Linda Hollingerassignment13bbLinda Hollingerassignment13bLinda Hollingerassignment13b

Linda Hollinger assignment 13b

Alabama’s Professional Development for the School Library Media Specialist

     The roles of librarians are changing and they must be adequate in professionalism for the school library media specialist program. In addressing how professional development through professional organizations results in the improvement of professional knowledge (Competency 7.1) which then contributes to the library media specialist taking leadership roles (Competency 7.2), in order to partake in this adventure, one must become familiar with professionalism.

     First, the definition professionalism according to the, “American College Dictionary,” is exhibited by one of the "professional character, spirit or methods" or the "standing, practice, or methods of a professional as distinguished from an amateur." To add, one might ask, “What is Professionalism?” The following are some topics around the word professionalism that I found on a search engine. If you want to get information on these topics you can click on each of them and find added information:  

     Secondly, there is one clear and consistent finding that a school with a professional school library media program with a full-time library media teacher, support staff, and a strong computer network leads to higher student achievement, regardless of social and economic factors in a community. Also, a 21st century library media center can be the center of the life of the school if it is staffed by a professional learning and technology consultant. If you are still thinking of the school librarian as someone who simply checks book in and out, and who “baby-sits” students during teachers’ planning period, then think again. According to the American Association of School Librarians (America Library Association) and the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), school library media specialists are prepared in three complementary roles: teacher, information specialist, and instructional consultant.

     Thirdly, as a teacher, the school library media specialist must first become licensed by the state. A graduate level school library media programs build upon a board general education background and include professional studies in teacher education. It is noted that a licensed Alabama school library media specialist must: 1) have two years teaching experience; 2) successfully complete a masters degree including a core of required school library media courses and a supervised field experience; 3) pass a content test; 4) be supervised during her/his first two years in a school library; and 5) complete additional professional development courses. As an Information specialist, the school library media specialist has knowledge of leadership and professionalism; client groups; communication; administration; managing materials, access to information, and services. Also, as a Consultant, the school library media specialist is trained to use both consultation and collaboration in working with teachers to teach information literacy. Also, these following standards should be met:

Standard 12: Procedures for planning, implementing, and evaluating a library-media

                                program to meet the characteristics of a specific school is needed to

                                integrate new information in critical thinking and problem solving.

         Standard 18: Strategies to communicate the contributions of the library-media program

                                to administrators, teachers, parents, school board members, and the general

                                public produces and communicates information and ideas in appropriate

                                formats.

         Standard 21: The components of effective interpersonal relationships in the school

                                 develops creative activities in a variety of formats.

         Standard 22: Procedures for organizing a school library media committee helps to

                                 provide a program that function as the information center of the school.

In addition, the Alabama School Board of Education recognizes the importance of having an Alabama School Library Media Plan to further solidify the role of the library program in today’s 21^st Century educational setting. In collaboration with the school community the library media specialists will be the center of teaching and learning of the following objectives is ordered to guide the Alabama School Library Media Program according to the Board of Education Resolutions adapted on Thursday September 11, 2008:

·         Provide open, flexible, and equitable access to 21^st Century

·         Meeting the needs of learners individuals and groups while promoting the use of library resources

·         Provide a safe atmosphere conducive to student learning

·         Provide competent skilled library media personnel who support and enhance the curriculum

·         Evaluating and assessing data for the management and documenting policies regarding the library media program

·         Providing a variety of resources to support the diverse needs of all learners

·         Promoting and facilitating the use and integration of technology, telecommunication, and information systems to enrich and support the curriculum and learning

·         Collaborating with funds are budgeted to maintain the library media program

     Finally, as an example, I have found that the library media preparation program at the Alabama State University, builds on these standards but focuses mainly on the content competencies defined by Alabama for library media specialists and prepares school library media specialists who work to "ensure that students and staff are effective users of ideas and information" (AASL/AECT, Information Power, 1998). As stated in Information Power, the national guidelines of the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) and the Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT), such individuals are prepared to:

·         provide intellectual and physical access to materials in all formats;

·         provide instruction to foster competence and stimulate interest in reading, viewing, and using information and ideas;

·         work with other educators to design learning strategies to meet the need of individual students.

Also, I have found and listed the following information to support my answer to assignment #13b, “Professionalism for the School library media specialist:”

AASL/ALA Standards-To describe the competencies needed by a school library media specialist, the ALA/AASL Standards for Initial Programs for School Library Media Specialist Preparation were approved by NCATE in the fall of 2002. Based on Information Power and the knowledge base on school library media programs, there are four standards:

1.      Use of information and ideas

a.       Efficient and ethical information-seeking behavior

b.      Literacy and reading

c.       Access to Information

d.      Stimulating learning environments

2.      Teaching and learning

a.       Knowledge of learners and learning

b.      Effective and knowledgeable teacher

c.       Information literacy curriculum

3.      Collaboration and leadership

a.       Connection with the library community

b.      Instructional partner

c.       Educational leader

4.      Program administration

a.       Managing information resources: selecting, organizing, using

b.      Managing program resources: human, financial, physical

c.       Comprehensive and collaborative strategic planning and assessment