[aisle] Are there still middle school libraries?

Thu Aug 25 07:34:19 CDT 2022

Sorry for the long post, but I have been reflecting on my 21 years in my
district and all the changes that have happened. Currently, the junior high
libraries in my district (we have 2) are run on a day-to-day basis by full
time aides with me in a supervisory position, along with running two
intermediate (grades 4-6) buildings. When I started in the district I was
the full time librarian with a full time aide in one junior high and we had
the same in our other junior high. Over the course of the years it went
like this:
-Full time aides and full time librarians
-Full time aides, full time librarians also teaching 3-4 classes
-One librarian (me, the other retired) for both with two aides
-One librarian (me) at one school, one aide at the other. (I would visit
the other when I had time)
-One librarian (not me - moved to grades 4-6) and two aides - librarian
taught 2-3 classes at each building along with running two libraries
-PANDEMIC! Librarian and one aide retired - libraries closed and other aide
given a variety of jobs. (I taught 5th grade ELA that year)
-Current (as of last year) - two aides and me - I only help with book
orders and inventory along with running two 4-6 grade buildings.
I don't think they will close our JH libraries, at least before I retire in
about 5ish years. But who knows? I pray that doesn't happen.

Have a great year everyone!
Kathy

Kathleen Drews
Librarian
Nelson Ridge and Caroline Bentley Schools
Liberty and Martino Junior High Schools
New Lenox School District 122
New Lenox, IL

"Be kind whenever possible. It is ALWAYS possible."
-
*Dalai Lama*

On Thu, Aug 25, 2022 at 6:26 AM Lester, Kathy via AISLE <
aisle at list.railslibraries.info> wrote:

> Dear Stephanie & School Library Colleagues,
> I hope you don't mind me jumping into this conversation.
>
> I am at a middle school in Michigan that has a thriving school library.
> Last year -- a different, smaller district in Michigan closed its Middle
> School Library.
> This was devastating and I believe this denies the students at that school
> equitable access to all of the resources and services that a school library
> staffed by a school librarian provides.
> Early in the school year (2021-2022), I wrote up this
> <https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yQyJSaDUTTIQEOI_5mXoyTCNMa_JnaI6UKAf6Acve-Q/edit?usp=sharing>
> article comparing the two schools and what the difference looks like for
> students.  It includes visuals that help others to 'see' this difference.
> Classroom libraries are *not* the same as school libraries in terms of
> providing equitable access, a broad selection of diverse materials, and
> instruction in the use of resources, information literacy, and digital
> citizenship.  While it may seem like a good idea in the short term, how
> will they keep those classroom libraries updated in the future to provide
> up-to-date interesting materials to keep students reading?  It will
> actually cost *more* to keep those classroom libraries updated and
> vibrant than to update the school library... and if they are planning to
> just let the classroom libraries languish... that is so wrong in terms of
> best practices for what is right for students and their reading achievement
> in middle school.
>
> Here is an ALA Infographic about school libraries:
>
> https://ilovelibraries.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/students-reach-greater-heights-with-school-librarians-7.pdf
>
> Here is an International Literacy Association Brief about the necessary
> leadership role of school librarians:
>
> https://www.literacyworldwide.org/docs/default-source/where-we-stand/the-essential-leadership-of-school-librarians.pdf
>
> Here is an Education Week piece with a section "Can Classroom Libraries
> Replace School Libraries?" -- the answer is 'no'.
>
> https://www.edweek.org/leadership/opinion-why-school-librarians-are-the-literacy-leaders-we-need/2018/05
>
> The book *Game Changer! Book Access for All Kids* by Donalyn Miller &
> Colby Sharp does promote classroom libraries; but, it also has a chapter
> dedicated to school libraries titled:
> "School Libraries and Librarians: The Right of Every Child."  I have given
> this book as a gift to a few administrators who were leaning toward
> classroom libraries -- the copy that I gave them had small sticky 'tags'
> highlighting mentions of the importance of school libraries in the book.
>
> Please let me know if I (or AASL) can help in any way.
>
> All my best,
> --Kathy Lester
>
>
> Kathy Lester, MLIS, MA
> *Advocacy Co-Chair, Past-President 2014, *
> Michigan Association for Media in Education (MAME)
> *President, 2022-2023*
> American Association of School Librarians (AASL)
> *Councilor At Large*
> American Library Association (ALA)
> *School Library Media Specialist / Technology Coach, *
> *East Middle School, Plymouth-Canton Schools*
> *SL21 Model Library, 2017-2018*
> *SL21 Exemplary Ranking - Michigan School Libraries for the 21st Century
> 2019-2022*
> *ISTE Making IT Happen Award Winner*
> *2017 MAME Michigan School Library Program of the Year*
> *2012 **State Librarian's Excellence Award Winner*
> kathyL at mimame.org
> twitter: @LibraryL <https://twitter.com/LibraryL>
>
> "Every school librarian is a leader; every learner has a school librarian"
> --American Association of School Librarians
> <http://www.ala.org/aasl/sites/ala.org.aasl/files/content/advocacy/tools/docs/AASL_Position_Statement_Effective_SLP_2018.pdf>
>  (AASL)
>
>
> On Wed, Aug 24, 2022 at 12:06 PM Sarah R via AISLE <
> aisle at list.railslibraries.info> wrote:
>
>> I'm a junior high school (grades 6-8) and while there are times I am shut
>> down for testing, a majority of the time I'm open with a flexible schedule
>> and many students and classes coming in for research lessons, media center
>> lessons, book club, and checkout!
>> Sarah
>>
>> Currently Reading:                                         Currently
>> Listening To:
>>   [image: Amazon.com: The Shattered Castle (The Ascendance Series, Book
>> 5) (5) (Ascendance Trilogy): 9781338275902: Nielsen, Jennifer A.: Books]
>>                                   [image: Shinji Takahashi and the Mark
>> of the Coatl (The Society of Explorers and Adventurers): Kagawa, Julie:
>> 9781368068192: Amazon.com: Books]
>>
>> Sarah Rudenga
>> Media Center Coordinator
>> Parker Junior High School
>> Flossmoor, IL
>> srudenga at sd161.org
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Wed, Aug 24, 2022 at 9:35 AM Erin Wengerhoff via AISLE <
>> aisle at list.railslibraries.info> wrote:
>>
>>> My schedule is completely flexible - I let ELA teachers sign up for
>>> times to come in twice a month. What questions do you have?
>>>
>>> Erin
>>>
>>>
>>> *Erin Wengerhoff**MS Ed. EA, MS **LIS *
>>> Pronouns: She/Her *Why list pronouns?*
>>> <https://www.mypronouns.org/sharing/>
>>> Library Media Specialist
>>> Algonquin Middle School
>>> 767 E. Algonquin Road
>>> Des Plaines, IL 60016
>>> 847-789-5601
>>>
>>>
>>> On Wed, Aug 24, 2022 at 9:04 AM Dawn Bik via AISLE <
>>> aisle at list.railslibraries.info> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Erin,
>>>>
>>>> I would love to know what your schedule looks like seeing classes twice
>>>> a week, and talk more.  I have a few questions.
>>>>
>>>> On Wed, Aug 24, 2022 at 8:42 AM Erin Wengerhoff via AISLE <
>>>> aisle at list.railslibraries.info> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> I have been a middle school librarian for the past 13 years, in Des
>>>>> Plaines 62 School District. We still have libraries in ALL of our schools -
>>>>> elementaries and middle school and they are all run by certified Library
>>>>> Media Specialists.  I see ELA classes twice a month for book checkout and
>>>>> lessons.
>>>>>
>>>>> Hope your principal can see the value of having a school library!
>>>>>
>>>>> Erin
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> *Erin Wengerhoff**MS Ed. EA, MS **LIS *
>>>>> Pronouns: She/Her *Why list pronouns?*
>>>>> <https://www.mypronouns.org/sharing/>
>>>>> Library Media Specialist
>>>>> Algonquin Middle School
>>>>> 767 E. Algonquin Road
>>>>> Des Plaines, IL 60016
>>>>> 847-789-5601
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On Tue, Aug 23, 2022 at 3:46 PM Kleckner, Stephanie via AISLE <
>>>>> aisle at list.railslibraries.info> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Hi friends!
>>>>>> I was told that this is highly likely the last year for our middle
>>>>>> school library. My principal said that she needs the space and wants to
>>>>>> turn it into 2 classrooms. She said she asked around our area and a lot of
>>>>>> middle schools don't have "library time" anymore. She also stated that they
>>>>>> would divide all the library books between the classrooms and encourage
>>>>>> students to go to the public library. So, are middle school libraries still
>>>>>> a thing? How many of you have thriving middle school libraries?
>>>>>> Thanks!
>>>>>> Stephanie Kleckner
>>>>>> Library Media Teacher
>>>>>> Mendota Dist. #289
>>>>>>
>>>>>> This message is for the designated recipient and may contain
>>>>>> privileged, proprietary or otherwise private information. If you have
>>>>>> received it in error, please notify the sender immediately.
>>>>>> MAILMAN_MIMEDEFANG
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>> AISLE mailing list
>>>>>> AISLE at list.railslibraries.info
>>>>>>
>>>>>> For list archives and subscription options, visit:
>>>>>> http://list.railslibraries.info/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/aisle
>>>>>>
>>>>>> To unsubscribe, send a message to:
>>>>>> aisle-leave at list.railslibraries.info
>>>>>>
>>>>>> https://www.aisled.org/
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> -------------------------------------
>>>>> This message (and any associated files) may contain confidential
>>>>> and/or privileged information.  If you are not the intended recipient
>>>>> or authorized to receive this for the intended recipient, you must not use,
>>>>> copy, disclose or take any action based on this message or any information
>>>>> herein.  If you have received this message in error, please advise
>>>>> the sender immediately by sending a reply e-mail and delete this message.
>>>>>  Thank you for your cooperation.
>>>>> -------------------------------------
>>>>> MAILMAN_MIMEDEFANG
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> AISLE mailing list
>>>>> AISLE at list.railslibraries.info
>>>>>
>>>>> For list archives and subscription options, visit:
>>>>> http://list.railslibraries.info/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/aisle
>>>>>
>>>>> To unsubscribe, send a message to:
>>>>> aisle-leave at list.railslibraries.info
>>>>>
>>>>> https://www.aisled.org/
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> *Dawn Bik *
>>>> *Media Coordinator*
>>>> *Grissom Middle School*
>>>> *17000 S. 80th Avenue*
>>>> *Tinley Park, IL 60477*
>>>> *(708)429-3030 ext. 9508*
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> *CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE:*This message is confidential, maybe
>>>> privileged and is meant only for the intended recipient. If you have
>>>> received this email in error or if you are not the intended recipient,
>>>> delete this message immediately. Please do not copy this email or use it
>>>> for any purposes, or disclose its contents to any other person. To do so
>>>> could violate State and Federal privacy laws.
>>>>
>>>> MAILMAN_MIMEDEFANG
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> AISLE mailing list
>>>> AISLE at list.railslibraries.info
>>>>
>>>> For list archives and subscription options, visit:
>>>> http://list.railslibraries.info/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/aisle
>>>>
>>>> To unsubscribe, send a message to:
>>>> aisle-leave at list.railslibraries.info
>>>>
>>>> https://www.aisled.org/
>>>
>>>
>>> -------------------------------------
>>> This message (and any associated files) may contain confidential and/or
>>> privileged information.  If you are not the intended recipient or
>>> authorized to receive this for the intended recipient, you must not use,
>>> copy, disclose or take any action based on this message or any information
>>> herein.  If you have received this message in error, please advise the
>>> sender immediately by sending a reply e-mail and delete this message. Thank
>>> you for your cooperation.
>>> -------------------------------------
>>> MAILMAN_MIMEDEFANG
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> AISLE mailing list
>>> AISLE at list.railslibraries.info
>>>
>>> For list archives and subscription options, visit:
>>> http://list.railslibraries.info/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/aisle
>>>
>>> To unsubscribe, send a message to:
>>> aisle-leave at list.railslibraries.info
>>>
>>> https://www.aisled.org/
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> *E-MAIL CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: Illinois has a very broad public records
>> law. Most written communications (including email) to or from school
>> district officials and staff are public records available to the public and
>> media upon request. Your email communications may therefore be subject to
>> public disclosure. Flossmoor School District 161*
>> MAILMAN_MIMEDEFANG
>> _______________________________________________
>> AISLE mailing list
>> AISLE at list.railslibraries.info
>>
>> For list archives and subscription options, visit:
>> http://list.railslibraries.info/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/aisle
>>
>> To unsubscribe, send a message to:
>> aisle-leave at list.railslibraries.info
>>
>> https://www.aisled.org/
>
> MAILMAN_MIMEDEFANG
> _______________________________________________
> AISLE mailing list
> AISLE at list.railslibraries.info
>
> For list archives and subscription options, visit:
> http://list.railslibraries.info/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/aisle
>
> To unsubscribe, send a message to:
> aisle-leave at list.railslibraries.info
>
> https://www.aisled.org/
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://list.railslibraries.info/pipermail/aisle/attachments/20220825/b9c5f6bf/attachment.html>