Day 152 North Reading High School Library- Kim Smith

Please Interrupt Me…Or, What Does a School Library Media/Specialist Do All Day?

I originally saw this sign when I was at a library conference and realized that this is the message that needs to be relayed to students and staff that come into the high school library. Please…interrupt me! I’m here to help you. One of the roles of a librarian involves promoting reading for both information and pleasure. This requires an understanding of the interests and abilities of the student population and is the aspect of the job that most people first think of. They picture a librarian sitting behind a circulation desk, checking materials in and out to people.  However, that is only a small part of the job.

Many people are unaware of the active role that a school librarian plays in the educational process.  For example, few people realize that in the state of Massachusetts a certified school library media/ specialist is a licensed educator. As an educator I am responsible for understanding the Curriculum Frameworks and the Common Core State Standards so that the library can provide students and teachers with appropriate resources for teaching and learning.

Another aspect of the job involves being familiar with and using technology.  Teachers frequently work with me to create projects that make use of the many print and electronic resources that are available through the school library. I work with groups of students at the beginning of research projects to familiarize them with the available resources and provide instruction in the use of the resources.  I also provide professional development opportunities for teachers with a focus on integrating technology into instruction and learning.

So the next time you see me  sitting behind the circulation desk at high school library feel free to interrupt me…I may be doing collection development, searching for new materials to add to the library’s collection. I may be adding web links to the library’s website for a class research project, or I may be reading about a new technology tool that can be used by students or teachers. Whatever the case may be, your request is more interesting than what I’m doing!