Interview with a Librarian Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Interview with a Librarian - Essay Example In this paper, we try to identify the various functions and duties of the school library media specialist and make an analysis of the various standards of the duties provided in the manuals and the actual duties performed by specialists. We may gather the various duties of a media specialist in an interview one of the school library media specialists. As a first step, let us identify some of the remarkable trends in the school library media center. Unlike the school libraries of the past which were just places to avail some material and books for the assignments and other activities, the idea has now shifted towards the exciting and more beneficial concept of the school library media center. In this system, the access to information and any useful material is much higher and wide variety of format, both printed and electronic, is available which aid the new generation students in their multi layered assignment purpose and the like. The most remarkable advantage of the modern school library media centers is that they serve the students greatly and play a major role in the development of their various aspects and education. These school library media centers act as powerful agents in the various areas connected with student learning and education such as finding, analyzing, evaluating, interpreting, and communicating information and ideas. "It is where students learn to find, analyze, evaluate, interpret and communicate informat ion and ideas--skills they will need as adults to live and work in an information-based society. In addition to serving as independent learning centers, the programs of many centers are directly integrated into the curriculum" (American Association for School Librarians, 2006). The twenty first century school library media centers have various trends that make the system more effective. Before we go on to the discussion about the major duties of school library media specialists in the interview, let us analyze some of the major trends in the system. One most important among the trends is the flexibility in student spaces which gives the students ample space to work and do group activities. Possessing a teaching lab and large instructional area helps the students in various ways in their activities and works. Thus, the trend of more flexibility in student space is an advantageous development as far as the students are concerned. Another major trend in school library media center is the development in visual literacy which has great importance in the student learning activity. The development of modern technique and the growth in the teaching instruments also have proven to affect the modern student learning. Visual aids in teaching have been more extensively used in the modern times. Thus, the awareness about the LCD projectors and other visual aids is found the remarkable characteristic of the modern school library media center. Extended access to the school library media center can be considered yet another major trend in the area. Thus, the working time of the school library media center has been extended as well as the access of the students to the center widened. The time the students spend in the library and the media center has increased extremely. Therefore the usefulness of the libraries to the students