| Role of a Librarian in Conjunction with Student Learning |
Site Updated: 10/16/09
School Library Media Specialists are vital in teaching information literacy to students. It is our responsibility to teach students how to locate, assess, interpret and use information that they find, as well as helping students to refine their search process. These skills are going to be necessary for students for the rest of their lives, therefore, they need a strong foundation. Particularly in these modern times where most students simply “Google it” when conducting research. Who better to teach them these skills than librarians specifically trained in locating, assessing and using information? Since most students lack the skills necessary to determine if the pages they view are accurate or biased, instructing them in information assessment and search strategies will be one of my major goals.
In addition, it is important for librarians to keep the needs of the students in mind when building and premoting the library resources. The collection needs to be balanced and have materials on hand for students of various backgrounds, cultures and lifestyles, including race, gender, ethnicity, language, sexual orientation and many other factors. Having materials on hand that reflect these differences promote understanding in students and familiarity and acceptance in others. This is just as important for promoting student learning and development, as having encyclopedias and reference materials.
Librarians should also frequently collaborate with other educators to determine how we can best be of service and how we can build a curriculum that complements their teaching goals. I will use all of the considerable skills at my disposal, including collaboration with faculty, the school district's benchmarks and standards, and the resources available in print and electronic formats, as well as in the community, to reinforce information literacy for the students.