GEN: Value of a librarian

["Judi O'Brien" <obrienj@RIDE.RI.NET>]

Hello LM_Netters, This week I saw the results of an audit that was done of
my school district. Each of the 7 elementary schools, regardless of size
(they range from about 225-430 students), has a full time media specialist.
The auditors called this staffing arrangement "simply extravagant and
unfair to the taxpayer; it should be corrected as soon as possible". By
their calculations, in addition to instructional time, 1 additional hour
per week is sufficient to maintain the book collection and do other duties.
They recommended cutting 3.5 positions.
     While it's true that the media specialists in many other cities and
towns must service 2 or 3 schools, we are expected, because of our
full-time status, to be responsible for AV equipment, help teachers with
computer problems, do reading incentive programs, etc.,etc. Needless to
say, 3 of the librarians have received notice of possible layoff and,
because of the audit, it will be an issue every year.
     What little value seems to be placed on what we do!        Judi
Judi O'Brien
obrienj@ride.ri.net
Hamilton Elementary School
25 Salisbury Avenue
North Kingstown, RI 02852

"If information were power, librarians would rule the world"

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