Lower School Librarian

About St. Mark’s

Founded in 1906, St. Mark's School of Texas is a non-sectarian, college-preparatory, independent day school for boys in grades one through twelve. The School’s charter states that it is “designed to afford its students well-rounded physical, intellectual, moral, and religious training and instruction.” The School is intended to be a diverse community of teachers and students who share a love of learning and who strive for high achievement in whatever they undertake.

St. Mark’s aims to prepare young men to assume leadership and responsibility in a competitive and changing world. To this end, the School professes and upholds certain values. These values include the discipline of postponing immediate gratification in the interest of earning eventual, hard-won satisfaction; the responsibility of defending one’s own ideas, of respecting the views of others, and of accepting the consequences for one’s own actions; and an appreciation for the lively connection between knowledge and responsibility and the obligation to serve.

Position Description

St. Mark’s School of Texas is seeking an information professional to serve as Lower School Librarian, beginning in the 2024-25 school year. The Lower School Librarian reports to the Director of Libraries and Information Services and serves students and faculty in grades 1 – 4. In addition to working closely with LS administration, faculty, and the parent community, the Lower School Librarian plays a central role in the education of Lower School students. The librarian supports recreational reading and teaches efficient information gathering techniques, website evaluation, and citing sources. Literature is introduced to our youngest readers, followed by discussions on the elements of fiction. Particular attention is given to what can be learned about empathy, respect, responsibility, and other character and leadership qualities. Candidates should also possess excellent written and oral communication skills, be organized, punctual, and a positive team player. St. Mark’s is a vibrant learning community, and successful candidates will be generative in their thinking about teaching and learning, will enjoy working with young boys, and will seek to collaborate with colleagues, share teaching resources, and contribute to the wider school community in a myriad of ways.

Responsibilities

• Teach weekly scheduled classes for grades 1-4
• Collaborate with LS faculty on special classroom projects
• Design instructional lessons that provide guidance for the best print and nonprint sources
• Promote library resources and support instruction to make the LS Library the learning hub of the LS community
• Acquire and process books and other materials for the library including eBooks and audio books through the Sora platform
• Administer, maintain, and advise on the Accelerated Reader program
• Create LibGuides for access to library resources
• Work with the extensive network of parent volunteers in the Lower School Library
• Organize visiting authors in collaboration with library faculty
• Serve the Office of Admission by participating in Saturday observations in December and January
• Work with library colleagues to ensure the smooth implementation/operation of library policies and technologies
• Perform other duties as assigned
• A Master’s degree in library and information science is required.
• A minimum of five years of teaching experience is preferred.
• Knowledge of varied teaching strategies to differentiate learning.
• Fluency with a variety of technology tools to advance learning.
• Passion and patience for working with children.
  
  

Qualified applicants should visit our website to complete an application including a letter of interest, a statement of teaching philosophy, and a resume.