Cutting School Libraries

[Ken Haycock <haycock@unixg.ubc.ca>]

The Chair of the Greater Victor (BC) School Board, Carole James, did
return my call, within 30 minutes. The Board faces a $12 million deficit
and a union contract guaranteeing class size and preparation time;
teacher-librarians are not in the contract [ a lesson here ].
Ms. James was concerned, undertsanding and supportive [yes]. The Board
cut 18 FTE elementary teacher-librarian positions, it's true, but also
learning assistance, music, counsellors, ESL, etc. The Board believes
that every school will have a .5 teacher-librarian due to the provision
of preparation time--they also recognize that this is a "caretaker"
arrangement. Interestingly, Ms. James was knowledgeable about flexible
scheduling, supported it and intends to return to it. The immediate
concern was keeping some professional staff during the current crisis.
While not supporting the decision, I can see that it was a tough one,
with many lessons for us all. In some ways the Board was wise to advise
the community that ALL elemenetary school librarians were being cut but
then returning them through fixed schedules in the short term. In any
case, let them hear from YOU too.


Ken Haycock
School of Library, Archival and Information Studies
The University of British Columbia
831-1956 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC  V6T 1Z1
Voice: 604-822-4991  Fax: 604-822-6006
Internet: haycock@unixg.ubc.ca

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