-services training activities for staff. Maintains professional materials collection, including periodicals and publishers’ catalogs. Serves as an instructional of materials for reserve collections and special units of study. Coordinates selection of materials for reserve collections and special units of study. C. Selection and Acquisition of Resources Develops, updates and publicizes the school library materials selection policy. Reviews professional journals, bibliographies, selection aids, publishers’ catalogs and brochures and routes these to staff as appropriate. Confers with sales representatives and communicates to staff and administration as appropriate. Consults with staff and students in evaluating, selecting and acquiring library resources and equipment. Provides a variety of print and media/technology related resources. D. Organization and Maintenance of Resources Classifies, catalogs, and organizes the instructional technology center’s materials for maximum accessibility and availability. Maintains an inventory of the instructional technology center’s materials and equipment. Maintains a system for circulating and retrieving the instructional technology center’s resources. E. Professional Growth Participates in professional development activities relating to both education, librarianship, and information technologies. Continues to acquire knowledge through in-service education and academic courses.
