Notes+on+media+specialist+responsibilities

What is the role of the media specialist? Daily responsibilities? Wishes for change?

Stephen: At York, last year a shift was made toward more technology use for media specialists. Focus is tech integration first, then oversee media paras second. Have one para in each building to run the library, now Craig (elem) and Stephen (secondary) focus on tech use and "fix-it" stuff. They also oversee the library. Want to shrink the physical library so all kids woud access books digitally vs. traditionally. He is working on endorsement, but not sure of focus on traditional library role. York has tech coordinator for the district, and another person who teaches part time and helps with tech in the afternoon.

Lisa asked with new erate curriculum where required to teach cyberbullying/digital citizenship, are media folks doing that? Taught as part of study skills unit at Waverly. Taught at 6th grade in Norris. (Lynne will post link to govt web site.)

Elem media specialists: What are you schedules? Everyone here is fixed. But doesn't allow flexibility for the media specialist. Only see some kids for 30 minutes every other week. Larger districts seem to have flexible scheduling (Omaha, Lincoln, Millard). Julie: 4 sections of each grade, but only sees 3 sections at one time. Makes collaboration difficult. Not much planning time.

Deb: Much teach more non-library stuff: health, study hall, etc. With no aide. Library stuff gets pushed aside. No one in library when she is out teaching. Rule 10: library must be open at all times? Hosts her classes in the media center so she is there full time. Added her in coordination day to do coordination schedule. For state standards and sped. From 30 min down to 20. First grade gives her stories and media specialist has to read story and ask questions to students.

Gloria covers some of content through their reading books vs. traditional library skills. (Suggested from April).

Julie will do tech integration at elementary as well. Helps people who come to her, or she will go out to help folks. She was tech coordinator prior to becoming media specialist. Jamie has all of the classes in the afternoon and open time in the morning. Teachers aren't coming in during open time, though. Jessie has more success in the high school with open time.

?: What is your guiding curriculum. Do you have a document? No. Work driven by teacher/curriculum. Keyboarding has been added to Milford's library duties.

Stephen: York is talking about eliminating keyboarding. With new devices, different keyboarding or text entry skills will be needed.

Toby: How long will be teach cursive? His 3rd grade daughter is still learning it, but for how long?

ebooks? smaller library? Ann: How do you check out digital books? How to check out without every student having a device? Won't loan pencils so how do you loan device without it being broken? Publishing issues too. Bev: Follett: Once you buy it, the book is yours.

Toby: When will we have enough devices that they are no longer a concern? Ann: Until last kid has device, need to provide books to all kids. Stephen: Would be at high school and all kids would have ipads. (Vision at this point.)

Gloria: Consortium for K-12 school for Overdrive? Why K-12? Seward Public Library in a consortium with better access to books that Lincoln Public Library. Jessie: Paid for NYC library card and gets ebooks quickly through there. Kansas is suing Overdrive because of drastically increased costs. Kansas will lose all content if they dont' continue contract.

What is the goal of your library/media program?

Ann: Make every kid love to read. Make teacher's jobs easier. Deb: Will have site visit from the state: All students will improve their reading comprehension skills, thinking skills and math skills. Reading for pleasure vs. comprehension seems to be getting lost. Jeff Smoker (Toby) on instruction says a lot about just reading and reading - more reading is critical to well developed person (vs. skills for comprehension, etc.) Fostering love of reading is key. Freakanomics: Study of every day things. Does reading to your kids make a difference in the kids' reading ability? Not whether you read to your kids, but number of books in the home. Not just number of books, but around people who appreciated reading, and read to their kids, etc.