Librarian, Collins Middle School, Salem, MA

Posted September 11, 2019

What You’ll Do:

As a librarian, you will ensure that students and staff are effective users of ideas and information. Your goal will be to empower students to be critical thinkers, enthusiastic readers, skillful researchers, effective users of technology and ethical users of information. You will also have the opportunity to collaborate with classroom teachers to design and implement units of instruction, and to assess student learning. Finally, you will work to align the School Library Program (SLP) with the mission, goals, and objectives of the school/district.

Role Responsibilities:

1. Teaching and Learning

• Collaborate with teachers in the instructional process by planning engaging and challenging lessons and assignments that lead to the effective use of print and digital library resources.

• Collaborate with teachers to design, teach, and assess learning that incorporates project-based learning, information literacies in different formats, critical thinking and self-assessment.

• Promote the use of online databases and provide research skills instruction in the effective use of these resources for students and teachers

• Model and promote the ethical use of information and the importance of digital citizenship

• Promote a love of reading and lifelong learning.

• Plan and provide professional development

2. Collection Development and Information Access

• Evaluate, select, catalog and maintain print and digital resources that are relevant to the curriculum, reflect the rich diversity of our learning community, and support the academic success and personal growth of our students.

• Maintain a high-interest fiction collection and a current and relevant nonfiction collection by continuously culling outdated and irrelevant materials.

• Review, maintain and promote use of digital databases and conduct research skills and database training workshops for teachers and students

• Assist teachers in the selection of books and other instructional materials, and make library materials available to supplement the instructional program.

• Inform teachers and other staff members concerning new materials that the learning commons acquires.

• Catalog all print and digital resources using the Destiny library system, and provide instruction to teachers and students in the efficient use of this system to access information and discover books for recreational reading.

3. Program Administration and Library Management

• Create a welcoming, student-centered, flexible learning commons environment that supports a variety of collaborative learning opportunities and social activities

• Host, facilitate and collaborate with faculty colleagues to offer book groups, guest speakers, TED Talks, poetry slams, open mic nights and other events, to introduce a variety of diverse cultural and learning opportunities in the learning commons

• Organize and manage all print and digital resources and instructional technology in the learning commons to support teaching and learning

• Foster a creative, flexible environment so that the learning commons is an essential part of the learning community.

• Maintain the school library’s webpage, Schoology resource pages and other online resources.

• Promote and highlight activity in the learning commons through the web page and relevant social media accounts (Twitter, Instagram).

• Supervise library assistants in the performance of their duties.

• Prepare and administer the library budget.

4. Technology 

• Evaluate and promote existing and emerging instructional technologies to support teaching and improve learning.

• Facilitate implementation of school initiatives, such as 1:1 chromebook environment and technologysupported, inquiry-based learning.

• Provide direct assistance and support with technological tools and resources to students and teachers.

• Collaborate with teachers and staff to assist with and support best practices in the use of the instructional technology

5. Leadership

• Serve on decision-making and school improvement teams and present at meetings.

• Stay current in professional practices and educational research, and maintain active professional memberships.

• Collect and analyze data to improve instruction and the quality of collections.

• Additional duties as assigned.

What You’ll Bring

We are looking for candidates who have diverse backgrounds and experiences, are inspired by our mission and are highly motivated to change children’s lives through education. You’ll be right at home here if you are a reflective practitioner who values collaboration with colleagues and pushes yourself, your work and the people around you to the next level. We expect our SPS employees to:

• Hold a deep commitment to students and families and value diversity – The SPS community is vibrant, diverse in background, ethnicity, language, and perspective. You embrace and affirm the backgrounds of all members of the SPS community and view our diversity as a powerful resource that supports us each in learning and doing our best work.

• Hold high expectations for yourself, students, and colleagues – You see potential in all, especially our SPS students, and maintain high expectations for achievement, while providing the support necessary to meet that bar. You hold yourself to high expectations, modeling SPS values and seeking opportunities to continuously improve.

• Build authentic, caring relationships with colleagues, students, and families – You build strong relationships across students, families, and colleagues that are collaborative in nature and contribute to the individual and collective success of SPS. You partner with families and colleagues to make decisions in the best interest of students and learning.

• Embrace feedback – You are a reflective practitioner who learns from failure, using mistakes and challenges as opportunities for growth. You model persistence and growth mindset and thrive in a culture of feedback.

Job Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree Required; Master’s Degree preferred
• Required Massachusetts certification as a School Librarian or Unified Media Specialist (all grades) by the Massachusetts Department of Education, or in the process of licensure
• SEI Endorsement Required
• Ability to meet the expectations of the Massachusetts Standards and Indicators of Effective Teaching Practice
• Second Language (Spanish) proficiency a plus
• Current authorization to work in the United States

Salem Public Schools

Salem is a small, diverse city with a proud maritime and immigrant history. Salem Public School leaders are passionate about urban education and understand the urgency of improving student achievement. They respect and value the racial, cultural, and linguistic diversity of our students and their families, and have a strong commitment to the Salem community. Salem Public Schools seeks individuals who are able to serve all of our students, regardless of ability or language. Applicants who have experience working in urban schools and have bilingual skills are strongly encouraged to apply

Equal Opportunity Employer

Salem Public School District is committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital/civil union status, ancestry, place of birth, age, citizenship status, veteran status, political affiliation, genetic information or disability, as defined and required by state and federal laws. Additionally, we prohibit retaliation against individuals who oppose such discrimination and harassment or who participate in an equal opportunity investigation.

Interested applicants please email your resume and cover letter to Alicia Palmer, Director of Human Capital, at [email protected].