Paraprofessionals

=Paraprofessionals=

The paraprofessional is a crucial component of a successful school library program. Paraprofessionals are those persons who work alongside professionals in education. Often, the paraprofessional, also known as a library assistant, is working behind the scenes but their work is critical to the entire operation. The type of formal training paraprofessionals have depends on the school district and their hiring policies. More often than not a library assistant is required to have a high school diploma and experience or training in Office Administration. The ability to organize workload and perform tasks with minimal supervision is also a required.

Generally, library assistants acquire their basic training after they are hired for the position. Having a procedure manual outlining the job description and responsibilities, performance standards, technology information, school library's mission statement, collection development as well as the services provided is a good place to start. It is important to have clear expectations and the teacher-librarian has a responsibility to provide direction and supervision. There must also be opportunities for the paraprofessional to establish how to do their job, as well as respect for their ideas and suggestions. A library assistant is invaluable and those who are able to work without the need for too much direction while demonstrate initiative become partners in learning.

The ability to train is an important skill for a teacher-librarian. You must be able to provide direction, outline expectations and establish standards. Providing constructive feedback, as well as praise is essential in providing open lines of communication with other staff in the library. With the advances in technology today, it isn't unusual to have a library assistant who takes on added responsiblities by learning the emerging technology and assisting in creating pathfinders on wikis, updating the library blog, conducting searches on the database and other computer applications. The paraprofessional must be willing to take on new roles and challenges as the needs of the school library change.

The Canadian Association of Library's publication //Achieving Information Literacy: Standards for School Library Programs in Canada// (2003//)// outlines the acceptable standards for library assitant hours depending on the school population. It is important the teacher-librarian document the need for a library assistant using a list of duties and responsibilites the paraprofessional performs on a regular basis. This information can be included in your monthly library reports. Without library assistants a teacher-librarian will have to focus his/her time shelving books, entering new acquisitions into the datbase, completing circulation tasks and other duties that take time away from collaboration, literacy programs, inquiry based programs and fulfilling their leadership role in changing the school culture.

Some of the duties of a paraprofessional:
 * maintain client records
 * input new acquisitions into automated data base
 * label and cover new acquisitions
 * help students and staff find resources
 * maintain financial records
 * shelve books and materials
 * update library pathfinders
 * circulate materiasl
 * create displays
 * mend materials or discard those that must be replace
 * order and keep track of interlibrary loans
 * monitor students during visits to library
 * keep the library procedure manual up to date
 * troubleshoot computer, scanner and printer problems

=﻿﻿Take aways =
 * define the job description using a policy manual
 * provide on the job training
 * outline expectations
 * allow for initiative and creativity
 * implement suggestions
 * provide praise for jobs well done
 * work alongside your paraprofessional not above
 * document the responsibilities and tasks performed on a regular basis to demonstrate the need for a library assistant

=﻿Resources = media type="custom" key="8587006"This video clearly outlines the need for a library assistant and how the school library is copping with the cuts to the paraprofessional's hours. Student volunteers are helping out but are unable to fulfill all the roles of a trained library assistant.

media type="custom" key="8587052" Lists guidelines for librarians regarding the selection of paraprofessionals for libraries. Role of paraprofessionals; Job description chart for library media assistants. French, Nancy K. //Managing Paraeducators in Your School: How to Hire, Train, and Supervise Non-certified Staff//. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin, 2003. Print. This guide provides tools and strategies for recruiting, managing, and using paraeducators in schools. It offers guidelines for using paraeducators in ways that best contribute to student achievement as well as strategies for identifying best practices, time frames, and people best suited for training paraprofessionals. It includes specific guidelines for working with paraeducators in school libraries and media centers. The guide also contains many user-friendly information recaps; lists of questions; sample forms; sample plans; worksheets for a variety of tasks; and self-assessment and support checklists for a variety of tasks. (Contains a subject index and 73 references.) (WFA) You can view the entire section pertaining to school libraries and media centers through Google Books.