|
It never fails…if you do your job well, then you make it look easy. If you make it look easy, then everyone else wants your job. A good Media Specialist can make the job look so desirable that classroom teachers begin clamoring for the opportunity to move to the media center. With the rigors of the classroom draining the enthusiasm out of some teachers, a growing number of them are seeking certification in Library Media and heading for the school Media Center. However, the job of a Library Media Specialist is often much larger than it appears. After leaving her high school science classroom for a middle school media center, Jennifer Geer stated, “ Instead of having 130 students, now I have 1000! I'm always busy and usually have 2 or 3 things going on at once. To be a good media specialist you have to be good at multi-tasking.”
School Library Journal has documented shortages of school librarians all across the country in recent years. Many states have relaxed the certification requirements and allow certified teachers to take the Media Certification exam (Everhart 2002). While some states such as Texas require school librarians to have previous teaching experience, they also require core courses in library science. In Florida, teachers who pass the Library Media certification exam are immediately considered highly qualified Media Specialists without taking a single class in Library Science. “The message is clear: way too many administrators aren't hiring certified school librarians because they don't have to or because there are no qualified applicants to be found” (Everhart 2000).
The disparity among state requirements for library media certification is great. Deborah J. Jesseman, Scott M. Page, and Linda Underwood, all of Minnesota State University, have researched each state’s requirements and provide a useful website for those considering certification. The site is published by Libraries Unlimited and can be accessed at <http://www.schoollibrarymedia.com/cert/index.html>.
The trend of hiring classroom teachers to serve as Media Specialists is a potential solution to the growing shortage of certified library school graduates. After all, a classroom teacher has teaching skills, organizational skills, a knowledge of the ins-and-outs of the school system, and behavior management skills. However, the classroom teacher-turned-media specialist is not always desirable. They may have no understanding of MARC records, the Dewey Decimal system, Information Literacy, online databases, book talking…the list goes on.
The following questions can help classroom teachers evaluate their own knowledge and potential desire to become Media Specialists.
Considering Media Certification?
First, before you consider becoming a Media Specialist, you should ask yourself the following questions:
Will I be able to accept leaving the classroom? As a Media Specialist, you don’t have as many opportunities as classroom teachers to connect with the students as individuals. You see hundreds of different students each day, and only build up a handful of the same lasting relationships that you can in the classroom. The odds of being someone’s favorite teacher are against you.
Will I be able to handle constant interruptions? Often times Media Specialists come to work expecting to complete a long “to do” list that may include things like book orders, equipment repairs, website creation, and contest planning. Instead, they find that every few minutes someone needs their help – a teacher needs to collaborate on a future lesson or insists on last minute resources for today’s lesson; a student needs help to create a PowerPoint presentation; a paraprofessional needs help learning to use a digital camera; an administrator wants help installing a new printer, etc. Good media specialists must prioritize these demands, and the “to do” list remains undone. A media specialist must have the ability to multitask, while remaining organized and focused. Interruptions are a constant part of the job and should be embraced as proof that you are a valuable part of the faculty.
Will I be able to deal with demanding patrons? Media Specialists must have patience and understanding. Teachers can be the most demanding of all patrons. They often need something to teach a class, and they don’t understand when you are unable to provide it immediately. Students and administrators can be demanding and impatient, too. Demanding patrons are to be expected, and you must be prepared to deal with them in a professional, courteous way.
Do I really know what the job entails? The job of a Media Specialist that is visible to the average Media Center patron is only about 50% of what the job entails. In addition to collaborating on lessons, teaching classes, and running the Media Center’s day-to-day operations, media specialists also handle many administrative and professional tasks. The media specialist maintains a large budget, plans for the future of media/technology needs at the school, teaches technology trainings, meets with book publishers, monitors professional journals to maintain a current and valuable collection, keeps up with changes in research and recommended reading lists, promotes the media center’s programs, runs Book Fairs, holds book talks & story times, schedules Parent Nights, etc. Many Media Specialists are in charge of the morning news program and many school-wide contests in public speaking, video production, book talking, and story telling.
Am I technologically savvy? A Media Specialist must be able to connect computers to printers, set up LCD projectors, duplicate video tapes, burn DVDs, program VCRs for off-air taping, create web pages, learn and then teach new software programs, replace overhead projector bulbs, set up slide projectors, clear paper jams in printers and copiers, and troubleshoot many other types of technology. Even if you don't know everything now, you must be willing to learn. If you're afraid of technology, the job of a Media Specialist is not for you.
Classroom teachers who answer yes to all the questions above might consider a career as Media Specialists. However, even if a degree in Library Science is not required by the state for certification, classroom teachers should be strongly encouraged to pursue this important degree. The knowledge gained through coursework is invaluable to success in the profession. Many states offer a pay increase for teachers with a Master’s Degree. Many Media Specialists have completed their degree work while working in a Media Center. The coursework parallels the job and provides excellent opportunities for growth. Professionals can transition from classroom to media center successfully as long as they possess a willingness to learn, a desire for change, and a cooperative attitude.
Suggested preparations for Library Media Certification:
School Library Media Certification by State
<http://www.schoollibrarymedia.com/cert/index.html>
Review Information Power and purchase the book:
< http://www.ala.org/ala/aasl/aaslproftools/informationpower/informationpower.htm>
Review the following pages and explore the links included with each: <http://www.liscareer.com/swartz_school.htm>
<http://www.floridamedia.org/proflinks/proflinks.html>
Buy the Library Media Certification guide ( Florida):
<http://www.cefe.usf.edu/StudyguideInfo.aspx>
References
Everhart, Nancy. 2000. "School Staffing Survey 2000: Looking for a Few Good Librarians." <http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA153050.html>. Accessed 13 Aug. 2007.
Everhart, Nancy. 2002. “Filling the Void.” <http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/ article/CA218584.html>. Accessed 25 Sept. 2007.
Geer, Jennifer. Personal Interview. 26 Sept. 2007.
Jesseman, Deborah J. and Scott M. Page and Linda Underwood. “School Library Media Certification By State.” 2007. <http://www.schoollibrarymedia.com/cert/index.html>. Accessed 25 Sept. 2007. | 
