<div dir="auto">Thank you! The librarians in my district are creating our own re-opening plans to present to our school and district administrators. We want them to remember how valuable our libraries are to the communities we serve!</div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Fri, Jul 3, 2020, 12:08 PM President AISLE via AISLE <<a href="mailto:aisle@list.railslibraries.info">aisle@list.railslibraries.info</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large"><span id="m_-4292443141775485289m_-6042543044759462090m_6152756582165670816gmail-docs-internal-guid-87ed2daf-7fff-ceb8-218a-12e8339e8b9b"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Statement to Members- Re ISBE Re-Opening Guidelines - July 2020</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Last week ISBE issued the guidelines for opening schools this fall. As a profession, we were disappointed by how school libraries were addressed. Impending budget cuts, pandemic guidelines, ignorance, and apathy are all working against us. It’s easy to feel like we are drowning.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Now, more than ever, advocacy matters. </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">It is important to be proactive rather than reactive in a time like this. The AISLE Board will advocate for school librarians in Illinois at the state level, but each school librarian must also advocate locally for their position and the significance of their program.</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> Well-worded official statements from the Board might make a ripple. What we need is a tsunami. Competing voices, the economic impact of the pandemic, and multiple other factors make it much more difficult for our message to reach necessary ears. But your voices-- joined with the voices of your colleagues, your students, your parents, and your communities and anyone else you can get on board-- can have an impact. Each and every one of us needs to marshal all of the resources at our disposal and advocate for ourselves and ask others to join us. And, we need to do this not just once- but constantly.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:10pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">What does this look like? </span></p><ul style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:10pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Go to your Board meeting and log in and speak during "public comment." Speak about what you do in your libraries--be ready with a presentation: circulation stats, testimonials, a book talk or two...engage them and remind them of your importance in the school.</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Make an appointment with your Teachers' Association President and Superintendent--speak specifically to your contributions to the District.</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Ask for video testimonials from students who are alums or from current students.</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Find four or five teachers and ask them to do video testimonials</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Send stories about library programs and activities to your local paper</span></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Those are just a few ideas to get you started. AISLE is committed to advocating for school library programs and staff. Attached, please find an open letter to ISBE regarding their current guidelines. We will soon release a letter template that you can personalize and send to your administration. We will be announcing continuing advocacy efforts and professional development opportunities to build your skills as a self- advocate as the year progresses. As these future advocacy programs are announced at local, state, and national levels, we need your participation. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Please, find your voice. Actively look for opportunities to enlist others to support your library program. Spread the message far and wide that what we do makes a difference in students’ lives. It’s time to make waves.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Sincerely,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The AISLE Board of Directors</span></p></span><br></div><div><div dir="ltr" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><font color="#073763"><b>Christy Semande</b></font><div><font color="#073763"><b>President 2020-2021</b><br><br></font><div><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1IgukvYf2o7uAQMVbhmdjlydtSEkMJYVT&export=download" width="200" height="70"></div><div><br></div><div><img src="https://docs.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1LCXmhApPy3GbmU7OFFbaPvVaTditdCiR&revid=0B5SPyOVvojddeSsvV2kvdGFmY2xVa0QzZ05SSWxuc0wrRUlJPQ"><br><div><span></span><span></span><br></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>
MAILMAN_MIMEDEFANG<br>
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