Re: Changing face of school library media centers

[Elizabeth Letterly <eletterl@ABELINK.COM>]

I have been concerned about this issue in our state, because we also have
been witnessing the replacement of media specialists with library aides or
teachers without appropriate certification; the reason given frequently is
shortage of personnel, but often there have been certified librarians that
have applied for and interviewed for positions or that have been let go and
a teacher or aide takes their place.

Until reading grant money and library funding for literacy and school
programming at the federal level are tied to staffing, these cuts, I firmly
believe, will continue to be made in spite of our best efforts to market the
importance of the work we do.

Maybe this is an issue Laura Bush could tackle.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Terri Toppler" <Darth5Mom@AOL.COM>
To: <LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU>
Sent: Sunday, August 12, 2001 12:19 PM
Subject: Changing face of school library media centers


> Dear Fellow LM_Netters,
> I would appreciate  hearing from anyone who has been experiencing possible
> "downsizing" of school library media centers in their area.  Several
"things"
> have occurred in our area that have me wondering about the direction our
> school library media programs are heading.  I would like to know if this
is a
> trend or just something that is happening in our area.  Our timetable
> (earliest to most recent changes over the last few years):
> 1.  Our District Media Coordinator and District IMC were dissolved and
> "replaced" with a Technology Director and department.
> 2.  Full-time elementary media specialists were replaced with half-time
media
> specialists in the smaller schools.
> 3.  Cut-backs in library aide time in some schools.
> 4.  Annual inventory of library collection challenged at building level in
> some schools.
> 5.  Some elementary full-time media specialists given additional teaching
> assignments by building principals, such as teaching Reading an hour and a
> half a day, yet still listed as a full-time media specialist in the
building.
> 6.  Site-based library media budgets implemented.
> 7.  Renovation of library media center facilities without being
media-driven.
>  Often little input by library personnel during initial planning stages.
> 8.  Name change implemented at district-level from LMCs to CLRCs
(Community
> Learning Resource Centers).
>
> Change can be progressive.  It would be helpful to know if others have
been
> through these same changes and where their programs ended up.
> Sincerely,
> T Toppler
> darth5mom@aol.com
>
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All postings to LM_NET are protected under copyright law.
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