[ISLMA-Share] Help save our library!

Fri Apr 15 10:19:09 CDT 2016

Hi all,
I hope I don't sound like, "sour grapes," but I'm trying to sort through
options I may be overlooking regarding my situation.

I have been a librarian 11 years for 6th - 12th grades at a private school.
I received shocking news that my position will be cut to part-time this
fall. Over the years, I've established strong relationships with parents,
and they have served as volunteers in the library.

I met with the school Superintendent who gave me this news, after I did not
receive my contract at the usual time. There was no room for discussion. He
recognized all I've accomplished, but insisted budget cuts propel this
decision. Unfortunately, statistics and examples of all I accomplish, do
not sway this decision. The school principal is even less supportive. I was
hired by this school Superintendent and a different principal.

I am at a loss on how to proceed. I enjoy my school, students, and staff
and have a good relationship with all of them. At this point in time, there
is no room for discussion on how the library will be managed without my
expertise. On one hand, I am grateful to have a part-time position, but do
prefer full-time. Pushing back with this management team would likely end
up in termination, rather than understanding.

Any thoughts?

Norma Walters, MLS

On Fri, Apr 15, 2016 at 9:45 AM, Email list for the Illinois School Library
Media Association <islma at list.railslibraries.info> wrote:

> Having watched this painful decision be fleshed out in a neighboring
> district, I did learn that your best defense is fact, not emotion.  High
> school librarians can speak to this better than I, but I believe for your
> high school to retain their accreditation, they need to have a full-time,
> certified, librarian.   If the Keith Curry Lance research
> <http://keithcurrylance.com/school-library-impact-studies/> is not enough
> for your administrators, they may listen to PEW's research on libraries
> <http://www.pewinternet.org/2015/09/15/libraries-at-the-crossroads/>.  If
> you google, "importance of libraries" research 2013..2016, you can find a
> number of studies that could help your cause.
>
> On Fri, Apr 15, 2016 at 9:21 AM, Email list for the Illinois School
> Library Media Association <islma at list.railslibraries.info> wrote:
>
>> Make sure you check out Linking for Learning.  If you don’t have a copy,
>> you can order one from the ISLMA website, or I’m sure someone would lend
>> you a copy.  Also on the ISLMA website is an advocacy link.  This is full
>> of great information.   http://www.islma.org/resources.htm#adv
>>
>>
>>
>> AASL advocacy site. This may arm you with some information and tools you
>> can use.  http://www.ala.org/aasl/advocacy/resources
>>
>>
>>
>> Good luck to you!
>>
>>
>>
>> Christine Barr
>>
>> LMC Director
>>
>> Fabyan Elementary
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* islma-bounces at list.railslibraries.info [mailto:
>> islma-bounces at list.railslibraries.info] *On Behalf Of *Email list for
>> the Illinois School Library Media Association
>> *Sent:* Friday, April 15, 2016 8:23 AM
>> *To:* islma at list.railslibraries.info
>> *Subject:* Re: [ISLMA-Share] Help save our library!
>>
>>
>>
>> One thing you might consider is having your aide do a time-log for
>> several different days.  Every 15 minutes she logs what she is working on.
>> It can be a pain, but very valuable data.  Quite often people outside the
>> library world have no idea what we do daily as they think we just check
>> books in and out, how hard can it be?  A log will show all of the different
>> activities, from reshelving and repairs to routine paperwork and assisting
>> kids that an aide does, and then I would also keep track of how much time
>> you try to squeeze into your schedule taking care of library related
>> issues.  Straight up numbers can be convincing sometimes when people have a
>> hard time with the bigger picture.  Bring these two logs to every meeting
>> and show them to everyone you can, and be prepared to leave copies with
>> them for their perusal!
>>
>> Good Luck!
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Valerie brunner
>>
>> 315 S. Henderson
>>
>> Mt. Zion, IL 62549
>>
>> brunnerv at mtzion.k12.il.us
>>
>> 217-864-2369
>>
>>
>>
>> “be kind.  Everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle”
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* islma-bounces at list.railslibraries.info [
>> mailto:islma-bounces at list.railslibraries.info
>> <islma-bounces at list.railslibraries.info>] *On Behalf Of *Email list for
>> the Illinois School Library Media Association
>> *Sent:* Thursday, April 14, 2016 4:51 PM
>> *To:* islma at list.railslibraries.info
>> *Subject:* [ISLMA-Share] Help save our library!
>>
>>
>>
>> I am a fourth grade teacher and also have been the district librarian for
>> about six years. Our district has three separate buildings each with a
>> library and an aide in each to run it. I am in the classroom and do not
>> work in any of the libraries. The aide at the high school is retiring at
>> the end of this year. The principal at that building  has decided to not
>> replace her and is instead teaching the English teachers and the aides
>> still at the building to check out the books. There is no plan that I know
>> of to take care of inter-library loan, reshelving books, ordering, etc. He
>> changes his mind week to week about what to do.  I am told that the
>> students get everything they need through Pearson (We are one to one). The
>> superintendent does not feel he can justify having an aide in the high
>> school library because of the low circulation numbers. However, there is
>> a career class taught in the library which the library aide helps with and
>> whose salary is 5/7 paid for through Career Links. The principal wants to
>> move the career class out of the library for reasons which I am not sure of.
>>
>>
>>
>> I give a report to the board once a quarter and have spoken to them a
>> couple of times just to let them know we, the library, are still alive.  I
>> need help with keeping someone in our high school library and to change the
>> attitudes of our superintendent and high school principal. I feel the
>> principals at the junior high and elementary are more supportive. I feel
>> overwhelmed. I have my hands full just with my classroom. Can you help? Let
>> me know if you have any suggestions on how to proceed to save our high
>> school library. Thank you!
>>
>> --
>>
>> *Vicki Bonnett*
>>
>> *4th Grade Teacher/District Librarian*
>>
>> *Havana CUSD 126*
>>
>>
>>
>> *New Central School 215 N. Pearl Havana, IL 62644*
>>
>>
>> *School (309)-543-2241 <%28309%29-543-2241> Cell (309)-338-3443
>> <%28309%29-338-3443>*
>>
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>
>
>
> --
> Denise Reeder
> Library Information Specialist
> Lincoln M
> 
> iddle School
> 200 South Lincoln Avenue
> Park Ridge, IL  60068
> https://sites.google.com/a/d64.org/lincoln-middle-school-lrc
> 847.318.4220
>
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>

-- 
Norma Walters, MLS
Rockford Christian Schools
Rockford, IL. 61107
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