HIT: Library Advisory Boards

[Sonya Crhistensen <schristensen@MONROE.EDU>]

>>
>>I received 7 responses to my request for information from anyone who has a=
 Library Advisory Board
>>and several requests to post a hit which follows.  If anyone else has used=
 an advisorty body of any sort, would you please let me know.  I need to=
 know if this really is a very rare phenomenon in school libraries.
>>
>>Robin Tanis  St. Pius X Catholic High  Atlanta GA
>>We do have a board but it is a little ho-hum.  We meet 3 times a year and=
 don't do much of anything.  We are mostly in place in case of any=
 challenges.  This year we looked at our magazine collection for any changes=
 that might need to be made.  And we will meet in Feb. to discuss Title VI=
 purchases.  I will be taking this committee over next year and would like=
 to breather al ittle life into it.  Any ideas would be helpful.
>>
>>Faith Williams Cardozo High  Washington DC
>>We are just trying to start such a board at our school because we realize=
 that without a lot of backing we will never get the funds we will need to=
 properly serve our students.  Another woman here in town has such a board=
 and it's been very successful.
>>
>>Priscilla Seeley  Farley Elementary  Huntsville AL
>>Our K-5 elem. school has had such a board for the past 6 years and it has=
 been superb.  One teacher per grade level, one parent, principal, one=
 teacher who represents the special teachers and me.  We meet about 4 times=
 a year.  They help set up the budget, give input on book selection,=
 magazine selection, and act as the first group to read and reconsider any=
 challenged materials.  At the end of the year, they help determine=
 priorities for the following year.  There is always an agenda given out the=
 week before a meeting, the meetings are always under 30 minutes and=
 refreshments are served.  It's a committee that teachers fight to be on! =
=20
>>
>>Martha Pankratz  Hohokan Middle  Tucson  AZ
>>I have a Library Advisory Committee and have been meeting about three=
 times a year.  I basically call parents and send general requests out to=
 teachers and students.  This year I have three parents, three teachers, and=
 three students.  We really do not make major decisions.  I use it as a=
 vehicle to ouput information and input ideas.  We wrote a grant as a group=
 about three years ago.  They suggested we try a book exchange this year and=
 more of the little things.  I feel it is valuable.
>>
>>Ina Bray  St. Joseph School  Seattle
>>My vice principal created a "library committee" which was to help me with=
 decisions (automation), fundraising, volunteer recruitment, etc.  It nearly=
 became a "supervisory board" because of the personality of one volunteer=
 (we want to besure that you live up to the policies of the school...)  When=
 such a board is established, make sure of their mandate.  Do they have the=
 power to hire and fire the professional in the library?  Does the libarian=
 report to this board on a regular basis:  Does this board pass on book=
 sleection, library programs, etc?  I came within half an inch...
>>
>>Quesadilla@eworld.com
>>We have a Friends of the Cybrary (name change when we added computers). =
 We have been meeting for 2 years, the first year approximately every 2=
 weeks.  We applied for and received a grant to automate the library, using=
 Alexandria software.  I used the committee every step of the way to advise=
 me and help evaluate software.  Now we rare working on implementing the=
 Alexandria, planning for a 75 year birthday part of the school in the year=
 2000, and many other activities.  Being in DC we need to be very creative=
 about raising monies for projects as there is not money otherwise.  Having=
 a committe with "connections" is a big help when it come to finding ways to=
 accomplish thing you want to do.  I keep each meeting to 1 hour and we work=
 from an agenda.  We set the next meeting time at the conclusion of the=
 present meeting.  It has helped me to not be crying in the wilderness=
 alone.  Parents, teachers, the principal, myself and the computer teacher=
 are on the ocmmittee.  I have thought of hvaing students, but do not at=
 this time.  The members are selected by me.
>>
>>Phyllis@lcs.k12.wi.us
>>1 library media specialist, not voting.  2 teachers different grade levels=
 recommended by LMS selected by administration and LMS, 1 reading specialist=
 recommended by LMS selected by administration and LMS, 1 community=
 representative recommended by teachers selected by administration, 2 eigth=
 grade students recommended and selected by teacher, 2 parents recommended=
 by teachers sleected by administration
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