School Library Media Specialist

The Palmer School offers an accredited Master's in Library and Information Science degree program that prepares students for initial New York State Certification as School Library Media Specialists. After two years of successful employment in the field, professional certification can be requested from New York State.

These specialists are prepared to:

• initiate and sustain a leadership role for learning-based technologies and the integration of knowledge across the curriculum
• facilitate partnerships within schools, school districts and the community at large for improved communications and educational services
• maintain an awareness of school and community cultures and develop new services accordingly
• develop and implement management strategies that remain adaptive to changing educational aims

Careers:
There is a critical need for well-prepared School Library Media Specialists in the tri-state -- area people who enjoy working with students, teacher and administrators. The increasing capabilities of information technology have catapulted the role of school library media specialist from a supporting role to that of a leader, change agent and teacher to teachers, ensuring that students and staff are effective users of ideas and information.

Certification for School Library Media Specialist (Pre K-12)

Curriculum:
The Palmer School prides itself on close contact with practitioners and reviews its required and elective courses regularly to ensure that graduates are prepared to play critical roles in rapidly changing environments. All courses are 3 credit courses. The following outlines the school library media curriculum in addition to the core required courses for the master's degree.

Required School Media Courses:

• LIS 620- Instructional Design and Leadership
• LIS 622- School Media Centers
• LIS 626- Teaching Methodologies for the School Media Center
• LIS 628- School Media Materials and the Curriculum
• LIS 629- Integrating Technology into the School Media Curriculum
• LIS 690- Internship

And one of the following:

• LIS 729- Young Adult Literature
• LIS 731- Materials and Services for Early Childhood
• LIS 733- Children's Sources & Services
• LIS 735- Storytelling and Folk Literature

Those students entering the program without New York State Teacher Certification or the equivalent will be required to take these education courses in addition to the above requirements:

• EDU 740- Literacy Teaching and Learning, Birth-Grade 6

Required Examinations:
All candidates for New York Certification as a School Library Media Specialist (Pre K-12) will be required to achieve passing scores on the LAST (Liberal Arts and Sciences Test), the ATS-W (Assessment of Teaching Skills - Written), and the CST (Content Specialty test) for initial certification.

Required Workshops:

• Child Abuse: Identification and Reporting
• Violence Prevention Workshop- Project SAVE
• Fingerprinting
  (Information pertaining to the above is available in the Palmer School's Main Office.)

Individuals who already have a Master's degree in library & information science and are without New York State Teacher Certification must complete the courses required for School Library Media Specialist Certification including the practicum/internship.

Admissions Policy for SLMS Certification in the Palmer School:
A candidate for admission to the School Library Media Specialist Program at the Palmer School must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution of higher education. Undergraduate or graduate preparation must include a concentration of one of the liberal arts and sciences, which will include English, mathematics, science, social studies, and at least one year (two semesters) of study in a language other than English.

Applicants who obtained the M.S. degree from the Palmer School in the last five years need only submit an application for graduate study. If the Master's degree was obtained more than five years ago, applicants must submit two letters of recommendation along with the application.

Applicants who obtained the M.S. from a graduate school other that the Palmer School must submit:

• A completed graduate application form
• One official copy of the transcript for the M.S. in Library and Information Science Degree
• Two letters of recommendation
  Applicants may be asked to come in for an interview.

For more details on requirements for the School Library Media Specialist certification, please read our guide for students in the Library Media program.

Accreditation
The Palmer School's Master of Science in Library and Information Science (MSLIS) program is accredited by the American Library Association (ALA). The program for School Library Media Specialist is approved by and registered with the New York State Education Department (NYSED).