Hail to the Redskins!!!

On a this cold, rainy afternoon the Redskins hosted the Dallas Cowboys, their long-time rival at home - FedEx Field. This was it!! We win and we go to the Playoffs. It was a miserable afternoon and I was tempted to stay home where it was warm and dry and I could see the plays and hear the announcer. But I do remember all those years before season tickets where I would do almost anything to get a ticket to this game - but rarely got one. So because it was the Cowboys game, I put on everything I had to stay warm and dry and ended up looking like the Michelin tire man!!! What can I say other than it was definitely worth it! It was one of the best games I had seen and certainly the Redskins played better than they had all year -- holding Dallas to just one yard rushing. The defense was truly awesome! I didn't sit down at all during the game - it was so exciting!! Lots of noise, lots of yelling and lots of disappointed Cowboy fans. If we lost, we could still go to the playoffs if the Saints and the Vikings also lost. But no fan wanted to go in by the backdoor -- we wanted to go in right! Throughout the game, the scores of other games being played are posted -- all but the Saints and the Vikings -- Coach Joe Gibbs did not want to know until this game was over. As it turned out they both lost. The important score -- the Redskins beat Dallas 27-6 and are headed to Seattle for the Wildcard game on Saturday, January 5. If we win (oops -- when we win) we will face Dallas the following week in Dallas. Surprisingly, I stayed warm and dry, but I will admit I was so excited I doubt I would have noticed otherwise.

National Library Legislative Day

If you are on ALA Council, or have read-only privileges to the Council listserv you will have already seen this, but for those of you not on the listserv, I think it is a good time to begin the discussion of National Library Legislative Day. First a few (edited) excerpts from the posting that started the discussion.

. . .I have received a notice about registering for National Library Legislative Day. And it occurs to me .... that attending legislative day is a mystery to me. None of the folks in libraries I have worked at. . . have ever, to my knowledge, attended. And so I ask, because I am genuinely curious and wish to understand parts of the professional landscape that I don't frequent ...... do YOU go? Is it EXPECTED of you? Does SOMEBODY in your institution go? Is there institutional support for it? What do you hope to accomplish? Do you think you DO accomplish something?

Here was my response:
I for one, DO go to Legislative Day and encourage others to go. Two years ago, the spring class I was teaching at the University of Maryland on Library Administration met on Tuesday -- so I took my class to Legislative Day - and they loved it and got a lot out of it. It is not expected of me to go and several librarians at the central office level from other counties do go, and when we do we join up with our counterparts in the public, academic and special libraries to visit our Congressmen. The only institutional support I receive is that I do not have to take leave to go to Leg Day. (Granted a 45 minute ride on Metro gets me to Capitol Hill). Why do I go? - there are several reasons. 1)To attend the sessions the ALA Washington Office arranges and the overview which gives me a broad picture of what is happening politically in response to issues regarding all types of libraries -- it gives me the global picture so I can see the impact on myself and other libraries. 2)To have a chance to bring forth the issues affecting school libraries and hear from others around the country on how they are handling the issue or how it is impacting them and suggestions for us to join forces to address the issue. 3)To visit my Congressmen to - first thank them for their support in the past and tell them how it has made a difference and then to inform them of current concerns and ask for their help. What do I hope to accomplish? To make legislators aware of the needs of school libraries and when with my counterparts, how we work together for the needs of all types of libraries. Specifically, last year my interest was the introduction of the bill to include school librarians in NCLB -- the SKILLs Act. It was successful and got the attention of many and though there is still lots to be done -- I feel we (with the help of the Washington Office) did accomplish much! If we do not speak up for libraries -- all types of libraries -- who will? ALA Leg Day is not the only way to get our voice heard -- but it is an effective one. If we consistently advocate for libraries we can make a difference.

As a result of the posting I received several comments, one very interesting and which is one of those great ideas that comes from discussing a topic. Most of it centered around persons who would like to be involved, but for a variety of reasons cannot attend NLLD in Washington. The first comment was to have the handouts posted to the web so everyone can take advantage of them at the local level. Actually this is already done. The Washington office has been hosting Virtual Library Legislative Day for several years now, which is a great way to get involved if you cannot be there. The handouts are posted and there is an online Legislative Action Center (LAC) http://capwiz.com/ala that outlines all the pending issues and gives you an opportunity to send a fax directly to your legislators.

The next suggestion was to have a coordinated local event for those unable to attend. I wonder if the Federal Library Legislative Advocacy Network (FLLAN) might be the place to get such an action started -- ?? The FLLAN is a relatively new initiative by ALA's Committee on Legislation, the Public Library Association Legislative Committee and the ALA Washington Office to establish a more formal national grassroots advocacy network that is capable of responding to federal issues in an efficient and effective manner. Although developed primarily to get support when needed for an issue -- perhaps they could develop that support through a coordinated local event. Some states do have local events - perhaps they could be contacted to allow their success to be applied in other states to allow for a wider participation in our legislative actions.

The other suggestion, which I think is fantastic one and hope it is implemented -- is to web cast the various presentations at NLLD. This is simple technology and there are already web casts on the ALA page, so web casting the valuable presentations at NLLD and putting them on the web page with the handouts sounds like an easy way to get increased member involvement. It will certainly provide those unable to attend NLLD and who choose to work in local districts with the benefits those attending NLLD are able to gain, along with the ALA Washington Office staff's knowledge. I have emailed Emily Sheketoff, Executive Director of the ALA Washington Office requesting that this be explored for the NLLD this May.

IT'S UP! Visit My Webpage

My web page for the ALA Presidential Campaign is up and running. I invite you to visit it and to post your questions, concerns, issues or ideas for improving our association. You can communicate with me through the forum on the web page, here on the blog or directly by email. I would love to hear your ideas!

Web page: http://www.electlindawilliams.org/
Email: lwilliams@aacps.org or jw177@aol.com
Blog: http://www.lindasreflections.blogspot.com/

I also invite you to come to my campaign reception to meet me on Saturday, January 12, 2008 at the Philadelphia Marriott, Salon B from 4:00 - 6:00 PM. There will be snacks and a cash bar and plenty of time to talk with me. Hope to see you then!

Where's the Evidence? Understanding the Impact of School Libraries

The third SLJ Leadership Summit brought 250 librarians and vendors to the Arizona Biltmore, beautifully decorated for Christmas, complete with a huge gingerbread house. Arizona has been in a drought for many years as they have not received their annual 5" of rainfall. Surprise -- here we were in the hot desert and during the three days we were there it rained 2". Now, we were glad to "help out" but being rainy and cold did not allow us to take advantage of all the things to do in Phoenix, the Biltmore and nearby Scottsdale. We would have preferred warm and sunny conditions, but with such a wonderful event taking place it was really not an issue.

Speaking of Issues -- as a candidate for ALA President, during the vendor presentations on the second day, Gale's David Schroeter, presented me with a Gale tee-shirt with a great slogan, which should be mine! (see photo). I also want to thank Roger Rosen of Rosen Publishing for his very generous support.

The summit focused on Evidence-Based Practice as a way to understand the impact of school libraries on student achievement. Attendees had the opportunity to meet with their colleagues from across the county to learn, discuss and develop new practices. To paraphrase Brian Kenney, Editor-in-Chief, School Library Journal, Understanding and applying this methodology will allow building level library media specialists, district supervisors and state-level coordinators to answer the question "What differences do our school libraries and their learning initiatives make to student learning outcomes?" To implement Evidence-based Practice, we need to know and evaluate existing educational research, combine this with an effective library media program to collect the evidence that the school library is making a difference in student achievement. Using research in this way allows us to look beyond traditional measures and focus on information literacy, knowledge building and engaging students in reading.

The agenda was filled with well known names in the research field and users of Evidence-Based Practice. Opening remarks from Congress member Raul M. Grijalva praised school libraries and the future of the SKILLs Act. Linda Perlstein, author of Tested: One American School Struggles to Make the Grade presented the Keynote Address. She spent three years researching this book at a poor elementary in my school district. The book needed to be written and should be a reading requirement for all educators and parents. It is a story of meeting the requirements of NCLB -- both the good and the not so good. Yes, the students' scores went up -- but did the students learn?

Dr. Carol Gordon, Rutgers University moderated an Evidence Across the Profession Panel, which included participants from the medical , architectural, and health sciences fields and the Director from the Center for the Advancement of Evidenced-Based Practice. There were three Case Study sessions, covering a variety of topics, which participants selected to attend. Opening the second day of the summit, Peter Pearson, President, Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library gave an informative presentation on Just Because They Love You, Doesn't Mean They Will Fund You. Dr Ross Todd, Rutgers University closed the two-day summit by summing up all the sessions and presentations and forming work groups for applications of the major concepts. I do hope SLJ continues this yearly leadership summit - it is the most thought provoking two days I have spent in a long time. -- Interestingly enough, I can see many areas where Evidence-based Practice can be applied in the ALA Organization to gain the evidence of what works best and how we can apply the evidence and what we know to make things work better -- hmm -- what a concept!

The Future is @ Your Library

The 13th National American Association of School Librarians (AASL) conference held in Reno, NV was a fantastic experience. Daniel H. Pink, as the Keynote speaker for the Opening General Session, kept everyone’s attention focused on what the future can hold. Pink, author of A Whole New Mind - Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future discussed the rise of right-brain thinking in modern economics and explained the six abilities individuals and organizations must master in an outsourced and automated world. If you haven’t read the book yet, I suggest you do so! A record number of attendees packed the sessions that heavily emphasized Web 2.0 and its application to learning -- our culture and the changes in the world.

Reno as a destination was not necessarily where most would have chosen to vacation, but there were so many wonderful meaningful conference activities, that Reno’s presence became minimum. I heard lots of rumors of attendees who tried to “get rich quick” – and did —but just as quickly, lost it . But that’s what happens in a gambling town. The important thing was everyone had fun along with full days of enriching programming. Those that had the time to come early or extend their trip found Lake Tahoe a beautiful respite from gambling and the run down town of Reno.

Prior to the AASL Conference, AASL President, Sara Kelley Johns, AASL Board member Robbie Nickle and I were invited to the local NBC affiliate to talk with Sam Shade on libraries and NCLB. Here is the link to the video from Nevada Newsmakers. Scroll down to October 29 which was when the program was broadcast. Nevada NewsMakers - Oct 29 - Nov 1‎(7KB)‎
Even though this was an AASL conference, the content would bring exciting ideas and quality staff development to anyone attending. The sessions covered online learning to successful summer reading programs to collaboration, working with principals, and storytelling, including a session on NCLB presented by Emily Sheketoff, Melanie Anderson, both from the ALA Washington Office and myself. The PowerPoint and handouts from all the sessions are available at http://www.ala.org/aasl as well as the ability to purchase a CD of all the presentations. There were tours to schools and libraries in the area, as well as local attraction tours, preconferences, author sessions, a great bookstore and lots of vendors.

Did you happen to miss this one? – don’t let this opportunity pass again – make plans now to attend the 14th AASL conference November 5-8, 2009 in Charlotte, NC and then the 15th in Minneapolis, MN in November 2011. See you there!

Candidate for ALA President

I am deeply honored to announce that I am a candidate for President of the American Library Association. It is an honor to be nominated and I would work to serve the membership of ALA and all librarians. As an ALA member for 30 years I have a deep commitment to the ALA and feel I can make a significant contribution in advancing its mission and goals . My web site is under construction where my platform, complete biography and other areas will be available. For now the press release is on the ALA web site. http://www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Section=News&template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=167189 Please feel free to contact me through this blog or at lwilliams@aacps.org Thank you in advance for your support and please let me know your concerns and thoughts.

Time Out!

I have been away from my blog for a while, but my thoughts were still very much on school libraries and the SKILLs Act -- even while conquering Mount Everest -- or riding at lightening speed to get to an Areosmith concert -- which by the way were two of the best roller coaster rides I've taken! Yes, I was at Walt Disney World in Orlando enjoying being a kid and trick-or-treating at Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. "Boo to You!" Now, back to reality!

Why School Library Media Specialists Need to be in the Reauthorization of NCLB

Just within the last two days I received in my email three examples of how school librarians and school libraries -- not to mention our students -- are suffering at the hand of NCLB. We must continue to rally and tell our stories to Congress, so we will be included in the reauthorization of NCLB so this will STOP. I have omitted names and parts of the original text, but no change in the issue. If you read LM_Net or AASLForum, you have see the first example. To help with clarification, my words are in italics.

EXAMPLE 1
“. . .Title IIA, federal funds for Professional Development, will not pay for librarians' conferences or training. I recently applied for funding to go to AASL, . . .I am very unhappy about the situation. . . .21st Century Learning, which mediates Title IIA funds for the. . archdiocese sent my principal the following e-mail: “. . . I am not able to approve your request for Title IIA funds for the American Association of School Librarians Conference because Title IIA guidelines very specifically detail that the funds are to be used for sustained professional development for teachers and administrators. Training must be focused on improving student achievement in core academic areas or on improving instructional strategies or classroom management techniques. . .Perhaps it's time to send protests to your legislators. I certainly will. Perhaps you should do so too"

And here is the great response from a member of the AASL NCLB Task Force. "Thank you for this very real example of how teacher-librarians are affected by the provisions of NCLB. When you call your representatives to protest, make sure that you ask them to co-sponsor the SKILLs Act (HR 2864/S 1699). This legislation will amend NCLB to include teacher-librarians for consideration for Title IIA funding. As. . .stated, teacher-librarians are not currently considered part of the "core academic areas" and therefore ineligible for these funds under the current provisions of NCLB. The successful passage of the SKILLs Act will change this. Don't just protest, make sure you ask your reps to co-sponsor the SKILLs Act!"

Teacher-librarians might not be considered part of the "core academic areas" but the skills we teach and the collaboration we do with the core academic teachers certainly focus on improving student achievement in the core areas as in all areas of our students education. And even if not considered to be approved by that criteria the sessions at the AASL Conference in Reno the end of October, all focus on improving instructional strategies -- or even classroom management techniques. It is unbelievable that those making the decision do not understand this! Help us change this!

Example 2
"NCLB seems to be taking a toll on school library media specialist positions. The most recent disaster has been the dismantling of the Department of School Libraries in Pennsylvania. This Department was moved into the Pennsylvania State Library many years ago with school librarians kicking and screaming because it was no longer in Curriculum and Instruction. However, the State Library in PA is a part of the Department of Education and they were able to mix ESEA and LSTA funds to do marvelous things like hire additional staff using LSTA funds.The Department grew exercising strong leadership under first Doris Epler (who helped create the state-wide database for all types of libraries) and then John Emerick who worked to create the Power Library. Their resource center was one of the finest in the nation. A governor's (former mayor of Philadelphia) made an appointment of a State Education Department Director who saw how good the resource center was to answer questions and moved the staff into his public relations department. Only one other person remains and they aren't sure this person will be able to go out to libraries as the staff have been doing previously. Only one person is left to go out to talk with superintendents and principals when they decide to do without a school librarian."

Having known John Emerick and worked with some outstanding school library media specialists in Pennsylvania, I know what the Department has been able to accomplished in the past years. It appears that Pennsylvania like many other states is doing away with the school library media department -- or making it so small that it is extremely ineffective. Evidence of the lack of understanding of what school libraries and school librarians do to increase student achievement and improve reading skills. Without being in NCLB we are looked at as an easy place to cut budgets to apply to what is mandated.

Example 3
"In California, a recent discussion has revolved around a principal who put the reading teacher in charge of the elementary school library -- not even with a library technician. The reading teacher immediately rearranged the library by Accelerated Reader levels.

This is happening more and more. Many school libraries are operated by someone without a degree -- a parent volunteer or an aide. NCLB calls for literacy coaches as well as technology people -- both of which fall into the arena of school library media specialists -- yet others are being hired with little to no recognition of the work school library media specialists do to increase student achievement.

Advocacy for School Libraries and Librarians

Just a few weeks ago, I received an email from a school librarian who had just re-read my Jan/Feb 2006 AASL Presidential Column in Knowledge Quest, Advocacy: The First Step in Achieving it ALL. (www.ala.org/ala/aasl/aaslpubsandjournals/kqweb/kqarchives/volume34/34-3_Williams.pdf) She expressed her frustration with the lack of success we as school librarians have had in changing our status, regardless of the amount of personal advocacy attempts and successes. I have to agree with her. Since the publication of the first Information Power, some twenty years ago, we have been trying to get teachers, administrators and Boards of Education to realize the difference we make in student achievement, and recognize school library media specialists as vital and integral to the instructional process. Yes, we have made a few inroads, but certainly not a unified understanding and acceptance. What is it we need to do?

The fact that "there is still no place in administrators' education where the role and actualization of LMS's on student learning is addressed." or the "disparity across the nation in state education regulations concerning LMS's and LMC's. Our own profession is distracted by arguing about the educational and certification requirements of LMS's" These are all things that contribute to the lack of understanding, but regardless of the amount of time and effort, we need to consistently advocate for our profession and the difference we make in the education of our students. This is why the impending legislation regarding the reauthorization of NCLB is so important to school libraries and librarians. It takes ALL of us working together to get something accomplished -- whether it is the legislation or recognition of school libraries ad librarians in our own state or district. We cannot continue to sit back and let others do it for us -- those who never let up and are always trying to make a difference cannot do it by themselves. many say what can I do, one voice won't make a difference -- but one voice CAN make a difference -- one voice is important, but to turn the perspective it takes all of us together. And we need to think out of our own area. Get other groups to speak for us -- on our behalf. Broaden your sphere of influence and get it to work for you. But regardless, we cannot give up !

Committee for Educational Funding - Gala 2007 Banquet

I had the pleasure of attending the Committee for Education Funding Gala 2007 Banquet last night. What a wonderful opportunity to network with people and organizations that deal with education. The Gala sponsors included the American Federation of Teachers, the National Education Association, the Student Aid Alliance, National Association of Private Special Education Centers, National School Boards Association, The College Board, with a long list of table sponsors, and contributors. More than ever, it brought to light that we need to reach out to all educational organizations and tell them our story and get their support for school libraries. Having them speak on our behalf to Congress does our cause a world of good. It is the type of strong support we need. So reach out and contact anyone in the education arena that can help us.

The theme of the Gala was "When Our Students Succeed, Our Nation Succeeds". Three Awards were presented:

The Charles Wilson Lee Citizen Service Award "for distinguished public service in support of education as an investment in America's children, youth and adults" was presented to Former President George H.W. Bush and Former President William Jefferson Clinton for the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund.

The William H. Natcher Distinguished Service Award, "for distinguished service during the 110th Congress in elevating the priority for education funding to ensure better opportunities for our nation's citizens" was presented to The Honorable Dave Obey, US House of Representatives from Wisconsin's 7th District and the Honorable Jim Walsh, US House of Representatives from New York's 25th District.

The Outstanding New Member Award, "for demonstrating commitment to our nation's students by advocating education as an investment in the future" was awarded to the Honorable John Yarmuth, US House of Representatives from Kentucky's 3rd District.