WHAT DOES A LIBRARY MEDIA SPECIALIST DO?

Published: Jan 26, 2026 - The Library Media Specialist supports learning by managing library resources, guiding information access, and integrating research and literacy skills into the academic environment. This role maintains organized collections, evaluates and implements technology tools, and ensures that library services align with instructional goals. The specialist also fosters a welcoming learning space by promoting reading, assisting users with materials, and facilitating effective use of digital and print resources.

A Review of Professional Skills and Functions for Library Media Specialist

1. Library Media Specialist Duties

  • Instructional Collaboration: Collaborates with classroom teachers as a partner in the instructional process
  • Lesson Design: Collaborates to design, teach, and assess learning experiences
  • Inquiry Integration: Incorporate inquiry learning, information literacies in their formats, critical thinking, and self-assessment
  • Professional Development: Provides and plans professional development
  • Reading Promotion: Promotes a love of reading and lifelong learning
  • Technology Instruction: Promotes instructional technology to improve learning
  • Knowledge Building: Teaches students to build on prior knowledge to construct new knowledge
  • Search Instruction: Teaches search techniques, including online search engines, databases, and catalog searching

2. Library Media Specialist Details

  • Decision Participation: Serves on decision-making teams, school improvement, and accreditation activities, presenting at meetings
  • Technology Support: Supports teachers in the integration of technology into the teaching and learning process by providing professional learning, modeling, and coaching
  • Standards Benchmarking: Benchmark the Library Media Center (LMC) program against school, state, and national standards
  • Program Evaluation: Assists in the research, development, and evaluation of new methods and digital tools that advance the Library and Technology programs
  • Digital Coaching: Guides, coaches, and facilitates teachers and administrators in acquiring digital literacy skills
  • Professional Growth: Stays current in professional practices and educational research
  • Membership Engagement: Maintains active professional memberships
  • Program Advocacy: Advocates for the LMC through an effective public relations program
  • Data Analysis: Collects and analyzes data to improve instruction
  • Achievement Correlation: Demonstrates correlations between the LMC and student achievement
  • Budget Administration: Administers the LMC budget to support program goals

3. Library Media Specialist Responsibilities

  • Staff Supervision: Participates in the recruiting, hiring, training, and supervising of library/tech staff and volunteers
  • Creative Environment: Fosters a creative, flexible environment so that the Library Media Center is an essential part of the learning community
  • Technology Evaluation: Evaluates, promotes, and uses existing and emerging technologies to support teaching and learning
  • Resource Development: Develops and maintains print, digital and technological resources appropriate to the curriculum, the learners, and instructional strategies of the school community
  • Cataloging Systems: Creates and maintains classification systems, cataloging practices, methods of subject access to library holdings, and electronic storage of bibliographic/media metadata
  • Library Networking: Cooperates and networks with other libraries/agencies
  • Collection Evaluation: Evaluates collection, develops collection policies and procedures
  • Resource Analysis: Analyzes resources in the context of the school culture with attention to the developmental needs of students
  • Resource Procedures: Establishes procedures for the selection, acquisition, circulation, and sharing of resources in all formats
  • Ethical Information: Promotes the ethical use of information such as copyright, fair use, and licensing of intellectual property
  • Student Needs: Considers social and psychological needs and attitudes of adolescents, which affect their needs for library materials and services

4. Elementary Library Media Specialist Accountabilities

  • Library Access: Provide access to the media center throughout the school day and foster an atmosphere that encourages student and staff library media center usage
  • Record Maintenance: Maintain accurate records of library media center reports, such as expenditure reports, requisitions/purchase orders, Instructional Management System (IMS), circulation reports, technical work orders, etc
  • Resource Updates: Inform staff of new professional resources that enhance teaching and learning
  • Curriculum Integration: Collaborate with teachers to integrate information literacy into the curriculum
  • Activity Support: Provide staff assistance in designing activities
  • Information Skills: Help students learn to identify, analyze, and synthesize information by using a variety of materials and formats
  • Material Assistance: Assist students and staff in the use and production of supplementary teaching/learning materials
  • Resource Access: Make resources available to students and teachers through a systematically developed collection within the school and through access to resources outside the school

5. Elementary Library Media Specialist Functions

  • Collection Access: Provide access to the media center collection through the management of an accurate and efficient organization and retrieval system
  • Material Selection: Manage selection and ordering of materials through a process that involves teachers, administrators and students
  • Policy Compliance: Following the book selection criteria outlined in the school board policy
  • Information Assistance: Assist students in identifying, locating and interpreting information housed in the media center and help students locate information
  • Policy Promotion: Promote the District's adopted policies and regulations dealing with access, confidentiality, copyright and selection
  • Resource Cataloging: Adhere to the district guidelines and procedures of cataloging and classifying all resources, including Chromebooks and laptops
  • Technology Planning: Establish a plan for the acquisition, maintenance and replacement of hardware and software
  • Meeting Participation: Attend faculty meetings and other appropriate staff and department meetings
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