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M.Ed. in K-12 Education
M.Ed. in K-12 Education

Library Media Specialist Certification

Program Coordinator: Elaine Allard, medk12library@plymouth.edu
B.S., Plymouth State College, M.L.I.S., University of Rhode Island

Plymouth State University offers the only approved Alternative 1 program in New Hampshire. The M.Ed. degree leads to certification as a Library Media Specialist.

Required Courses

Master's Core Component
ED 5000 Social Behavior in a Diverse Society - 3 credits
- OR -
ED 5005 Social Psychology and Mythology Across Cultures - 3 credits
ED 5010 Philosophy, Ethics and Education - 3 credits
ED 5030 Research Design - 3 credits

Library Media Specialist Component
LM 5020 Cataloging and Classification - 3 credits
RL 5300 Advanced Children's/Young Adult Literature - 3 credits
LM 5040 Instructional Materials Production and Use - 3 credits
LM 5010 Learning Resources Centers and Services - 3 credits
LM 5030 Reference and Research - 3 credits

Electives - 6 credits

Capstone Experience
LM 5210 Practicum in School Media - 3 credits

Total for M.Ed. in K–12 Education, Library Media Specialist Certification - 33 credits

Resources

American Library Association
New Hampshire Educational Media Association

New Hampshire Certification Standards for Educational Personnel

CHAPTER Ed 600 - APPROVAL OF PROFESSIONAL PREPARATION PROGRAMS

Ed 614.11 Library Media Specialist

(a) The teacher preparation program for library media specialist in grades K-12 shall provide the teaching candidate with skills, competencies and knowledge through a combination of academic and supervised practical experiences in the following areas:

(1) In the area of administration, the ability to:
  1. Collaborate with other educators to create a mission statement and develop long-range program goals;
  2. Develop and implement policies and procedures to acquire, process, organize, disseminate, maintain and continually assess collections of information resources, essential equipment, and latest technologies;
  3. Train, supervise, and evaluate support staff, volunteers, and student helpers;
  4. Implement effective strategies and techniques to systematically perform library management operations, including, but not limited to: 1.Budgeting; 2. Staffing; 3. Scheduling; and 4. Managing and maintaining resources;
  5. Assess the strengths and weaknesses of the library media program;
  6. Set program goals for a library media program consistent with school-wide objectives;
  7. Design, manage, and maintain the library media facility to support the collaborative and independent work of all learners;
  8. Participate in local, state, and national education and technology initiatives, to ensure integration of current research findings and best practices into the library media program;
  9. Promote the library media center as an essential link to the larger learning community;
  10. Align the library media program with national library information literacy standards;
  11. Provide staff development opportunities to acquaint teachers with the use of new resources; and
  12. Offer strategies for the inclusion of new resources into curriculum planning and classroom instruction;
(2) In the area of ethical, legal, and responsible use of information, the ability to:
  1. Develop policies consistent with: 1. School, district, state, and national standards; 2. Relevant laws and legislation; 3. Privacy rights; 4. Equity of access; and 5. Tenets of intellectual freedom;
  2. Design and implement student learning activities which address ethical issues in the use of information;
  3. Model and promote compliance with copyright laws and fair use guidelines; and
  4. Model and promote the highest standard of ethics and integrity in the use of information resources;
(3) In the area of collection development, the ability to:
  1. Create and implement a collection development policy that demonstrates knowledge of principles related to selection, acquisition, organization, evaluation, and reconsideration of library resources;
  2. Select current, relevant, and balanced resources for the diverse needs of the school community that support the curriculum and provide leisure reading materials;
  3. Implement standard procedures for classifying, cataloging, and processing that facilitate resource sharing; and
  4. Employ existing and emerging technologies to access, evaluate, and disseminate information including, but not limited to: 1. The Internet; and 2. Electronic databases;
(4) In the area of teaching and learning, the ability to:
  1. Promote literacy and the use and integration of information systems to enrich the curriculum and enhance learning;
  2. Design effective instruction by applying knowledge of: 1. Literature; 2. Information; and 3. The learner; Model and teach information problem-solving;
  3. Collaborate with educators to plan, implement, and assess units of study that integrate multimedia, research, and information literacy into classroom instruction
  4. Assist learners in choosing, evaluating, and utilizing the most appropriate information resource to enhance: 1. Decision-making; 2. Problem-solving; 3. Research; 4. Communication; and 5. Productivity;
  5. Create an environment that fosters and supports individual and collaborative inquiry, appropriately employing group management strategies;
  6. Demonstrate a working understanding of the design, production, and use of educational technology tools; and
  7. Collaborate with teachers and principals to assess student learning of content and information literacy goals; and
(5) In the area of literature, the ability to:
  1. Encourage and engage students in reading, viewing, and listening for understanding and enjoyment;
  2. Use knowledge of literature to guide and encourage students to read a variety of fiction and non-fiction resources for personal and informational needs;
  3. Introduce students to a range of genres in both print and digital formats by creating events, activities, and displays that encourage reading;
  4. Promote quality literature and authors reflecting a variety of cultures and themes;
  5. Model the appreciation and enjoyment of literature; and
  6. Collaborate with teachers to expand the effective uses of literature in the curriculum.

(b) The program shall provide for a supervised off-campus practicum which provides experience at both the elementary and secondary levels.

Source #4582, eff 7-1-89; EXPIRED 7-1-95
New. #6366, eff 10-30-96; ss by #7925, eff 7-24-03

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This page was last revised: 1/3/2008