[ISLMA-Share] Help save our library!

Fri Apr 15 12:41:18 CDT 2016

Thanks so much, Michelle. You've summed it up nicely, albeit it sadly. Our
situations are quite similar, from the teachers outcry (to no avail) to the
necessity of remaining in this area due to family needs.

I appreciate your suggested guidelines and advice regarding expectations.
I'll be meeting in a week or two with the superintendent and the principal
to "work out the details." It's off-setting when a person has been loyal,
hard-working, innovative, and so on.....

I'm sure I'll make it through this huge adjustment, both to the library and
to our personal finances. Hopefully, after the shock wears off, I'll be
able to think clearly and begin planning my upcoming position as part-time
librarian!

Norma Walters, MLS

On Fri, Apr 15, 2016 at 11:26 AM, Email list for the Illinois School
Library Media Association <islma at list.railslibraries.info> wrote:

> I totally get it, Norma.
>
> This is the end of my second year in two middle schools with no
> paraprofessional help.
>
>
>
> When the decision was first made to reduce middle school librarians from
> four to two, I went to the superintendent armed with research and made both
> an informed, research-driven, and passionate plea for what was best for our
> students and teachers. I was told then and have been several times since
> that it is not about whether they value librarians and librarians, but
> rather about being a position of having to cut the budget somewhere.
> Teachers at my original school wrote letters to the Board decrying the cuts
> and how they affect our goal of literacy and one made a beautiful speech at
> a Board meeting—to no avail. I am sure other teachers at the other three
> schools spoke up as well. As a former district administrator said, if it is
> between reducing your program and increasing class sizes by cutting
> teachers, your program has to be cut—I would make that decision every time.
>
>
>
> I think that only legislation requiring full staffing of libraries (like
> they have in Tennessee) would help in Illinois, but we all know how our
> state government just can’t get it together L And, since you are at a
> private school, I don’t think even that could help you, unfortunately.
>
>
>
> One piece of advice I would give is to ask your administrators what their
> expectations are in terms of your responsibilities--what should take
> priority, and what you should “let go of” given that your time is limited.
> My colleague and I were told, for example, that our first priority is to
> work with literature teachers, and so much of the research/project teaching
> I used to do is not able to take place. The problem with that, of course,
> is that very few administrators fully grasp all that we do and how much
> time the administrative responsibilities of a librarian take. So you will
> also need to identify your most important goals as well, to remain true to
> the program you have created and to your knowledge of the best way to serve
> your students and staff.
>
>
>
> For example, I have created a few guidelines for myself that include never
> spending my time shelving books and leaving that for volunteers (and the
> plan-time covers I have at one of the schools), ordering fully processed
> books whenever possible, recognizing that I cannot possibly inventory the
> entire collection every year, dropping overdue fines as they are too much
> of a hassle for little gain, saying “no” when I must instead of killing
> myself to do everything I used to do, and always taking a lunch break, even
> if I have to lock the door for 20 minutes. I also have vowed never to cut
> out my collaborative program with the local teen librarians, as it is too
> valuable to lose.
>
>
>
> My family situation did not (and still does not) allow me to pursue a
> position elsewhere, by that is also something to ask yourself. Although
> they are declining, there are still schools that do employ full-time school
> librarians, both in Illinois and elsewhere. If this had happened earlier in
> my career, I would have had more options.
>
>
>
> Best of luck to you, Norma. I look forward to hearing the replies of
> others, as well, because I am always looking for new ideas on how to make
> it through the day, the week, the school year….
>
>
>
> Michelle
>
>
>
> Michelle Glatt
>
> Librarian
>
> Chiddix and Evans Junior High Schools
>
> Bloomington-Normal, IL
>
> glattml at unit5.org
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> *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 10:19 AM
>
> *To:* islma at list.railslibraries.info
> *Subject:* Re: [ISLMA-Share] Help save our library!
>
>
>
> 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 School215 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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-- 
Norma Walters, MLS
Rockford Christian Schools
Rockford, IL. 61107
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