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WHEN YOUR JOB IS ON THE LINE: Strategies for Assisting Library…
Tags: budget organization, budget procedures, budgets, jeopardy, job, jobs, library advocacy, library media center, library media specialists, library programming, line strategies, media organization, obody, reorganizations, school districts, school library, seniority, superintendent, target, timeline,Pages: 4
Language: english
Created: Tue Jan 25 08:11:49 2005
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WHEN YOUR JOB IS ON THE LINE:
Strategies for Assisting Library Media Specialists Whose Positions Are in Jeopardy
N obody likes his or her job being the possible target of budget organization is willing to give
you. Understand your teaching
cuts or reorganizations. However, given the ongoing state of contract in terms of seniority
inadequate or reduced school funding, staffing reductions and layoff notification deadlines.
are commonplace, especially in library media center programs. Find out its role in the budget
determination process.
As the past president of our state school library and technology
Many states mandate a minimum
association (the Minnesota Educational Media Organization), I helped level of library programming
develop these guidelines for library media specialists whose jobs and staffing. Check to see if the
might be on the line as their school districts cut budgets. May you proposed reductions run contrary
never have to use them. to state law.
4. Distribute and discuss "library
advocacy" information with
Guidelines for Library Media your district's official budget your building administrators,
Specialists During Budget procedures and read to find superintendent, school board
Reductions the specific timeline and which members, and site teams.
If you are a library media specialist administrators have authority Compile and synthesize your
whose position may be reduced over budgets. local program statistics in a visual
due to budget reductions or 2. Let your state school library and easy-to-understand format.
reorganizations in your school association president and While circulation, collection
district, consider taking the any regional chair of that size, and usage numbers are
following actions: organization know as soon as important, also make sure to
1. Learn the timeline for your possible when library media outline your information literacy
district's budget adjustment center staff cuts are considered curriculum and its specific skills,
process. Districts start planning in your district. State library your literacy activities, and each
for budget reductions for the associations are willing to help of the collaborative units you
next school year as early as you if your position is cut. team-teach within other teachers'
November. (Very large districts Some even have an "emergency curriculum. Discuss your role
may start budget planning in response" plan in such cases. in teaching, supporting, and
September!) Visit with your Besides reviewing and clarifying integrating technology uses in
superintendent to see what such plans, state associations your building. Outline specific
the timeline and procedure for can provide advocacy materials, activities and skills you teach to
making budget reductions are. testify at board meetings on your both students and teachers.
Don't rely on rumors--keep an behalf, and suggest strategies (See Linda Corey's case study in
open line of communication with you might use to reduce the the side bar.)
your superintendent and building likelihood of your position being While the tools below are
principal throughout the school cut. Contact your association as powerful, do not assume that
year. If district budgets are the early as possible! If the budget just because the information
result of a collaborative decision- adjustment recommendations gets in the hands of your school
making process, make sure you in your district are already final leadership that they will read the
are part of it. or even just approved by the material, understand it, or believe
administrative staff, there is very it to be applicable to your district.
Every little anyone, including a state
school district You need to find ways to discuss
association, can do. Also, contact these materials with decision-
is required by the public library director in
law to have makers, not just distribute them.
your region. He or she can be
written budget a great ally. 1. Familiarize yourself with the
policies and AASL Advocacy Toolkit at
procedures. 3. Contact your teacher .
(Look in your organization representative and
board policy check your state's laws regarding 2. Get research about effective
book.) Find library media center programs. library media center
By Doug Johnson Know what help your teacher programs into the hands of
44 LIBRARY MEDIA CONNECTION FEBRUARY 2005 Of special interest to grades... K-5 6-8 9-12
administrators, including:
n Any statewide studies that A Case Study in Fighting Library Media Center Cuts
may have been conducted.
n Any program or skills We have been fighting cuts locally for the past three years. Our best
standards developed by
weapon has been the support of parent groups. Parents have written,
your state.
called, and appeared before Board of Education (BOE) members and at
n "School Libraries Work!" meetings in support of well-staffed library media centers. We involved
(summary of the research no students, but parents speak eloquently on behalf of their children.
done in 14 states on
the impact of library As a group, we presented each BOE member with a packet containing
media centers on student a brief outline of the research supporting library media center
achievement) programs--a collection of statements made over the years by school
program is the central and crucial hub of the district educational
5. Begin developing a short program. We used a statement from our superintendent that was part
statement outlining the of a nationwide teleconference on the library media specialist's role in
consequences to students and keeping students safe on the Internet in a filter-free environment. Not
staff of the potential cuts to
your program. As soon as you
all administrators were happy with us, but they did not retract their
know the degree of budget cuts, prior statements. We gave the Board of Education and administrators
create a statement that describes research done by the Association of American Universities and the
in concrete and specific terms Pew Charitable Trusts concerning what skills college freshman need to
how the loss of services, learning succeed. We also used the Department of Labor SCANS report on the
opportunities, technical services, skills needed in the workplace.
library media center access,
and support for curricular and Library media specialists (LMSs) attended every BOE meeting and
building goals impact students every community forum on the budget. At times, we outnumbered
and staff. Do not frame this all other groups. We were all ready to answer the question, "How
in terms of how your job will does the Blue Valley library media program improve student learning
be more difficult, but in terms and academic achievement?" We wrote individual letters to all BOE
of how students and staff will members and sent copies to district administrators. We wore buttons
be affected. Emphasize your with hearts that read, "Save Our Unequaled Libraries" (SOUL).
teaching role. (What skills
will students not learn if your However, we really began our battle before the cuts. We invite BOE
program is cut?) Again--the members and district administrators to all events in the library media
more concrete, the better. centers. They don't always attend, but they are aware we provide
Distribute and discuss it with all exceptional learning experiences for Blue Valley students. LMSs hold
decision-makers in the district. leadership positions on building and district committees, task forces,
6. Begin getting commitments and working groups. We attempt to be very visible and support our
from district teachers, parents, building administrators. We do not view our administrators and BOE
and students willing to write members as enemies. They, too, want what is best for the students. It's
and speak in opposition to the our responsibility to communicate to them the power of our integrated
possible library media center
staffing reductions. Ask those
library media center program. We didn't want cuts to the library media
who make use of your skills, your center program to be the easy answer to a difficult situation.
library media center's resources, The sad fact is that with all we do, library media center positions will
and its services to speak on in all probability be on the list of possible cuts for the 20052006
your behalf, either informally
year. We have a new superintendent and a significant number of
(to administrators), formally
(at school board meetings), or
new administrators. We have very little time to build the necessary
in letters to the editor of the relationships and the understanding that a fully staffed library media
local newspaper. This is the center program is critical to the learning experience and academic
most powerful advocacy you can achievement of every student.
have. Again, this action needs
to happen during the budget
Linda Corey LCOREY@bluevalleyk12.org (Blue Valley Schools,
reduction process, not after Overland Park, Kansas)
LIBRARY MEDIA CONNECTION FEBRUARY 2005 45
recommendations are already technology training and remind officers that as a
formalized. support, and filling requests for dues-paying member, you
professional materials. deserve as much support as
7. Arrange for a state school
a classroom teacher.
library media association 3. Establish a school library media
spokesperson to write and center program advisory board 11. Be involved in the
speak on your behalf to your comprised of a wide range of extracurricular life of the
superintendent, school board, stakeholders (including parents) school, attending school plays,
and community. If you feel that meets on a regular basis to sporting events, and award
that a state association officer discuss goals, policies, and budgets. ceremonies. Be visible! (I think
speaking on your program's behalf it helps to be an active member
4. Create long-term goals and annual
to your administrative team or of the community belonging
objectives that are supported by
school board would be helpful, to a church or other religious
the principal and teachers and
contact the association. The organization, community service
are tied directly to your building's
expert (from more than 50 miles group, and volunteer groups.
goals. Enacting long-range
away) can be helpful under some It's harder to fire a friend and
plans and multiyear strategies
circumstances, especially if the neighbor than a stranger.)
or projects makes it difficult to
person speaking has knowledge of
change horses in midstream. 12. Be active in your state school
current research, best practices,
library association by attending
and the state of library media 5. Build a mutually supportive
conferences and regional
centers in your state. relationship with your principal.
events, reading its publications,
8. Keep doing your very best 6. Track and report to your volunteering for positions in the
despite the possible cuts. Your administrator the use of your organization, and attending its
position may be restored if library media center program, legislative functions.
the school and community are especially in terms of units of
You, as a library media specialist,
aware that the roles, functions, teaching, collaboration, and
are too important to too many
and events you participate in specific skills you teach.
children to let budget reductions
may not happen the next year.
7. Communicate regularly and that affect your program just
Decisions and cuts are not
formally with administrators, "happen." Get active and heed the
always permanent.
teachers, students, parents, words of Dylan Thomas, "Do not go
Prevention and the community about gentle into that good night."
Of course, an ounce of prevention what happens in your library
Thanks to Gail Dickinson,
is better than a pound of cure. media center program through
professor at Old Dominion
Ongoing efforts can make your newsletters and e-mail.
University, Norfolk (Virginia);
library media center program less Communicate through e-mails
Sara Kelly Johns, library media
likely to be the target of budget and notes to individuals on
specialist at Lake Placid (New
reductions. Make sure you are "I thought you'd like to know
York) High School; and Mary Alice
already doing the things below. about this . . . ." topics.
Anderson, library media specialist
1. Build and maintain a library 8. Have an ongoing involvement at Winona (Minnesota) Public
media center program that with your parent-teacher Schools for reading and adding
teaches critical information organizations. great suggestions to the draft of
and technology literacy skills, this manuscript. n
9. Serve on leadership, curriculum,
builds student literacy rates,
technology, and staff development Doug Johnson is director of media and
and supports all classrooms and
teams in your building and technology at I.S.D. 77 Mankato (Minnesota)
curricular areas.
district. Public Schools. He can be reached at
2. Serve the needs of your teaching dougj@doug-johnson.com. Doug is the
10. Be active in your teacher author of Learning Right from Wrong in the
and administrative staff through
professional organization and Digital Age: An Ethics Guide for Parents,
instructional collaboration, Teachers, Librarians, and Others Who
Care About Computer-Using Young People
(Linworth Publishing, Inc., 2003), The
" If the budget adjustment recommendations
Indispensable Teacher's Guide to Computer
Skills, 2nd Edition (Linworth Publishing,
Inc., 2002) and The Indispensable Librarian:
in your district are already final or even just Surviving (and Thriving) in School Media
Centers in the Information Age (Linworth
approved by the administrative staff, there is very Publishing, Inc., 1997).
little anyone, including a state association, can do. "
46 LIBRARY MEDIA CONNECTION FEBRUARY 2005 Of special interest to grades... K-5 6-8 9-12