The document discusses the roles and responsibilities of a school media coordinator. It describes how the job has evolved from traditionally shelving books and reading to students, to now taking on many varied tasks including tutoring, monitoring students, organizing events, locating materials, planning lessons, and collaborating with teachers. Media coordinators must maintain the media center, support the curriculum, and find ways to stay flexible given the unpredictable nature of working in a school. The essay emphasizes that media coordinators wear many hats and must have skills in areas like teaching, technology, communication, organization and flexibility.

1. Lori Smith
LIBS 6991
Reflective Essay
A librarian truly wears a lot of hats. The traditional viewpoint of a librarian is that she
shelves books and reads to kids. Librarians of today do not even resemble that image. Today
the Librarian is referred to as the Media Coordinator. They are technicians, researchers,
shoppers, designers, teachers, mediators, and the go to person for just about everything.
Media Coordinators have varied responsibilities based on school and administration
needs. General daily duties include tutoring, monitoring students, organizing events, locating
materials and resources, planning and implementing lessons, and collaborating with the other
teachers in the school and the district. The Media Coordinator has to be available for anything
needed. In addition to these outside duties, she also has the responsibility of maintaining the
media center. She has to make sure that the books are taken care of properly, that resources
and materials meet the needs of students and staff, and that the Media Center is organized and
appealing to students and staff.
Most libraries are moving towards a flexible schedule. Staff sign up for time slots as
needed. Havelock Elementary School’s Media center operates on a fixed schedule. The Media
Coordinator has classes scheduled all day most days, as well as tutoring and lunch duty. In a
situation like this one, there has to be a system in place that allows the media center to be
open and accessible as much as possible, even when the Media coordinator is not in the room.
They have implemented a student/staff self checkout system. A computer is set up for students
and staff to check out books without the need of assistance. The system is not perfect but it

2. helps to keep the media center open all day. Students have a folder and scan their library cards
and books out. The Media Assistant handles returns and shelving of books.
Collaboration is a major component of being a Media Coordinator. A Media Coordinator
is a co-teacher. They teach Reading but also help to reinforce Science and Social Studies
concepts. At Havelock Elementary School the Media Coordinator is responsible for collaborating
with teachers and reinforcing weekly reading concepts. She has to know the curriculum and
what content is being covered in class. Collaboration can be difficult due to schedules and
unforeseen events, but the Media Coordinator needs to be resourceful and creative in finding
ways to collaborate. At Havelock Elementary School the teachers are required to have 45 day
plans to share with resource teachers and administration. This helps the process and benefits
both students and staff.
The ability to plan and be organized are necessary for being a successful Media
Coordinator. Planning lessons and locating resources are essential for successful lessons.
Students need materials and topics that are both interesting and engaging. When students
come to the Media Center for a lesson they expect something different than their regular
classroom. They expect to be actively engaged and to be exposed to a variety of materials and
resources. Technology use and instruction on using technology is a component of most Media
Center’s curriculum. The Media Coordinator at Havelock Elementary School refers to the Media
center as Technology. Along with the reading content students are exposed to computer parts
and use, word processing programs, projects using power points, brochures, and other
software applications.

3. Flexibility is one of the most important aspects of being a Media Coordinator. Being
flexible can be the difference between loving or hating your job. Things change constantly and
you have to be able to change with them. When working in a school or with people in general,
circumstances arise that can cause havoc. A well planned out lesson falls apart because the
internet is not working. During one of your favorite activities the students are not engaged and
you have to stop move on to something else to get them interested. A child gets sick, the office
needs you, paperwork needs to be done, last minute testing, parent shows up, etc. There are so
many things that can happen that will test your flexibility. The ability to switch gears and tackle
problems is essential.
My internship experience showed me that Media Coordinator’s have to possess many
skills. They have to be creative, good communicators, organized, and flexible. They have to be
willing to take on challenges and to perform duties that may be outside their expertise. It is a
big job with a lot of responsibilities. Media Coordinators are always busy and there are always
things to do, but at the end of each day they are making a difference in students’ lives and
helping to shape our future.