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The Library Media Specialist (School Librarian) is the subject matter expert at EMNRBS who is primarily responsible for leading the school library as a dynamic hub of literacy, learning, research, media, technology, and discovery. This 12-month, full-time instructional position designs, develops, and manages a library program that integrates literacy, information literacy, research, media, and technology across all content areas while supporting students' academic, social, and personal growth.

This position requires a deep contextual understanding of literacy development, information and media literacy, culturally responsive educational practices, library program design, digital research tools, and student-centered programming. It also requires strong collaboration and organizational skills, the ability to build relationships with students who may have had limited prior access to books and libraries, and a real-world understanding that school-based literacy leadership is an act of servant leadership that extends beyond the traditional school day.

Reporting to EMNRBS' Principal/Executive Director, this role will work in particularly close collaboration with the Senior Leadership Team, Grade Team Leads, Subject Matter Team Leads, and instructional staff to ensure that all students have access to a robust ecosystem that supports academic achievement, literacy growth, inquiry, creativity, and high accountability standards.

Grounded in EMNRBS' mission that "A Ball and A Book Can Change the World," the Library Media Specialist will help students develop meaningful relationships with reading and literacy while creating a library environment that serves as a school-wide resource for students, teachers, and families. The role will transform the library into a living learning hub that empowers students as readers, thinkers, storytellers, creators, researchers, and future leaders.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Build and sustain a school-wide culture of literacy that motivates students to read for both academic and personal growth, including students who may be reading below grade level, developing foundational literacy skills, or building initial relationships with books and libraries.

• Match students with culturally relevant, accessible, high-interest, and identity-affirming books and resources aligned to their interests, identities, aspirations, and learning needs.
• Use high-interest/low-readability texts, graphic novels, audiobooks, e-books, digital texts, multimedia resources, and interactive experiences to support struggling, reluctant, and emerging readers.
• Implement and support reading initiatives such as book clubs, reading challenges, advisory reading, student-led discussions, literacy celebrations, author visits, book talks, student showcases, and other literacy-focused events.
• Teach information literacy, media literacy, research skills, news literacy, source evaluation, understanding of bias, ethical use of information, digital citizenship, and responsible creation and consumption of information aligned with New York State standards.
• When the need arises, deliver instruction through a combination of direct teaching, push-in support, pull-out support, co-teaching, and advisory support.
• Collaborate with faculty to integrate literacy, research, inquiry-based learning, project-based learning, and digital research practices across subject areas and interdisciplinary projects.
• Serve as a school-wide instructional and curricular resource by supporting teachers with literacy practices, research tools, databases, information fluency, library resources, interdisciplinary planning, Regents readiness efforts, and innovative course or project design.
• Collaborate closely with the Senior Leadership Team, Grade Team Leads, Subject Matter Team Leads, and instructional staff to align library programming with academic priorities, student needs, and school-wide initiatives.
• Attend administrative recurring meetings as requested and as a normal part of the role, including meetings connected to school-wide planning, instructional alignment, student support, programming, and operations.
• Support interdisciplinary learning connected to EMNRBS' Ecosystem of Basketball, including sports analytics, sports law, business and entrepreneurship, media and journalism, marketing, health and nutrition, fashion and design, arena branding, podcasting, broadcast media, and authentic college and career research.
• Develop, curate, and maintain a diverse, inclusive, engaging, and primarily digital library collection that includes physical books, e-books, audiobooks, research databases, digital collections, and other resources that expand student access and opportunity.
• Manage library program operations, including cataloging, circulation systems, scheduling, inventory, library space usage, adjacent learning spaces, and integration of platforms such as NOVELny, TeachingBooks, and digital literacy and research databases.
• Use student voice, engagement data, library usage data, reading engagement data, program effectiveness data, and partnership impact data to improve library services, programming, access, and student outcomes.
• Create and maintain a welcoming, student-centered, inclusive library environment that supports collaboration, independent learning, exploration, research, creativity, and varied learning styles and needs.
• Develop family literacy initiatives and community programming that give caregivers meaningful access to literacy resources, take-home reading opportunities, events, workshops, and school-community learning experiences.
• Develop and maintain partnerships with colleges, universities, cultural institutions, public libraries, community organizations, and industry professionals to coordinate guest speakers, literacy events, workshops, career-connected experiences, and authentic learning opportunities.
• Manage the library budget and external resources while ensuring appropriate stewardship of materials, partnerships, digital tools, and program investments.
• Ensure compliance with copyright expectations, ethical research practices, digital safety requirements, and responsible use of media and technology.
• Attend professional development opportunities both on campus and in collaboration with outside organizations, and lead professional development for faculty related to literacy practices, research tools and databases, information fluency, digital resources, and library programming.
• Regularly communicate with students' families and caregivers in order to build strong relationships with students, families, and the Bronx community around literacy, access, and student growth.
• Collaborate with faculty, students, families, and external partners to build an innovative, exciting, and effective school model that achieves EMNRBS' mission and helps students see themselves not only as athletes, but as readers, learners, creators, researchers, and leaders beyond the game.
• Be receptive to vertical and lateral feedback from colleagues, managers, students, and school partners, and use feedback to continuously improve library programming and student-facing supports.
• Perform other related duties as assigned, which may include school events such as: Orientation, Back to School Night, parent-teacher and student-teacher conferences, literacy celebrations, community events, guest speaker programming, and other school-wide activities.

Instructional Evaluations

One of the main tenets that serves as a basis of quality instruction at EMNRBS is that of efficient and effective instructional feedback given to instructional staff on a consistent and regular basis.

The formal evaluation rubric for this role is the NYLA-SSL/SLSA School Librarian Evaluation Rubric, aligning with the NYC School Quality Rubric and AASL Standards. The school may also use the Danielson Framework as its core teacher evaluation model when evaluating the Library Media Specialist, using Library Specialist adaptations to Danielson as best practice.

Evaluators assess librarians on planning and preparation, the library environment, delivering instruction, and professional responsibilities, customized to a resource-rich library setting rather than a traditional homeroom.

• Planning and Preparation: Focuses on the Library Media Specialist's ability to plan and prepare effective literacy, research, media, information literacy, and resource-rich learning experiences aligned to student needs and school priorities.
• The Library Environment: Assesses the ability to create and maintain a positive, productive, inclusive, accessible, and student-centered library environment that supports literacy, research, creativity, inquiry, collaboration, and independent learning.
• Delivering Instruction: Evaluates the ability to effectively teach literacy, research, media literacy, news literacy, digital citizenship, inquiry-based learning, and ethical use of information through direct teaching, push-in, pull-out, co-teaching, and advisory support as needed.
• Professional Responsibilities: Assesses professional conduct, collaboration, ethical practices, copyright and digital safety compliance, stewardship of resources, family and community engagement, responsiveness to feedback, and commitment to professional learning.

• Master of Library Science (MLS) or related degree.
• New York State School Library Media Specialist certification required.
• New York State teaching certification required.
• Experience or demonstrated commitment to literacy development and equitable educational practices.
• Strong preference for experience in urban educational environments.

Skills and Competencies

• Strong collaboration, relationship-building, and communication skills.

• Ability to engage reluctant readers and foster a school-wide culture of literacy.
• Knowledge of culturally responsive teaching practices and equitable literacy development.
• Ability to create an inclusive and welcoming environment for students with varied learning styles, reading levels, identities, and needs.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage library systems, schedules, collections, resources, data, partnerships, and programming.
• Ability to meet students where they are academically and socially while maintaining high expectations.
• Proficiency with educational technology, research databases, digital collections, digital media, and media tools.
• Flexibility, creativity, curiosity, and willingness to innovate and build a new program from the ground up.

Preferred Attributes

• Experience developing community partnerships and external programs.

• Interest in sports, media, and career-connected learning.
• Experience with podcasting, journalism, media production, broadcast media, or digital storytelling.
• Background in grant writing or program development.
• Demonstrated grit, initiative, and willingness to build a new program from the ground up.
• Early-career candidates with demonstrated passion for urban education, community-centered literacy, and meeting students where they are are strongly encouraged to apply.