[aisle] Elimination of Full-Time Librarian In Our Two-School District

Mon Apr 4 12:39:20 CDT 2022

I am sorry you are dealing with this issue. We had to advocate a few years
ago for two library assistant positions.

I compiled circulation statistics and classes seen at each school each
week. Then we met with all the principals and talked about the data and
each librarian voiced student impact stories. We also met with some of the
school board members and did the same in a separate meeting. I looked up
advocacy research and reports on why school libraries matter and the
benefits of school librarians at each school.

I am the only certified librarian and we have four assistants at each of
the other schools. They wanted to cut two assistants which would have left
two schools sharing a part-time librarian. Not feasible to fit all the
classes each week. You need Io focus on the impact this will have on
students. Make it about the students.

We then went to a school board meeting where the change was being voted on
that night.  I gave a speech and talked about how this would impact reading
and student futures etc. and gave some statistics to support all of it.
Fortunately, when it was put to the vote, the board members did not agree
to change our staff numbers. We were very fortunate.

It will take a lot of work and preparation on your part, but this was very
worth it in the long run.  AISLE has advocacy tools and the American
Association of School Library Educators. I really focused on access to
books with an emphasis on how reading impacts all areas of a student's
education and future success. Back it all up with statistics and
references. ALA has information too. Stay impassioned but calm. I wish
librarians and libraries were respected just as they are and we did not
have a need to advocate.  It still boggles my mind that we need to
advocate. I did not know that advocacy was a thing and we had to defend our
positions before I became a librarian and dealt with it firsthand.  We are
worth it. Good Luck!!

AISLE <https://sites.google.com/aisled.org/advocacy/resources>advocacy
AASL <https://www.ala.org/aasl/advocacy>
ALA
<https://www.ala.org/advocacy/frontline-advocacy-school-libraries-toolkit>

Joni Darby

Shepherd Middle School
Library Information Specialist
Ottawa Elementary 141
815-434-7925 Ext. 5008

On Mon, Apr 4, 2022 at 11:35 AM Rebecca Morgan via AISLE <
aisle at list.railslibraries.info> wrote:

> I saw this infographic recently and thought it did a great job showing how
> multifaceted a school librarian is.
>
> [image: The Many Hats of a School Librarian.jpeg]
>
> On Mon, Apr 4, 2022 at 11:20 AM Karrie Fisher via AISLE <
> aisle at list.railslibraries.info> wrote:
>
>> I am a full-time librarian in District 31, Glenview, a two-school
>> district.  I am in the K-5 building.  We have a full-time librarian in our
>> middle school. We are a suburb located north of Chicago.
>>
>> We were told that next year library classes will *no longer be part of
>> the schedule*, and we will have ONE full-time librarian and one
>> full-time assistant for both buildings.  The librarian (our MS librarian)
>> will travel between the two buildings, as will the assistant.
>>
>> The eliminated librarian -- me (K-5) -- will be reassigned to a classroom
>> teacher position.
>>
>> To fight for our students and our library programs, we are gathering
>> information and research that we will present to our superintendent,
>> principals, and BOE.  I know this has happened in other school districts.
>> Does anyone have any specific research or antidotes that we could share?
>> Has anyone successfully fought for their full-time librarians, students,
>> and programs, and gotten a decision reversed?
>>
>> Any help we can get will be greatly appreciated by us!  Our BOE meeting
>> is April 19.
>>
>> Happily Ever After,
>> Karrie Fisher, Library Media Specialist
>> [image: Bitmoji Image]
>> *Winkelman Library Resources: Click HERE
>> <http://district31.follettdestiny.com/> for the Card Catalog!*
>>
>> Winkelman School * 1919 Landwehr Road * Glenview, IL  60026
>> 847-729-5650 * Fax 847-729-5654
>> MAILMAN_MIMEDEFANG
>> _______________________________________________
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>
>
>
> --
> Becky Morgan, MLIS
> Library Media Specialist
> Half Day School
> 239 Olde Half Day Road
> Lincolnshire, IL 60069
> rmorgan at d103.org
> (847) 634-6463
>
> Miss Morgan's Virtual Classroom
> <https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1O0Lwzft1jwbXfN0DNgM087JEqXVJOfb1uzsqwssGqec/present?slide=id.g95673502d4_0_0>
>
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