[aisle] Are you an AISLE member?

Tue Oct 22 22:21:37 CDT 2019

Roxanne,

In your email you mentioned professional development opportunities are
limited in your area. AISLE Chapters provide the perfect opportunity for
librarians across our state to organize for professional development and
social events throughout the year. More information regarding AISLE
Chapters can be found on the AISLE website
<https://www.aisled.org/chapters.htm>. If there isn't a Chapter in your
area, please reach out to me at chapters at aisled.org for more information
about starting a new AISLE Chapter.

Katherine Hlousek
AISLE Chapter Function Representative

On Tue, Oct 22, 2019 at 9:50 PM Roxanne Price via AISLE <
aisle at list.railslibraries.info> wrote:

> My intention, when suggesting a reduced rate for library assistants, was
> in no way meant to demean our profession or the services we provide.  I am
> fortunate that my district supports libraries and our library staff.
> However, in my area, there are many libraries that do not have certified
> librarians. Some libraries are either staffed with an assistant or kept
> closed.
>
> There are few opportunities in my region for PD for school librarians and
> their staff.  The closest PD is 2-3 hrs away.  I was not aware that
> reducing the rate would equal requests from districts for PD.  I wish there
> were closer opportunities for PD by ISBE approved providers.  It is hard to
> go to conferences, not just due to the cost (fees and travel), but also the
> scarcity of subs.
>
> I pay for my membership out of pocket.  My library assistants start out at
> minimum wage.  That can be a hardship for some.
>
> I just hoped providing a reduced rate would allow more library staff to
> get involved with our organization.  I have a great working relationship
> with all of my library assistants.  They go above and beyond and provide a
> great library experience for the students.
>
> Well, those are my thoughts on my suggestion.  I hope I didn't offend
> anyone.
>
> On Tuesday, October 22, 2019, Lauren Ochs <lochs at ms.k12.il.us> wrote:
>
>> This has come up for discussion a couple of times before I was on the
>> board. I think it is great to continue having this discussion. Officially,
>> this change would need to be proposed through our Membership Function
>> Representative who you can contact at membership at aisled.org. I believe
>> that the final decision would change bylaws and therefore must be approved
>> at the membership meeting at conference or during our spring election of
>> officers.
>>
>>
>>
>> If this topic were to come up again, these are my own thoughts and
>> opinions that I would express during the discussion. To be honest, I
>> struggle with whether or not this would be a good decision for our
>> organization.
>>
>>
>>
>> It sounds simple to offer a reduced rate for library assistants because
>> they work REALLY hard and make less money, but the request for a reduced
>> rate also typically comes with requests from districts for an increase in
>> PD specifically for library assistants to train them how to do the work of
>> a licensed school librarian. In my opinion, it does not make fiscal sense
>> for our organization to receive less money for memberships only to expend
>> more money creating unique professional development opportunities for
>> library assistants at a time when the organization is bringing in less
>> money through membership and conference. Districts are paying library
>> assistants thousands of dollars less than licensed school librarians and
>> should have no trouble paying for a $65 membership to our organization on
>> behalf of their library assistants, they just don’t want to do so. I’m not
>> sure we would gain enough new members through a library assistant
>> membership to make the category make fiscal sense. Maybe a survey would
>> prove differently (although we have trouble getting members to do surveys).
>> FYI, paraprofessionals do receive a discounted conference rate.
>>
>>
>>
>> My biggest difficulty with the decision to offer a reduced rate to
>> library assistants is that I do understand that a lot of people (including
>> me) pay for AISLE membership out of their own pocket, and I don’t want
>> people to struggle financially to pay for a membership. In my opinion,
>> AISLE membership is cheap compared to what I have gotten out of being a
>> member over the course of the last 12 years. However, I totally understand
>> that if I was making half (or less) of my salary, it would be a struggle to
>> come up with $65 for a membership out of my own pocket.
>>
>>
>>
>> I also struggle with how it looks to place the value we do on licensed
>> school librarians and the effort we put into our advocacy efforts to get
>> licensed school librarians in buildings across the state while offering
>> districts the perk of a reduced membership fee for library assistants. What
>> price do we put on our services? How much cheaper would membership need to
>> be for more assistants to join? Is that going to provide AISLE with enough
>> money to continue covering increased services to these new members?
>>
>>
>>
>> Again, just my own thoughts. This is definitely something that would
>> require some thought and planning to implement.
>>
>>
>>
>> Thank you,
>>
>>
>>
>> Ms. Lauren B. Ochs
>>
>> Mahomet-Seymour High School Library
>>
>> lochs at mscusd.org
>>
>>
>>
>> AISLE Board Member – Budget
>>
>> boardbudget at aisled.org
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* AISLE <aisle-bounces at list.railslibraries.info> *On Behalf Of *Roxanne
>> Price via AISLE
>> *Sent:* Tuesday, October 22, 2019 8:18 AM
>> *To:* AISLE-Share: Association of Illinois School Library Educators
>> discussion list <aisle at list.railslibraries.info>
>> *Cc:* Roxanne Price <rrprice at marionunit2.org>
>> *Subject:* Re: [aisle] Are you an AISLE member?
>>
>>
>>
>> *External Email*
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> I understand that we are stronger in numbers.  Have you provided a
>> discounted membership fee for library assistants?  Some assistants do the
>> job we do for a lower pay.  I believe they would benefit, as would we, from
>> a membership to AISLE.  We are all here to serve the students and support
>> the curriculum and teachers.
>>
>>
>>
>> Thank you,
>> Roxanne Price
>>
>>
>>
>> On Mon, Oct 21, 2019 at 6:10 PM Membership AISLE via AISLE <
>> aisle at list.railslibraries.info> wrote:
>>
>> AISLE continues to work on positively impacting Illinois students and
>> schools. Did you know that our very active listserv has almost 1100 members
>> but only about 400 are current members of AISLE?  Right now, the listserv
>> is a FREE public service offered by AISLE <http://www.aisled.org> to
>> provide opportunities for librarians across the state to cultivate valuable
>> networking connections and find opportunities to volunteer
>> <https://docs.google.com/a/islma.org/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdOvXGGrLNX2tliQNA-OaZMVRJWdREe0J6QkD_zwrUnWeJicg/viewform?c=0&w=1>
>> their talents but we need your support! If you are using the listserv and
>> are NOT an active member of AISLE, we are inviting you to become a member
>> of AISLE.
>>
>>
>>
>> Our association is only as strong as our membership and we need you more
>> than ever! In addition to our advocacy work across the state for students
>> to have quality school library services, our partnerships with EveryLibrary
>> and other critical organizations, AISLE sponsors the Monarch, Bluestem and
>> Lincoln readers' choice awards, offers academic grants and offers
>> professional development to our membership and organizes a conference every
>> year.  Please visit https://www.aisled.org/membership.htm  for more
>> information about membership benefits.
>>
>>
>>
>> We hope you choose to become a member of our organization this year and
>> join our efforts to positively impact Illinois students and schools.  If
>> you have any questions, please feel free to contact membership at aisled.org
>> .
>>
>>
>>
>> [image: Image removed by sender.]
>>
>> Christine Pulgar
>>
>> Membership Function rep
>>
>> membership at aisled.org
>>
>>
>>
>> MAILMAN_MIMEDEFANG
>> _______________________________________________
>> AISLE mailing list
>> AISLE at list.railslibraries.info
>>
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>>
>> To unsubscribe, send a message to:
>> aisle-leave at list.railslibraries.info
>>
>> https://www.aisled.org/
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>>
>> *Roxanne Price*
>>
>> *Lincoln Elementary School*
>>
>> *Marion CUSD #2*
>>
>> *rrprice at marionunit2.org* <rrprice at marionunit2.org>
>>
>>
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>>
>
>
> --
> *Roxanne Price*
> *Lincoln Elementary School*
> *Marion CUSD #2*
> *rrprice at marionunit2.org <rrprice at marionunit2.org>*
>
> Confidentiality NoticeIf the information in this email relates to an
> individual or student, it may be private data under state or federal
> privacy laws. This individual private data should not be reviewed,
> distributed or copied by any person other than the intended recipient(s),
> unless otherwise permitted under law. If you are not the intended
> recipient, any further review, dissemination, distribution, or copying of
> this electronic communication or any attachment is strictly prohibited. If
> you received this email in error, please notify the sender immediately and
> permanently delete this email. Thank you for your compliance.
>
>
> MAILMAN_MIMEDEFANG
> _______________________________________________
> AISLE mailing list
> AISLE at list.railslibraries.info
>
> For list archives and subscription options, visit:
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>
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>
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