Post on 15-May-2015
School libraries under threat: How to ensure
survival?
LIB 600 Libraries and Education 2014
2Storms ahead!
The economy is stormy, and principals and superintendents are looking for ways to save money.
That threatens school libraries and school librarians, and they are often among the first to succumb to the storms.
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What Could be the Result?
Formula: School library position minimum: 0.02 FTE = 20% or 1/5 position
Kentucky is no exception! 4
Another Kentucky example! 5
6Other states
• As with other public-school districts, Mesa Public Schools are not required to have a certified media specialist operate their libraries and have cut the positions because of financial problems.
Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2008/09/02/20080902librarians0902.html#ixzz2XNtgdNEF
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9Philadelphia 2013
http://www.slj.com/2013/06/budgets-funding/philadelphia-begins-laying-off-school-librarians
/
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http://4lakidsnews.blogspot.com/2008/01/chicago-school-librarians-wont-go.html
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Imagine a newly modernized school with a built-in library/media center — but no books to put on the shelves. Actually, you don’t have to imagine.Read about what’s going on with libraries in D.C. public schools (DCPS) in this open letter to Mayor Vincent Gray from D.C. resident and school library advocate Peter MacPherson. He’s been fighting a move by DCPS to cut funding for dozens of school librarian positions.
Read MacPherson’s letter athttp://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2012/10/09/school-libraries-without-books/
http://www.ksba.org/protected/ArticleView.aspx?iid=6G2BPU0&dasi=3UBI
13Succes story: From cuts . . . 13
http://ala-apa.org/newsletter/2008/03/15/campaigns-spreading-to-reverse-downturn-in-spokane-wa-library-financing/
14. . . to capers• Spokane Moms campaign is
grass-roots success story
• Spokane Public Schools is restoring some of the funding cut from elementary libraries last year, thanks largely to the lobbying efforts of three women who have become heroes among librarians nationwide.
• “They call us the Spokane Moms, which I think is so funny,” said Lisa Layera Brunkan.
• June 25, 2008 - Updated: June 30, 4:10 p.m.
15How did they do it?
16An emulation attempt that fizzled 16
Nancy Sullivan, a media specialist at James Madison High School in Portland, OR, and a founding member of Fund Our Future Oregon.
17What needs to be done?
18Research evidence
*This was in 2008—several more states have since added their studies
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http://www.lrs.org/data-tools/school-libraries/impact-studies
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22School Librarians Must Build Supportbefore the crisis happens! • Step 1 - Know Your Stakeholders
– Students, Parents, Teachers, Administrators, Community Members, Legislators
• Step 2 - Alignment – Align your goals with those of the stakeholders– Use the latest research you can find
• Step 3 - Program Promotion– Build promotional efforts around stakeholder needs
• Step 4 – Evaluation and Evidence– Collect and analyze relevant data about programs,
resources and services– Measure what is important to stakeholders
• Step 5 - Share Findings– Organize and utilize the data that shows
contributions to educational goals
School Library Program Health and Wellness
Toolkit
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Crisis Planning when the unthinkable looms
• Define the situation• Know your mission• Determine a communication structure• Identify the stakeholders• Craft the message• Share the message• Get people involved• Ask for letters of support
AASL Crisis Toolkit
24What is the problem? Among others:
25We Need a Little Insurance!
• Protection–But what?
http://murraylib600.org/InfluenceResearch.pdf
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We need to present
EVIDENCE!
http://murraylib600.org/EvidenceBasedManifesto.pdf
27What does AASL say?
• Empowering Learners (2009)– GUIDELINE: The school
library media program is built by professionals who model leadership and best practice in the school community
• ACTION: The school library media specialist . . . uses research to inform practice and makes evidence-based decisions
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Grand research
evidence?
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Not really enough!
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What kind of evidence, then?
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Organized evidence about your own school library
• Action research– Action research is any systematic inquiry
conducted by teacher researchers, principals, school counselors, or other stakeholders in the teaching/learning environment to gather information about how their particular schools operate, how they teach, and how well their students learn. • (An excerpt from Geoffrey Mills book Action
Research) reproduced as part of Unit 1: What is and why use action research on
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Sounds intimidating?• It’s really quite simple!
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1. Identify the problem
From Action Research Powerpoint - Presented at November 7, 2005 Delsea Regional High School In-service. (no longer available)
35What makes a good problem statement?
• State it as a question that should
36Sample questions?
• How can the library promote reading, writing and listening skills with English-language learners?
– “Ipods and English-Language Learners: A Great Combination.” Teacher Librarian 34, no. 5 (2007).
• Does collaboration with the school librarian make a difference for the senior research paper?
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2. Collect data• What data?
–How are we going to measure what we’re looking for?
• What does “make a difference” mean?
–Operationalize! See Operationalizing Variables
• “Difference” suggests a comparison» Compare what?» Final products?» Compare research papers of two high school classes—
one where the librarian was involved, and one where the classroom teacher worked alone?
» Or interview the students about their experience?
383. Interpret data
405. Evaluate results
416. What’s next?
42Then, just as important!
• Tell ‘em about it!
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Present and share!
• Ross Todd:
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Example of action research• Improving research paper
assignments:– English teachers and the school librarian
collaborate to gather data in a qualitative action research study that investigates the effectiveness of an assignment that requires primary research methods and an essay of two thousand words. • Gordon, Carol.
Students As Authentic Researchers: A New Prescription for the High School Research Assignment School Library Media Research vol. 2, 1999
45Goals of action research
• Making things better!
– Ghaye, T. (1997). Some Reflections on the Nature of Educational Action Research. School Libraries Worldwide, 3(2), 1-10.
46A New ALA/AASL Initiative
http://www.aasl.ala.org/aaslblog/?p=3660
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