Re: Librarians being replaced by aides

[Susan Heinis <sheinis@WESTEX.ORG>]

If you work through your state organization (union), they
lobby the legislature and state boards of education to change the laws.
There are a number of library media specialists who serve as presidents of
our locals and as representatives to our state Delegate Assembly.  They are
the first to speak up about issues related to library.

 I also think it is important to have members of your professional
organization (EMAnj in New Jersey)  lobby and testify in favor of
certification requirements and the need to have a properly certified
librarian in every school.  Our state organization has becoame a real force
in representing our librarains.  They keep up with the current legislation
and changes and testify every chance they get.

I think that we do more than present a program in the library.  We teach and
therefore need to be certified in order to do that.  We also do a great deal
of work behind the scenes i.e. cataloging.  Paraprofessionals may be great
in boosting programs, reading to students, etc.  But they are not teachers
and have not the education that certified librarians do.  It isn't a matter
of having a paraprofessional or nothing at all.  We need to demand respect
for our profession by having respect for all the time and hard work we put
into it.

Susan Heinis, library media specialist
West Essex Senior HS
West Greenbrook Road
North Caldwell, NJ 07006
sheinis@westex.org

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