A future librarian must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in order to earn a media specialist degree. After that, the aspiring media specialist can apply to a library science graduate program with a focus on library media. A master’s degree in library science or a master’s degree in education with a library media endorsement is required in the majority of states in the United States.
Librarians who work in public or private schools are known as media specialists. They are in charge of instructing students on how to conduct research using a variety of print and electronic resources. Every student who walks through the school library’s doors is encouraged to read by media specialists, who promote books to them.
A future graduate student should research the various colleges and universities before deciding on a school that offers a library science program. The American Library Association (ALA), the official organization that promotes library services in the United States, does not accredit all colleges. Some states in the United States require school librarians to have completed an ALA-accredited library media program.
Future school librarians should think about how long their media specialist degree program will last. Some schools have programs that students can finish in a year, while others have programs that take two years to complete. People who are unable to commute to a college because their area lacks media specialist degree programs should consider distance education.
These programs allow students to complete coursework from home while also having access to lectures via the Internet. Students can submit assignments online and use chat rooms and message boards to communicate with professors and classmates. Distance-education programs may still require students to attend a few classes in person, so travel costs should be factored into the university selection process.
Collection development, library management, children’s and young adult literature, cataloging, research methods, intellectual freedom, and other subjects related to modern libraries are typical courses in a media specialist degree program. Online research, electronic databases, and automated circulation systems will all be covered. Some media specialist degree programs require students to complete a practicum, which gives them hands-on experience working with a school librarian.
People who want to work as media specialists may need to have previous classroom teaching experience. Applicants for media specialist positions may be required by schools to be certified classroom teachers. Some school districts are hesitant to hire school librarians with no prior teaching experience.
Other districts will hire a school librarian who has completed a library media program and is certified as a media specialist. For more information, students enrolled in a media specialist program should contact their state’s teacher licensing department. They can then research the specific qualifications for a school librarian in the state where they want to work.