Re: [LM_NET] School Librarians

[Shonda Brisco <sbrisco@GMAIL.COM>]

Becky's comments are directly on target.  Where there is NO state
mandate for school librarians within education, school librarians will
become obsolete.  Regardless of how many principals, parents, or
teachers we "win over" at the local or district level, if there is no
incentive or requirement to keep the library program, libraries and
librarians will continually be cut from the program.

Without a strong voice at the legislative level, without input from
the state library associations, without strength among the
professionals who are being cut within the state, there will be a
continual disregard for the library program by those who believe that
money, resources, and personnel can be used more effectively
elsewhere.  As they continue to seek new ways to increase student
achievement, these state leaders will overlook what is directly in
front of them because they do not have a daily interaction with those
outstanding librarians who make a difference.  If apathetic educators
and administrators do not voice their concerns to these state leaders
regarding library programs when services, budgets, and staff is cut,
no one will hear our protests or our cry for help.

Even as we take on additional tasks, re-tool ourselves for new 2.0
worlds, and become "indispensible" in the eyes of some, if things
shift within the educational environment due to budget constraints,
changes in administrative powers, or limitations in the amount of time
devoted to teaching "the test", the library will be seen as a "frill"
that can be eliminated.

For many of us in states where strong words are written to describe
how libraries and librarian impact student achievement, but no
mandates are directed to school districts to require that they support
and maintain this "key to student achievement," then we will continue
to try to "Save the Alamo" even though the battle rages around
us....we will watch outstanding leaders, our peers, fall by our
side....and we will search the horizon for help from outside, but
there is no one to be seen.

(The Alamo reference is due to the fact that I'm at the Texas Library
Association's conference in San Antonio and I'm staying at the Menger
Hotel...which is one of the oldest hotels in San Antonio (1857) and
next door to the Alamo.)  My hope is that one day someone is not
staying in a hotel next to a school that "once had a library
inside"....and they write of a time when there once were people called
"librarians" who were thought to be the vital key to education success
but were incorrectly eliminated by state leaders in exchange for a
promise of student achievement through programs that never
delivered.....

..."Remember the Libraries!"

Is our fate similar....will some of us fight today, to borrow time for
others to assemble a stronger front against the winds of change.....
so that others will be able to have a future filled with even stronger
school libraries tomorrow?
**********************************************
Besieged by Santa Anna and his 2,000 men, Colonel William Barret
Travis, with his force of 182, refused to surrender but elected to
fight and die, which was almost certain, for what they thought was
right.

The position of these men was known but no aid reached them.

The request to Colonel James W. Fannin for assistance had gone
unheeded. No relief was in store.

As the Battle of the Alamo was in progress, a part of the Texas Army
had assembled in Gonzales under the command of Mosely Baker in the
latter part of February. From this army, a gallant band of 32
courageous men under the command of George C. Kimble left to join the
garrison at the Alamo.

Making their way through the enemy lines, these 32 men joined the
doomed defenders and perished with them.

During the siege of the Alamo, Texas independence was declared. Four
days later, the document was signed with the blood shed at the Alamo.
It was under such conditions that Travis and his men fought off the
much larger force under Santa Anna.

***********************************************

~Shonda



On 4/10/07, rshull <rshull@greenapple.com> wrote:
> I firmly believe that many school librarians are doing their best to
> collaborate and work with classroom teachers.  Many, and I mean many,
> teacher librarians are teaching for a full day frequently without an
> aide to assist with the clerical work.  They are doing the
> administrative tasks before and after school and weekends.  They are an
> easy target for cuts even if they are canidates for teacher of the year
> because many states do not have a minimun standard for staffing and
> budgeting. Administrators cut where nothing is mandated. If you were in
> Ohio, yes, you would be on the road to obsolescence.  And you would
> likely be replaced by someone with a high school diploma. And you know
> what, the teachers and students would call that person the library
> teacher. This is not an indictment of the librarians in Ohio they are
> bust'n it to provide service against great odds to Ohio students.  But
> the same is true in California, Utah and on, and on. When there are no
> state mandates there are no incentives for many school districts.
> Becky Vasilakis
> Library Media Specialist
> Amanda ClearcreekSD
> Becky_vasilakis@amanda.k12.oh.us
>
>
>

Shonda Brisco, MLIS
Library Media / Technology Specialist
http://digitalbookends.pbwiki.com
sbrisco@gmail.com

"Digital Resources" columnist
School Library Journal

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Please note: All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law.
  You can prevent most e-mail filters from deleting LM_NET postings
  by adding LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU to your e-mail address book.
To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu
In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET  2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL
3) SET LM_NET MAIL  4) SET LM_NET DIGEST  * Allow for confirmation.
 * LM_NET Help & Information: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/
 * LM_NET Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/
 * EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://elann.biglist.com/sub/
 * LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------