TWO WEEKS LEFT TO SAVE SCHOOL LIBRARIES

Just as I was about to create a post on this critical time for school libraries, Sylvia Norton, AASL Division Councilor posted this message to the ALA Council listserv. It was so well written that I am posting it rather than creating my own. It deserves your attention!!!

"Ever realize that this is a critical turning point for something you really care about? Well, the next two weeks is a turning point for those who care about kids and libraries. We are in a critical two week period to enlist members of the House to sign on as co-sponsors for the Strengthening Kids’ Interest in Learning and Libraries (SKILLs) Act. At Annual in DC the Council unanimously adopted the resolution on No Child Left Behind. Now is the time to demonstrate your support for inclusion of the Strengthening Kids’ Interest in Learning and Libraries (SKILLs) Act in the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) by contacting your Representative.

The sad reality is school librarians were overlooked in NCLB. Sure, in my work as a state level school library coordinator you can hear me advocate that the library media specialist is included as NCLB focuses on reading, literacy and using technology. I know that means library media specialists are needed to select books, collaborate with classroom teachers, instruct how to find quality online information, and all the other work in a school library program which ensures students are effective users of ideas and information. Many of the schools I see, however, are hiring a literacy specialist to select books for classroom libraries and a technology integrator to show how to evaluate websites on their laptops. Those can be valuable positions in a school, but library media specialists are being left behind to the detriment of our students. Without the specific mention of “library media specialist” in NCLB, too many of our school libraries are being left as stagnant collections without qualified staff. As Congress moves towards NCLB reauthorization it is crucial that school library media specialists are included.

This is the single most important piece of legislation concerning school libraries that will come before Congress this year. Reauthorization of this bill is critical to the future of school libraries. Our 21st century kids with laptops need to see dynamic school libraries and library media specialists or libraries in general may eventually be left behind. Congress needs to hear from librarians, teachers, administrators, parents, and anyone who sees a school library media specialist as critical to learning. Effective school library programs make a difference for students. All of us who believe that libraries make a difference in our lives need to support the SKILLS Act.

Please contact your Representative and ask him or her to sign on as a co-sponsor of the Strengthening Kids’ Interest in Learning and Libraries (SKILLs) Act in the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB).

The ALA Washington Office has included talking points for public and academic librarians as part of its action alert.
For more contact information and talking points go to:
http://capwiz.com/ala/issues/alert/?alertid=10223941

Thanks,

Sylvia