[ISLMA-Share] District Librarian

[Email list for the Illinois School Library Media Association]

Dear Jen,

A lot of great ideas already!!!!!

Below is a great resource for research on the effectiveness of libraries.
https://www.lrs.org/data-tools/school-libraries/impact-studies/.  Here are
a few things to consider:

Collecting data is important, more now than ever: how many students does
each library see daily; what services do they provide; what types of staff
support services do they offer.   Also, having a job description for each
librarian at each building is critical.   You can present this information
so your community understands what services they will lose if the librarian
positions are eliminated.  Many times the board and administrators do not
realize how much their librarian actually does. Make the data simple, but
effective.  Too much information could work against you.

It's also important to articulate the value of the library collection and
the work involved in keeping it relevant and current.  Book displays are a
great way to start.  Keeping circulation and collection development data is
also important.  You can also highlight the collection by sharing
curricular connections with teachers and staff  to show how your books can
be used in the curriculum?  Send out book lists, book reviews, and other
resources that make the connection.  Build a community of information users.

Finally,  having website is critical.  Keep your website filled with vetted
resources and tools for teachers and students to use.  Add projects and
pictures so your community can see the library in action.

I hope this helps!

Best wishes,

Michelle Torrise, MLIS
Westmont High School



On Wed, Jan 11, 2017 at 10:09 PM, Email list for the Illinois School
Library Media Association <islma at list.railslibraries.info> wrote:

> Librarians,
>
> I need your help.  My school district’s administration proposed on Monday
> the cutting of 7 of our 8 librarians for next year in order to save money.
> The one remaining librarian would serve as the District Librarian and would
> be stationed at the high school.  Their daily schedule (4 block) would be 1
> block in the library, 2 blocks teaching in a content area, and 1 block for
> prep.  Based on this schedule, the District Librarian would only have ¼ of
> their day to maintain the collection for the entire district.  The district
> is comprised of 4,500 students in 5 elementary schools, 2 junior highs, and
> 1 high school.  The other 7 school libraries will be staffed with aides who
> will be tasked to check in and out books to students and complete a yearly
> inventory.
>
> I am looking for anyone who is a District Librarian to share with me their
> current job description.  I am also looking for any data that you have
> concerning how only having 1 librarian for this size of a student
> population impacts reading ability, test scores, delivery of instruction,
> etc.  If you have any suggestions on what we can do to save our librarians,
> please share.  I would need this information by Friday as our board will be
> voting on the matter on Tuesday.  Please email me at
> jccampbell07 at gmail.com.  Thank you in advance for helping me on this
> matter.
>
>
>
> Jen Campbell
>
> Galesburg High School
>
> Galesburg CUSD #205
>
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