Purpose:
We are dedicated to providing access to a broad range of print and electronic resources to meet the needs of students and staff; to enhance and enrich our curriculum; to stimulate literacy; and to encourage our staff and students to create and manipulate ideas and information effectively so that they may become independent lifelong learners.

Services Provided by the Library:
Over 10,000 resources in print, electronic and digital formats
A comprehensive reference collection
An extensive non-fiction collection aligned to the school's curriculum
A fiction collection to meet every interest and reading level
Web subscriptions to high quality information databases
A teachers' reference section
A large teachers' audio-visual resource section
An online library catalog (OPAC)of all resources
Access to the OPAC from classroom workstations
Personal assistance with selection and circulation of resources
Flexible access for class or individual borrowing any time of day
Students with passes accepted every period of the day
Access for students before and after regular school hours
New resources added every week
Innovative displays to promote a love of reading
Selected activities, booktalks, and bibliographies to support literacy
Display space for student work
A library web site with selected links for staff, students, and parents
Individual web pages to support staff projects and assignments
Internet search facilities
Access to the world's largest teacher-librarian networks
Collaborative preparation services to support your class program
Individualized instruction in using the library and its facilities
Individualized instruction in many software applications on request
Suggestions for the integration of LMC into your program development
Information Literacy skills instruction and promotion
Selected activities to support our Accelerated Reading program

The Library Media Specialist's Role:

A qualified librarian must hold both standard teaching qualifications and librarianship qualifications allowing professional membership in local and national associations.

These qualifications ensure the librarian is both an educator and an information manager, integrating both areas. Knowledge of the curriculum, teaching strategies and learning styles are combined with a knowledge of resource management, information services, personnel management and information systems. This knowledge enables the librarian to take an active role in curriculum support and implementation.

As a curriculum leader, the librarian works in collaboration with teachers to achieve the most effective delivery of the curriculum. The librarian works with administration and staff to ensure information literacy outcomes are a major school focus; is involved in curriculum planning; and raises staff awareness of the need for students to acquire information skills, and of the importance of resource-based learning in the development of these skills. The librarian promotes the use of the information process as a framework for the development of information skills and as a basis for the evaluation of students' development as information users. The librarian plans, teaches and evaluates collaboratively with other teachers to ensure effective integration of information resources into student learning.

The librarian maintains literacy as a high priority, engaging students in reading, viewing, and listening for understanding and enjoyment.

As an information specialist, the librarian provides access to information resources through efficient systems for organizing, retrieving and circulating resources; provides assistance in the effective use of these systems; and provides assistance to students and staff using the school's information resources for independent reading, viewing and listening.

As an information resources manager, the librarian implements strategies for evaluating the resource collection, determining student and staff needs within the context of the school's priorities, and develops services that are responsive to student and teacher needs.

With thanks to Barbara Braxton - Palmerston School District, 2000.