N.M. Code R. § 6.64.8.7 – Definitions

A. Bibliographic records: A collection of data that identifies/describes a particular published item. Examples of collections of bibliographic records are: catalogs, databases, indexes.
B. Information: “All print, oral, visual, electronic systems inclusive of both factual and literary materials.” (NM library and information literacy task force, “Library and information literacy: Changing curriculum with an expanding universe of ‘literacies,” January 1996.)
C. Information literacy: “The ability to access, evaluate, and use information from a variety of sources” (California media and library educators association. From library skills to information literacy: A handbook for the 21st century. 1994)
(1) “The ability to use information to acquire both core and advanced knowledge, to become an independent, lifelong learner who contributes responsibly and productively to the learning community.” (AASL/AECT national guidelines vision committee. Information literacy standards for student learning, 1997)
(2) “The term being applied to the skills of information problem solving.” (AASL position statement “information literacy: a position paper on information problem solving,” Emergency librarian, 23:20, Nov.- Dec. 1995).
D. Library/information literacy: “Library/ Information Literacy is the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, use, produce, and appreciate all types of information, utilizing a wide range of media formats. Literacy also implies the ethical and responsible use of information and information technologies.” (NM Task Force, Ibid, 1996).
E. Intellectual freedom: “The right of the individual to freely select from many different types of materials expressing many viewpoints, or the right of free access to many different sources.” (Davies, Ruth A. the school library media center: A force for educational excellence, 2d ed., 1974.)
(1) “The freedom to view, along with the freedom to speak, to hear, and to read, is protected by the first amendment to the constitution of the United States. In a free society, there is no place for censorship of any medium or expression.” (educational film library association, American library association, association of educational communications and technology, “freedom to view,” 1979).
(2) “intellectual freedom, the essence of equitable library services, provides for free access to all expressions of ideas through which any and all sides of a question, cause, or movement may be explored.” ALA council. “diversity in collection development, ” July 1982/ January 1990.
F. Library media center (LMC): “A central access point to information resources and to the instruction on their use.” (NM Task Force, Ibidem, 1996).
G. Library media programs: “The role of the library media program is to ensure that students and staff are effective users of ideas and information. The library media program supports curricular and recreational needs of students by providing adequate resources, services and training. It facilitates the independent use of information. The library media program that is truly integrated into the school’s curriculum is central to helping students master information literacy skills.” (Emergency Librarian, Ibidem, p. 21)
H. Library media specialist (LMS): The library media specialist serves as the leader in developing and promoting the information literacy component of the school curriculum, and serves as the supervisor/ director of the library media program in the school. Minimum requirements include a bachelor’s degree and teacher certification with an LMS endorsement. The library media specialist is considered a professional teacher.
I. Library media technician: The library media technician serves as a paraprofessional in one or more areas of focus, such as operations and maintenance of circulation, of collections, of equipment, or provision of production services. Minimum requirements include two years of post-secondary training (college, A. A. degree or other post-secondary training programs), with courses in the above areas. The Library Media Technician is not considered to be part of the professional teaching staff.
J. Library assistant: The library assistant serves as a paraprofessional who is responsible for clerical service(s) in the school library media center, such as checking materials in and out, shelving materials, etc. With only on-the-job training, the library assistant is not considered to be a part of the professional teaching staff.
K. Selection/ deselection:
(1) Selection: Use of both professional knowledge of collection development and knowledge about the needs and interests of the client, the community, and the school’s curriculum to choose the most appropriate materials/resources.
(2) Deselection: “Continuous review and evaluation of library materials is necessary as a means of maintaining an active library collection of current interest to users. Evaluation of the usefulness of the current collection and removal of no-longer-relevant materials is called ‘weeding’, ‘re-evaluating the collection’, or ‘deselection.’ This does not include removal of materials to avoid controversy.” (ALA council. “evaluating library collections,” 1981.)
L. Technology: “Educational technology involves the array of modern tools that support learning and teaching. These interactive tools include: computers, calculators, interactive video, telecommunications, satellite conferencing, design technology, instructional television, music synthesis, and other media. These tools must be combined with effective teaching strategies in order to optimize student success in learning.” (NM State department of education. Resource notebook for educational technology planning, 1995, p.15) “technology includes...tools used in the educational process that constitute learning resources and may include closed circuit television systems, educational television and radio broadcasting, cable television, satellite, copper and fiber optic transmission, computer, video and audio laser, and CD ROM discs, video and audio tapes, and other technologies; and the training, maintenance, equipment and computer infrastructure, techniques and tools, used to implement technology in classrooms and library media centers.” (New Mexico state legislature. Technology for Education Act, 1994)
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