We did everything right and failed to save our libraries!

Reprinted here with permission of the author. Originally appeared in the April MEMOrandom newsletter.

We did everything right and failed to save our libraries!

Last year the media specialists in ISD 622, the  North St. Paul, Maplewood, Oakdale school district, put together a presentation for our curriculum committees and school board. We had video clips of programs we created, pictures of students at work, grants we won, all the facts and figures from school library research, and a new curriculum for research in the district.  As the school board adopted the new research curriculum, we learned that budget cuts would cause the loss of central media services, including our coordinator.  At the time, I thought that the new curriculum and the fact that elementary media specialists covered prep time would save the rest of our program. 
 
In the fall of this year, I made an appointment with our Superintendent of schools. I wanted to talk to her about the research results from school library studies and the implementation of our new research scope and sequence. I sent two highlighted articles for her to read before we met. Superintendent Phillips was easy to talk to.  She proclaimed to be a library lover.  She seemed to understand how important it is to have licensed media specialists to teach vital 21st century information literacy. I left her office feeling really good about the future for our libraries.

Turns out the demise of central media was just the first salvo. Toward the end of February this year, we learned that the media department was once again on the chopping block.  The powers that be had given a list of proposed budget cuts to the school board. Those cuts included this item; “Restructure district media and elementary specialist time -- $275,500.”  This cut was listed along side other proposals such as; eliminate 5th grade band (2 FTE); Reduce nurses (2.4 FTE). It was obvious to me that the district was trying to hide the fact that 10 of our 14 media specialist would be cut. Once again all of the media people in district 622 rallied.  We put together arguments to combat the media cuts and contacted supporters to write and speak to the school board. [MEMO leaders] Lars Steltzner and Lisa Finsness came to speak at the budget hearings and made good arguments against cutting libraries. Parents, students and teachers also came forward to talk the board out of the destruction of our program. All to no avail. Our argument seems to have fallen on deaf ears.  At the final meeting, the board brought back all after school sports for middle schools, half of the 5th grade band, two high school counselors, etc., but nothing for libraries. The final wording from the board was: 

“District media services will be restructured, with a skilled paraprofessional or education assistant in charge of the daily operation of each site’s media center. Ten media specialist positions will be eliminated. Four licensed librarians or media specialists will manage the district’s 14 media centers. Media as a prep-time specialty would be replaced with a subject currently taught by the regular classroom teacher, thereby increasing time available for reading and/or math instruction. This recommendation does NOT mean school libraries will be closed – libraries will remain open and maintained.”

Are you feeling angry?  I sure am. I am angry that the media specialists in the North St. Paul, Maplewood, Oakdale school district worked hard and followed all of the suggestions from ALA and MEMO, but still failed to save our program.  I am angry with the board of education, why are we required to earn a license in media when schools are allowed to keep libraries open with paraprofessionals and education assistants?  Would the department of education allow paraprofessionals to keep math, language arts, or science classrooms open? What is going on? I have only been a media specialist for 7 years and have now been cut from two districts. 

Okay folks, what do we do now?  How do we make the public as outraged about the loss of library teachers as they are about the loss of after school sports? What will it take to make people as angry about losing 9 elementary libraries as they would be if they lost the entire elementary math curriculum? Something has to change or we all might as well go back to school and learn to do something that people value.  It seems to me that we don’t have a leg to stand on as long as the state is not behind us. No wonder there is a shortage of media specialists. We can’t survive the way things are now.
 
Tori Jensen, Media Specialist
John Glenn Middle School

Yes, Tori, I'm angry - and sad and frustrated. And out of ideas on how we keep this from happening in other schools in Minnesota and around the country/world.

Or do we sadly accept the fact that society today does not value what libraries represent - the love of learning, the joy of  reading, the exploration of personal interests, the variety of views, the search for real knowledge, the reverence for the accumulated wisdom? I hope not - but I worry.

Readers??? 

Comments

[Miguel Guhlin]

A moving story, sad, and exactly what I was referring to in this entry, Labyrinth of Lassitude:
http://www.mguhlin.net/archives/2007/04/entry_3022.htm

An easy prediction? After libraries, perhaps even at the same time, are gutted, educational technology departments are next. In this high-stakes accountability system, nothing that does not further the ends of data-driven decision-making will remain standing. After Ed-tech goes, expect to see health and PE, gifted & talented follow.

These are all fluff under the new system. All money must be diverted to our true mission in schools--teaching to the test.

Anger is one response. Over time, the only real responses will be to either leave education or learn how to do something else. But we knew this...14 career changes forecast in our children's lifetimes. Why did we think this would be any different for us? We're up to the changes. We can handle it. We just won't like it...but in the end, maybe it's for the best. Better to leave than remain in a place that fails to appreciate you.

Don't know if that helps, esteemed teacher-librarians.

Take care,
Miguel

[Carolyn Foote]

Our district faced something similar, and I have to say after one year of having reduced library services at two schools, the parents and principals restored positions because they quickly realized how unworkable it was. So my hope is that it will be so diminished a program that teachers will complain and the principals and superintendent will realize their mistake.

I think the folly of this comes from the old idea of the library as a warehouse instead of a learning and teaching center. Of course the figures from all the studies on libraries and achievement disprove this notion but I'm sure you shared those.

The blog community could certainly write some well informed letters to that school district, explaining the importance of these services to students.

What I would say to this district is not to give up. I know you feel that you have lost the battle, but as I mentioned above, decisions have consequences, and you must continue providing your district with good information about what library programs do for students.

GAther statistics next year about the diminished results. For example, participation in many programs that our PARENTS found valuable went down at those schools with reduced services. We documented that and shared it. Continue sharing with the superintendent and curriculum office important studies. Offer innovative solutions--can staffing be increased by using grants, reading monies, a foundation that is outside the district? I realize it is frustrating and disillusioning to find the funding that way, but the first step is to get some positions back in place.

I know it's difficult for districts when under the financial gun to sort out which program to reduce, and our district was severely strapped by state mandates at the time and we were empathetic to that. But on the other hand, it reflects what is important to the district by the choices they make.

Our state organization, TLA(Texas Library Association), organized a fantastic conference for administrators, that coincidentally began the year that the cuts in our district were proposed. You can nominate your administrator to attend, and it's a one day conference with speakers like Keith Lance. Our administrators said it was excellent and I think that really was helpful to us. Might be an idea to be considered there if Minnesota's Library organization doesn't have an option like that.

Good luck. Keep at it.

[Doug Johnson]

Miguel, ss always an insightful commentary. I've long described library media centers as the canaries in the educational coal mine. When they start to have problems, it indicates a systemic problem with the school itself.

(Blue Skunk readers, Miguel's entry he links to is well-worth reading.)

Carolyn, thanks also for your words of encouragement and advice. I'll make sure that Tori and her folks see them.


Doug

[Karen Janowski]

Doug,
It would be interesting to hear from our students. I know my own two high school age students complain frequently about the staff at their high school. They want to use the library as a quiet place to study, engage in meaningful (to them) research on the internet and use available resources. But, if they fail to sign up early enough in the morning to access the library during a study period, they may lose out and not be able to use the library even when they notice that seats are available. And many times, I have heard them and their friends complain about having their access to the internet shut off because the library staff has access to their computer and deems it unsuitable for school library use.
They see the media specialists as serving a punitive role, not a helpful role.
I find that quite interesting. And to my kids, those are positions that are expendable.

[Rob Darrow]

Same thing has happened in Madera and Fullerton, CA. We need to keep telling our stories of success! Also, with time, those who eliminate school librarians will learn the error of their ways - poorer collections, less 21st century skills taught to students, less information literate teachers and students.