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Descriptive Statements:
- Recognize the importance of and strategies for creating, communicating, and implementing a vision, goals, and policies for the library media program that reflect the vision, goals, and objectives of the district and the school.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the goals, characteristics, and functions of effective library media programs; the role of information in a democracy; and the role of the library media program in promoting intellectual freedom and providing equitable physical and intellectual access to information.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the integral and collaborative role of the library media program in all curricular areas and how to manage library media resources, personnel, and services to support the school curriculum.
- Apply knowledge of various types of information resources and services beyond the school and of methods for helping the school community locate, access, and evaluate information resources beyond the school library media center.
- Apply knowledge of the benefits of and strategies for creating and maintaining connections to information resources and services beyond the school and techniques for interacting with other professionals at a variety of institutions.
Sample Item:
The most important role of the library media program in supporting the school curriculum is to:
- provide opportunities for students to access, use, and evaluate information in all subject areas.
- keep teachers informed of students' proficiency levels with regard to information literacy skills.
- oversee students' work in the library media center to allow teachers more time for instructional planning.
- create displays that encourage students' independent exploration of various instructional topics.
Correct Response and Explanation (Show Correct ResponseHide Correct Response)
A. This question requires the examinee to understand the role of the library media program and its relationship to the total school program. The primary goal of the school is to promote student learning. A library media program that works with teachers to interweave information literacy skills into subject-area instruction helps students develop cognitive strategies for locating, analyzing, creating, and communicating information and apply these strategies in relevant educational contexts. This integrated approach provides students with tools to support their achievement of subject-area learning goals.
Descriptive Statements:
- Recognize the partnership role of the library media specialist with regard to curriculum and instruction and the responsibilities associated with this role, such as collaborating in the planning and implementation of instruction and assessment that promotes interdisciplinary learning and development of information literacy skills.
- Recognize the leadership role of the library media specialist and the responsibilities associated with this role, such as providing expertise in the use of information resources and technology and serving as a resource person for the school community.
- Recognize the role of the library media specialist as an advocate for the library media program and the responsibilities associated with this role, such as creating and maintaining collaborative relationships and promoting the library media program within and outside of the school community.
- Recognize the management role of the library media specialist and the responsibilities associated with this role, such as overseeing operations, programming, and student activities in the library media center and coordinating services, schedules, and technologies.
- Demonstrate knowledge of various strategies for pursuing ongoing professional development, maintaining current research-based knowledge about information resources and technologies, and using reflection and self-assessment to improve professional practice.
- Apply knowledge of legal and ethical issues associated with library media programs and the implications of these issues for school library media specialists.
Sample Item:
The most effective way for a school library media specialist to gain current, research-based knowledge about resources and strategies that are effective in promoting students' information literacy skills is to:
- visit vendor Web sites to learn about new products and technologies for libraries.
- subscribe to and regularly read journals for library professionals.
- form a mentoring relationship with an experienced library media specialist.
- attend district-level meetings for library media specialists.
Correct Response and Explanation (Show Correct ResponseHide Correct Response)
B. This question requires the examinee to demonstrate knowledge of various strategies for maintaining current research-based knowledge about information resources and technologies. To develop and maintain expertise in the diverse and ever-changing field of information literacy, the library media specialist must engage in constant learning. This requires reading the current literature of the field. Journals that are written specifically for library professionals contain information such as summaries of research studies, articles written by librarians, strategies for integrating theory and practice, and reviews and descriptions of new resources and technologies.
Descriptive Statements:
- Apply knowledge of strategies for initiating and maintaining communication between the library media program and students, teachers, staff, and the community.
- Demonstrate knowledge of skills and strategies that promote effective communication.
- Demonstrate knowledge of strategies for eliciting information from library users regarding their needs and interests.
- Identify strategies for interacting effectively and appropriately with students, staff, parents/guardians, and other members of the learning community with regard to their information needs and interests.
- Recognize important elements of the collaborative process and factors that promote or impede collaboration.
- Apply knowledge of techniques for collaborative planning and teaching to promote the development of information literacy skills among students, staff, and other members of the learning community.
Sample Item:
Which of the following steps should a library media specialist take first when conducting a reference interview with a student?
- explain to the student the locations and purposes of various information resources
- evaluate the student's proficiency in using different types and formats of information resources
- ask questions to determine the nature and quantity of information the student requires
- formulate a research question to guide the student's information search
Correct Response and Explanation (Show Correct ResponseHide Correct Response)
C. This question requires the examinee to demonstrate knowledge of strategies for eliciting information from library users regarding their needs and interests. One of the primary roles of the school library media specialist is to assist students in the use of the library and its collection. One strategy for fulfilling this role is the reference interview. The reference interview is a conversation between the school library media specialist and a student for the purpose of clarifying a student's information needs. Asking questions to clearly define the nature, quantity, level, and format of information needed is essential in guiding the student to the resources in the collection that will be most helpful and relevant.
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