Elementary School Library Media Specialist
FTE .6
Per PEA Contract
2025-26 School Year
Starting August 2025
Job Summary:
Provide leadership and expertise in acquiring and evaluating information resources in all formats. Collaborates with students and other members of the learning community to analyze learning and information needs, to locate and use resources that will meet those needs, and to understand and communicate the information these resources provide. Foster competence in information literacy and stimulate interest in reading, viewing, and using information and ideas, and by working with other educators to design learning strategies to meet the needs of individual students. Works closely with individual teachers in the critical areas of authentic learning tasks and integrating the information required to meet subject matter standards. Manages staff, volunteers, budgets, equipment and facilities.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Establish library media center policy & procedures consistent with district & technology mission statements.
- Remain current on newly published children’s literature and educational technology.
- Use allocated budget to maintain up-to-date, welcoming media center and to provide resources for staff classroom use of media & technology.
- Partner with classroom teachers to provide a technology and information rich curriculum.
- Assist staff with the selection and use of current literature, media, technology and instructional materials.
- Collaboratively plan and teach with staff to assist students in meeting grade level benchmarks.
- Instruct students on library/research skills.
- Expose students to a variety of grade level appropriate literature and authors via regularly scheduled classroom library time.
- Communicate to the school community (parents/guardians & staff) media center procedures, updated resources and current library science research.
- Evaluates, selects, orders and processes library materials.
- Provides print materials and information technology so library media is fully integrated into the curriculum to promote students’ achievement of learning goals.
- Joins with teachers and staff to collaboratively plan for students in curricular content and learning outcomes, using a wide variety of print, non-print, and electronic information resources. (i.e. Integrated curriculum/technology projects).
- Collections of the library media program are developed and evaluated to support the school’s curriculum and to meet the diverse learning needs of students.
- Working knowledge of research databases and other online instructional resources.
- Knowledge about current research on teaching and learning and skilled in applying the findings to improve student achievement.
- Maintains circulation and usage records.
- Assists staff in the selection of books, media, and instructional materials.
- Train, schedule and supervise volunteers in the performance of their duties.
- Fully participate in faculty and/or district committees
- Performs other duties as assigned.
- Regular and consistent attendance.
- Must have knowledge of and comply with the policies and procedures contained in the Portage Public Schools Handbook.
The above duties and responsibilities are intended to be representative of the nature of the work by this position. The listing is not all-inclusive.
Qualifications:
- Masters of Library Science from ALA accredited school (preferred).
- Valid Michigan Teacher Certification with Library Media (ND) endorsement or English/Language (BA/BX) Arts endorsement
- Strong technology skills with demonstrated experience in the integration of technology into the classroom.
- Ability to relate and communicate well with all authority levels, skill levels and personality types.
- Ability to design lessons for students and staff; and effectively deliver lessons.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with district staff and the public.
- Ability to assume responsibility, display initiative, and exercise good judgment.
- Proficient computer and document skills.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Please apply online at: https://www.portageps.org/page/employment-at-pps
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Notice of Non-Discrimination: he Board of Education does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), disability, age, religion, height, weight, marital or family status, military status, ancestry, genetic information, or any other legally protected category, (collectively, “Protected Classes”), in its programs and activities, including employment opportunities. The following positions at Portage Public Schools have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policy: Human Resources Director Brad Galin and Human Resources Manager Jennifer Tuyls. Contact information: 269-323-5000, 8107 Mustang Drive, Portage, Mi 49002