[ISLMA-Share] Aurora Beacon-News: West Aurora cuts school librarians

Fri May 20 10:25:23 CDT 2016

I almost accepted an offer in this district last July. I was really excited
because they were undergoing a huge renovation and the principal
specifically wanted me to work with him to design a 21st century library
space and outreach in the community.

I know that there were and are committed librarians in that district.

Unfortunately, the district admin did not want to offer me compensation for
my Master's degree. They were unsympathetic and would not budge. This was a
major clue that they just wanted a body in the library. . . and did not
value the library as a program in the school.

This trend is very sad. Isn't it tiring always having to advocate for your
job? For your budget? For your schedule? For use of your own classroom?

I am not sure about what the advocacy answer is . . . but I think we do a
lot of preaching to the choir. We need to INFORM administration, school
boards and parents. We all know the teachers already love us, but no one
listens to them either. :)

[image: Inline image 1]

On Thu, May 19, 2016 at 3:08 PM, Email list for the Illinois School Library
Media Association <islma at list.railslibraries.info> wrote:

> Advocacy cannot come from the librarian.  Advocacy has to come from the
> staff and students.
>
> Also, nicely said Gretchen.
>
> jpr
>
> On Thu, May 19, 2016 at 2:20 PM, Email list for the Illinois School
> Library Media Association <islma at list.railslibraries.info> wrote:
>
>> I think it's sad that the administration explored no other options except
>> replacement.  It shows a complete and utter lack of creative problem
>> solving and goes against current best practices.  In lieu of canning the
>> program, they should have redirected the library program to explore science
>> - what better place to learn about science than a library?
>>
>> ------------------------------
>> To: islma at list.railslibraries.info
>> Date: Thu, 19 May 2016 18:55:09 +0000
>> From: islma at list.railslibraries.info
>>
>> Subject: Re: [ISLMA-Share] Aurora Beacon-News: West Aurora cuts school
>> librarians
>>
>> Thank you.  All of your words of support really have touched me and I
>> know those of my colleagues too as they read all of your responses. [image:
>> ☹]  You guys are the best!
>>
>>
>>
>> *"There are many little ways to enlarge your child's world. Love of books
>> is the best of all."*
>>
>> *— Jacqueline Kennedy*
>>
>>
>> Carla Buell
>> Schneider Elementary
>> "One of the 3 Elementary District Library Media Center Directors trying
>> to save libraries in West Aurora..."
>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>> *From:* islma-bounces at list.railslibraries.info <
>> islma-bounces at list.railslibraries.info> on behalf of Email list for the
>> Illinois School Library Media Association <islma at list.railslibraries.info
>> >
>> *Sent:* Thursday, May 19, 2016 1:13:57 PM
>> *To:* islma at list.railslibraries.info
>> *Subject:* Re: [ISLMA-Share] Aurora Beacon-News: West Aurora cuts school
>> librarians
>>
>> Well said. Thank you
>> Colleen Beierle
>>
>> Colleen Beierle
>> “The mission for school library programs is to ensure that students are
>> effective users of ideas and information by being critical thinkers,
>> enthusiastic readers, skillful researchers, and ethical users of
>> information.”
>>
>> Zorana Ercegovac
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Thu, May 19, 2016 at 1:05 PM, Email list for the Illinois School
>> Library Media Association <islma at list.railslibraries.info> wrote:
>>
>> This is not a criticism of any one person, but if you read the article,
>> there is no mention of the teaching and instruction that happens in an
>> elementary school library at all. No mention of research skills or the
>> learning triangulation of information for accuracy or digital citizenship
>> skills being taught. Little mention of the literacy needs of the
>> underserved and at-risk population in West Aurora, and only passing mention
>> of the work librarians do to support the curriculum needs of
>> specific teachers or the typing and tech skills often taught in library
>> media centers.
>>
>> In the absence of this information, it appears on the surface that the
>> administrators are making a sound decision. It also mentions that there was
>> no public forum, no chance for the community to show any support for their
>> school libraries. If grass root support for school libraries exists in
>> West Aurora, the citizens and parents can still take a stand and have their
>> voices heard. If no one does anything, then they will have to wait until
>> data shows that these children are lacking the literacy skills needed to
>> read and understand the directions to do the STEM projects administrators
>> are so anxious to implement.
>>
>> While Makerspaces are places for students to engage in STEM projects, the
>> library is the sum of all its parts. Access to books, information, good
>> teaching, tech tools and a certified pathfinder/mentor/book guru is what
>> makes a library a kitchen instead of a grocery store (Thanks, Joyce
>> Valenza). Until librarians make themselves indispensable in the eyes
>> of their faculties, students, administrators and parents, they will always
>> be on the front lines of budget cuts and curriculum time pressures.
>> Unfortunately in Illinois, the lack of state funding has placed district
>> officials in no win situations and students librarians have and will
>> continue to suffer.
>>
>> My two and half cents,
>> Gretchen Zaitzeff
>> University High School
>> Normal, IL
>> ------------------------------
>> *From:* islma-bounces at list.railslibraries.info [
>> islma-bounces at list.railslibraries.info] on behalf of Email list for the
>> Illinois School Library Media Association [islma at list.railslibraries.info
>> ]
>> *Sent:* Thursday, May 19, 2016 11:39 AM
>> *To:* 'islma at list.railslibraries.info'
>> *Subject:* Re: [ISLMA-Share] Aurora Beacon-News: West Aurora cuts school
>> librarians
>>
>> If you have a kid there, doesn’t that mean you should contact your school
>> board members and complain?
>>
>>
>>
>> I think the real issue is as a profession we are not advocating for
>> ourselves anywhere enough.
>>
>>
>>
>> It doesn’t need to be much. The easiest method is to work with the powers
>> that be. I have a board member that was a volunteer in my school library. I
>> have a board member that is a retired teacher from my school. I have 2 of
>> the superintendent’s kids that were past student aides in my library. I
>> have 2 former student aides that are the children of principals in other
>> schools in our district. I help our educational foundation and won grants
>> through them. Each and every one of these is a connection to a decision
>> maker. Each and every one of these people knows something about what we do
>> in our school’s library.
>>
>>
>>
>> Sincerely,
>>
>>
>>
>> Alan, Librarian serving Brooks Middle School
>>
>>
>>
>> "What a school thinks about its library is a measure of what it thinks
>> about education."
>> - Harold Howe, former U.S. Commissioner of Education
>>
>>
>>
>> *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:* Thursday, May 19, 2016 10:15 AM
>> *To:* islma at list.railslibraries.info
>> *Subject:* Re: [ISLMA-Share] Aurora Beacon-News: West Aurora cuts school
>> librarians
>>
>>
>>
>> I feel so bad for these kids - especially mine who is at one of these
>> elementary schools .....
>>
>>
>>
>> On Thu, May 19, 2016 at 8:14 AM, Email list for the Illinois School
>> Library Media Association <islma at list.railslibraries.info> wrote:
>>
>> Elementary School Librarians
>>
>> West Aurora cuts school librarians <http://fw.to/AqnMiBc>
>>
>> This message was sent to you by mspevacek at d131.org
>>
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>>
>>
>>
>> --
>>
>> *Crystal Mahoney*
>>
>> *Library Media Specialist*
>>
>> *Wolf's Crossing Elementary School*
>>
>> *630.636.3703*
>>
>> @LRCWolverines
>>
>>
>>
>> "No one ever told you that doing the right thing would be so hard. Or
>> feel so lonely."
>>
>> The Paper Cowboy by Kristin Levine
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>
>
>
> --
>
> Jacob P. Roskovensky
>
> Library Media Specialist,
> Charleston High School
>
> Membership Function Representative,
> Illinois School Library Media Association
>
> 1615 Lincoln Avenue
> Charleston, IL 61920
> (217) 639- 5012
>
> CHLE-ZCH
>
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> roskoihls at gmail.com
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