Professional+Toolkit

= Professional Toolkit Requirement =

As a school library media specialist, you will need to apply a variety of practical skills. For the remainder of this course, you will develop a professional toolkit containing information, resources, and examples. The information, resources, and examples you collect will demonstrate how you are developing as a future school library media professional. They will also reflect on the following important areas from Empowering Learners and the [|Alabama's School Library Media Handbook for the 21st Century Learner]:
 * 21st Century Teaching and Learning (Instructional Partner)
 * Information specialist
 * Collection development
 * Staff
 * Facilities
 * Policies
 * Procedures
 * Professional development
 * Program advocacy


 * The Professional Toolkit assignment will be worth 30% (300 pts.) of your grade; it will have nine (9) components (listed above). I suggest you develop and web sapce (e.g. wiki) for your professional toolkit. Specific ideas for items you might include for each of the 7 components of the professional toolkit are listed below.**

Component 1 -- 21st Century Teaching and Learning

 * Link to 21st Century standards
 * Links to information about teaching 21st Century standards
 * Sample lessons for 21st century standards/skills
 * Sample ideas for using Web 2.0 tools in the library media center and/or classrooms
 * Ideas for collaborating with teachers
 * Sample collaboration forms
 * Sample library media center schedules -- especially flexible schedule examples

Component 2 - Information Specialist
Links to quality school library media web pages Links to quality web pages with content useful to the 21st Century school library media specialist Link to the homepage for the Alabama Virtual Library

Component 3 - Collection Development

 * Collection mapping procedures
 * Collection development policy
 * Collection development procedures

Component 4 -- Staff

 * Written job descripton for a full-time school library media specialist
 * Written job description for a full-time library media aide or clerk
 * Written job description for student aides/assistants
 * Written job description for a full-time technology coach (or similar title)
 * Written job description for a full-time technology director (or similar title)
 * Time mangagement tips
 * Tips for effective supervision
 * Tips for using volunteers in library media center

Component 6 -- Policies

 * Acceptable Use of Computers/Internet Policy
 * Cataloging policy
 * Circulation of Resources Policy (books, non-print, and equipment)
 * Copyright policy
 * Disaster policy (specifically media center disaster policy)
 * Selection policy
 * Gifts and donations policy (part of selection policy)
 * Weeding policy (part of selection policy)

Component 7 -- Procedures

 * Acquisition of resources procedures
 * Cataloging procedures
 * Circulation procedures
 * Disater/safety procedures
 * Disposal of resources and equipment procedures
 * Inventory procedures
 * Reconsideration of materials procedures

Component 8 -- Professional Deveopment

 * Join LM_Net for at least 7 weeks. Describe your experience. Identify and summarize the most important content / discussions / issues covered during the 7 weeks you participated. Discuss why you feel continued participation is or is not a good use of your personal and professional time.
 * Review 7 professional periodicals and post your written reviews to the webspace. (Professor will give you the periodicals to review).
 * Review professional associations for library media specialists and post your written reviews to the webspace. (Professor will give you the organizatons to review).