School Librarian and Information Literacy Specialist
FLSA Status: Exempt
Division: Preschool through Grade 12 (PK–12)
Position Summary
The School Librarian and Information Literacy Specialist is an educator, instructional partner, literacy leader, and information specialist who cultivates a vibrant culture of reading, inquiry, and research across Preschool through Grade 12.
Working collaboratively with teachers, administrators, and students, the librarian designs engaging learning experiences that develop strong readers, thoughtful researchers, ethical users of information, and lifelong learners. The librarian serves as the school's expert in literature, information literacy, digital citizenship, and research practices, helping students navigate an increasingly complex information landscape shaped by artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.
Beyond managing an exceptional library collection, the librarian inspires a love of reading through innovative programming, author visits, book fairs, reading competitions, and community events while partnering with faculty to integrate research, literature, and information literacy into classroom instruction.
The School Librarian reports to the Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Innovation and serves as a collaborative instructional leader, advancing AGBU MDS's Four Pillars of Armenian Heritage, Academic Excellence, School Culture, and Operational Support.
Our Mission & Vision
- Mission: AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian School is a preschool through twelfth-grade school committed to instilling Armenian heritage and fostering academic excellence in a safe and nurturing environment. Our college preparatory program inspires students to become critical thinkers who value their Armenian culture and identity, and are equipped to face the ever-changing world.
- Vision: AGBU MDS is committed to being a premier school for educating and developing the character and intellect of Armenian youth.
Alignment with the AGBU MDS Pillars
The School Librarian advances all Four Pillars of AGBU MDS through the daily work of the position:
- Armenian Heritage: Curates literature, displays, and programming that connect students to Armenian language, history, and culture, helping students explore and embrace their Armenian-American identity.
- Academic Excellence: Delivers differentiated, data-informed instruction in research and information literacy that builds the critical thinking and analytical skills students need for a rigorous, college-preparatory course of study.
- School Culture: Builds a welcoming, inclusive library environment and a schoolwide reading culture that strengthens student engagement, belonging, and character development.
- Operational Support: Manages the library's collection, budget, and systems efficiently and responsibly, supporting the school's broader commitment to strong resource stewardship.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities1. Teaching & Student Learning
- Design and teach engaging library lessons that develop literacy, research, inquiry, and critical thinking.
- Teach students how to locate, evaluate, synthesize, and ethically use information from print, digital, and AI-supported sources.
- Develop students' information literacy, media literacy, and digital citizenship skills.
- Differentiate instruction for students across Preschool through Grade 12.
- Foster independent reading habits and a lifelong love of learning.
- Support students individually and in small groups with reading selections and research.
2. Instructional Partnership & Curriculum Collaboration
- Collaborate with teachers to integrate literature, research skills, and information literacy into classroom instruction.
- Co-plan and co-teach inquiry projects across grade levels.
- Recommend books, databases, and instructional resources that support the curriculum.
- Partner with faculty to design authentic research experiences.
- Assist teachers in integrating responsible AI use into student research, when appropriate.
- Serve as a resource for instructional technology and digital learning tools related to literacy and research.
3. Literacy Leadership & Reading Culture
- Develop and sustain a schoolwide culture that celebrates reading.
- Coordinate the annual Book Fair.
- Organize reading initiatives.
- Develop elementary, middle, and high school reading initiatives.
- Coordinate author visits, illustrators, storytellers, poets, and guest speakers.
- Create engaging reading challenges and literacy celebrations.
- Curate book displays highlighting current events, heritage months, student interests, and curriculum themes.
- Curate collections and programming that celebrate the Armenian language, literature, history, and culture, supporting students' connection to their Armenian heritage.
- Stay current with newly published children's, middle-grade, and young adult literature.
- Recommend outstanding books to students, teachers, and families.
- Build partnerships with publishers, authors, and literacy organizations.
- Promote reading through newsletters, social media, assemblies, and school events.
4. Information Literacy & Research
- Teach students how to determine the credibility, bias, authority, and reliability of sources.
- Teach ethical research practices.
- Help students understand how AI can support, but not replace, critical thinking.
- Promote responsible use of generative AI.
- Teach citation, plagiarism prevention, copyright, and academic integrity.
- Develop age-appropriate research frameworks.
- Support teachers in designing meaningful research experiences.
5. Library Program Administration
- Oversee collection development aligned to curriculum and student interest.
- Order books and instructional materials.
- Catalog new acquisitions and maintain accurate records.
- Manage circulation processes for students and staff.
- Conduct regular inventory of the library collection.
- Develop budget recommendations for the library program.
- Maintain and troubleshoot library management software.
- Maintain a welcoming, well-organized, and safe learning space.
- Conduct collection analysis to identify gaps and needs.
- Weed outdated or damaged materials on an ongoing basis.
- Manage digital resources and online subscription platforms.
6. Professional Leadership
- Serve as an advocate for literacy and inquiry across the school community.
- Remain current with best practices in school librarianship.
- Participate in professional organizations and ongoing professional learning.
- Build partnerships with community organizations that support literacy and research.
- Recommend innovative practices to strengthen the library program.
- Help shape the future direction of the school library.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree required.
- Professional experience working in a library, school library, academic resource center, educational setting, or closely related environment.
- Demonstrated understanding of how to operate a library, including book selection, ordering, cataloging, circulation, inventory, and student-facing services.
- Experience supporting student reading, literacy development, research, and use of academic resources.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong organization and follow-through.
- Ability to manage several priorities while helping build systems in a new and still-developing space.
- Ability to work well with school leaders, teachers, students, families, and support teams.
- Comfort using library systems, digital resources, Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, and related tools.
- Ability to work on-site in Canoga Park, California.
Preferred Qualifications
- Master's degree in Library Science, Library and Information Science, Education, or a related field.
- School librarian credential, teacher librarian credential, teaching credential, or similar professional preparation.
- Prior experience as a school librarian, teacher librarian, library director, media specialist, or comparable role in a K–12 setting.
- Experience helping launch, reorganize, or grow a school library or learning center.
- Expertise in children's, middle-grade, and young adult literature.
- Demonstrated experience collaborating with classroom teachers.
- Experience planning and coordinating schoolwide literacy initiatives, such as book fairs, book competitions (e.g., Battle of the Books), reading clubs, reading challenges, author visits, and school/community literacy events.
- Knowledge of inquiry-based learning.
- Understanding of AI, media literacy, and digital citizenship.
- Experience teaching research skills.
- Experience working in a private, independent, nonprofit, faith-based, or mission-driven school setting.
- Demonstrated biliterate and bicultural competency in English and Armenian and ability to contribute meaningfully to help to evolve and strengthen the school culture.
Required Skills and Competencies
- Good professional judgment.
- Ability to build trust with students and faculty.
- Clear communication and steady follow-through.
- Strong attention to detail.
- Ability to create order and structure in a new environment.
- Genuine interest in reading, student research, and academic growth.
- Ability to balance a traditional library function with the more active and collaborative purpose of the CLC.
- Discretion and respect for confidentiality.
- Ability to work across divisions and build practical partnerships.
- A hands-on, problem-solving approach.
- Comfort with a role that will likely evolve as the CLC develops.
Physical Requirements/Work Environment
- Work is performed primarily on campus in the Library and Collaborative Learning Center.
- The role requires regular interaction with students, faculty, staff, families, and visitors in an active school setting.
- Must be able to move throughout the Library, CLC, and related campus areas as needed.
- Must be able to sit, stand, walk, bend, reach, and use a computer and standard office/library equipment.
- Must be able to lift, carry, push, or move books, boxes, carts, supplies, or related materials, typically up to 25 pounds.
- The environment may include normal school-day noise, interruptions, student activity, events, and changing priorities.
- Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.
Our Vision for the Library
At AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian School, the library is the intellectual hub of the school, a place where curiosity is nurtured, stories inspire empathy, research fuels discovery, and ideas are explored with purpose. In an age of artificial intelligence and unlimited access to information, the School seeks a librarian who will empower students to become passionate readers, confident researchers, discerning consumers of information, and ethical digital citizens. The successful candidate will help build a library program that inspires every student to read widely, think deeply, ask meaningful questions, and engage thoughtfully with the world.
Other Duties Disclaimer
This job description is meant to capture the current understanding of the role. Because the Library and Collaborative Learning Center are new and expected to develop over time, some responsibilities may be adjusted or clarified as the program and building use take shape. Duties may change based on the School's needs.
Pay: $80,000.00 - $100,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Employee discount
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply
Work Location: In person
