Library Media Specialist Licenses- Guidelines

Guidelines

Questions regarding this web page should be directed to: Nancy Anderson

[ Introduction - Admin Rule for Initial License - Content Standards for Initial License - Admin Rule for Professional License - Content Standards for Professional License ]

Introduction

For persons who complete a program after August 31, 2004, to qualify for an initial instructional library media specialist license, an applicant shall hold or be eligible for a teaching license in an area other than school library media services, complete an approved program for the initial library media specialist, and obtain the institutional endorsement, as described in PI 34.33.

Professional studies in teacher education should provide an understanding of the principles and methods of teaching, learning theory, and human development.

The approved program shall:

incorporate Wisconsin's model academic standards for information and technology literacy, including media and technology, information and inquiry, independent learning, and the learning community; and
assure that the candidate has demonstrated proficiency in the competency areas listed in these guidelines.

Movement to the professional library media specialist license:

may occur no sooner than 3 years and must occur no later than 5 years after the initial license has been issued
requires completion of an approved program for the professional library media specialist addressing a specific set of competencies.

The initial library media specialist will receive ongoing support, mentoring, and professional development opportunities from the employing school district during the time that she or he holds the initial license and completes requirements for professional license.

To qualify for a professional instructional library media specialist license, an applicant shall:

have held an initial library media specialist license for at least three years,
complete a master's degree or the equivalent in an approved program, and
obtain the institutional endorsement.

Administrative Rule for the Initial License

PI 34.33 (5m) Initial Library Media Specialist. (a) The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of and proficiency in Wisconsin's model academic standards for information and technology literacy, including all of the following strands: media and technology, information and inquiry, independent learning, and the learning community;

(b) The candidate must demonstrate proficiency in all of the following content standards.

Content Standards for the Initial License

Professionalism: a commitment to personal professional growth

The candidate can:

Demonstrate an understanding of the role of libraries in a democratic society and the interrelationships of all types of libraries and information agencies, including cooperation and networking among libraries.
Demonstrate an understanding of the role of the school library media program within the school environment.
Demonstrate an awareness of appropriate local, state, regional, and national professional associations and publications.

Communications and Group Dynamics: The ability to communicate effectively with students, faculty, staff, administrators, parents, other colleagues and the general public.

The candidate can:

Maintain a positive teaching and learning climate in the library media center.
Practice effective interpersonal relationships within the school and its community.
Communicate regularly and purposefully about the role and services of the school library media program.
Demonstrate skills necessary for collaborative planning of curriculum and lessons with teachers, i.e., the ability to demonstrate an understanding of curriculum objectives, to listen effectively, to use probing and clarifying questions, and to negotiate responsibility for activities.

Access: The ability to develop a school library media program dedicated to providing access to information and ideas.

The candidate can:

Identify student and staff information needs.
Apply strategies for organizing, disseminating and promoting flexible access to materials that best meet staff and student information needs.
Develop and monitor selection policies that include reevaluation and review procedures that ensure unrestricted access to information and ideas
Recognize the existence and use of multiple information environments.
Develop and monitor policies that ensure equitable access to all types of resources and technologies within the school environment and beyond.
Comply with the copyright law and guidelines, and advocate compliance.
Encourage Intellectual Freedom, free inquiry and access to information.
Develop and monitor policies that ensure privacy and confidentiality of library/media users.

Collection Management and Use: the ability to build and maintain resource collections that include both internal and external access points to support the educational goals of the school and the personal, developmental and curricular needs of students and teachers.

The candidate can:

Develop, implement and revise collection management policies and procedures that reflect the school's philosophy, goals and objectives.
Identify and apply criteria appropriate for evaluating resources and accompanying technology in all formats and at all grade levels.
Use appropriate collection management principles and procedures for selection and evaluation of resources in collaboration with teachers.
Develop a partnership with faculty to ensure that the collection includes resources appropriate to learner characteristics such as abilities, interests, needs and learning styles.
Ensure that the evaluation and selection process provides curriculum-related resources that reflect the cultural diversity and pluralistic nature of American Society and support a variety of instructional strategies and learning styles.
Implement recognized standardized procedures for classifying, cataloging, and processing resources.
Maintain appropriate electronic systems for collection management and user access.

Technology, Including Design and Production of Instructional Resources: the ability to use technology effectively with students and faculty to facilitate teaching and learning.

The candidate can:

Select, apply, and use the appropriate software, hardware, and communications technologies to promote effective teaching and learning.
Produce media in graphic, multimedia and electronic formats in support of the library media and instructional programs.
Provide instruction to students and staff in the effective use and production of Technology and information resources in multiple formats, both local and remote.

Administration: the ability to develop, manage, and evaluate school library media programs to meet educational goals.

The candidate can:

Apply sound management principles to the administration of the library media program.
Interpret and implement state laws and regulations and school district policies and procedures for the management of an effective school library media program.
Develop short and long range plans for the school library media program with faculty, administrators, and other library media professionals.
Prepare, justify, and administer the school library media program budget based on instructional program needs and state regulations and policies and funding program requirements.
Participate in planning, arranging, and using school library media program facilities to support the instructional program.
Assign, instruct, and direct support staff, volunteers, and student assistants. Participate in the evaluation of support staff.
Assess the effectiveness of the library media program in meeting instructional objectives.

Instructional Leadership: the ability to serve as a learning facilitator and a leader in the development of effective strategies for teaching and learning.

The candidate can:

Participate in the curriculum development process at the building level.
Collaboratively plan with other faculty to provide instructional activities, opportunities and resources that respond to students' learning styles.
Collaborate with teachers and instructional technology staff to assure that information and technology literacy is integrated into the curriculum.
Plan for development of students' reading, listening, viewing and critical thinking skills.
Plan for the development of students' information and technology skills.
Motivate and guide elementary and secondary students in appreciating literature.
Demonstrate knowledge of children's and young adult literature, including multi-cultural literature, as well as related media.
Collaborate with teachers and instructional technology staff to plan and design instruction and to identify and gather appropriate instructional resources.
Monitor, assess, and employ existing and emerging technologies for possible applications to the instructional program.
Articulate clearly the role of the library media program in the educational program.

Administrative Rule for the Professional License

PI 34.33 (5m) Professional Library Media Specialist. (a) In order to qualify for a professional instructional library media specialist license, an applicant shall complete a master's degree or the equivalent in an approved program and obtain the institutional endorsement.

(b) The candidate must demonstrate proficiency in all of the following areas.

Content Standards for the Professional License

Professionalism: a commitment to personal professional growth.

The candidate can:

Advocate and promote opportunities to improve the profession both independently and collectively.
Engage in continuous self-evaluation and self-directed learning for personal professional growth.
Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of appropriate local, state, regional, and national professional associations and publications.
Identify legislation and policy at the local, state, and national levels that affect the development of school library media programs and take appropriate action.

Communications and Group Dynamics: the ability to communicate effectively with students, faculty, staff, administrators, parents, other colleagues and the general public.

The candidate can:

Advocate and promote the role and services of the school library media program regularly and purposefully within the school district and its community.
Initiate and sustain collaborative instructional partnerships with teachers and other staff.

Access: the ability to develop a school library media program dedicated to providing access to information and ideas.

The candidate can:

Create strategies for organizing, disseminating and promoting access to materials that best meet staff and student information needs.
Advocate for and provide instruction in copyright law compliance.

The candidate can:

Monitor, assess and apply new developments in collection techniques and technologies.
Select appropriate electronic systems for collection management and user access.

Technology and Design and Production of Instructional Resources: the ability to use technology effectively with students and faculty.

The candidate can:

Monitor, assess and employ current and emerging instructional technologies, information access and delivery systems, networks, telecommunications, and multimedia.
Apply advanced technologies to design, develop and produce media in support of the library media and instructional programs.
Participate in the curriculum process and in staff development by providing instruction in the effective use of technology and information resources.

Administration: the ability to develop, manage, and evaluate school library media programs to meet educational goals.

The candidate can:

Work with faculty, administrators, and other library media professionals to review and revise as needed, library media program goals to assure that they remain an integral part of the educational program in the school and school district.
Contribute to the development of district-level long-range plans for the library media program and other programs within the school district.
Design and communicate existing policies and procedures for the management of an effective school library media program.
Advocate for sufficient budget/resources from local, state and federal sources to meet library media program goals at the school district level.
Advocate and plan for new and remodeled school library media facilities to support the instructional program of the school district.
Apply appropriate research findings to improve teaching and learning throughout the school and specifically within the school library media program.

Instructional Leadership: the ability to serve as a learning facilitator and a leader in the development of effective strategies for teaching and learning.

The candidate can:

Participate in the curriculum development process at the school district level.
Plan for development of students' information literacy skills, including information processing skills.
Collaborate with teachers in teaching and evaluating instructional activities.
Plan and implement staff development activities to increase competence in locating, using, and producing resources for teaching and professional growth.
Demonstrate knowledge of principles and theories of general elementary, middle, and secondary level curriculum development.
Demonstrate and apply knowledge of educational leadership skills, including strategic planning and goal setting.

For questions about this information, contact Nancy E. Anderson (608) 267-9287

Last updated on 10/16/2008 10:55:42 AM

Library Media Specialist Licenses: Initial and Professional Levels