Re: Changing face of school library media centers

[Jeff Kirkpatrick <jeffkirk@CONCENTRIC.NET>]

Friends,

    When I joined this group several years back, it was with the belief that
I might in some small way help turn the tide on what I saw as an appalling
systemic betrayal of a fundamental cornerstone, not only of education, but
of society itself.  For me, then, as now, failing to faithfully and
adequately establish and maintain libraries is failing to honor,
acknowledge, and sustain sharing and community, thus civilized humankind.
    Simply.
    And all sophomoric arguments of expediency and supposed economic motives
(when EVER was the cost of sharing one book more burdensome than the cost of
not sharing one hundred?) and supposed obsolescence pale before these
truths.
    When this thread began, I thought, "We've been here before; what more is
to be said?"  But if what was said before went (effectively) unheard,
perhaps it bears repetition.
    What follows--"Apple Juice," a piece I originally published in the
Greeley (Colorado) Daily Tribune, some years ago--has already been shared
with many on this list.  I ask their indulgence as I offer it again to
others who may choose to share it on, if they find it has merit to
furthering healthy community.  Following that are the honest words of then
Greeley elementary school students (used with permission of the Tribune,
which originally published them), responding with their concerns about
proposed budget cuts.  As you may read, every student featured spoke out for
their libraries. You tell me if you can find (and share) anything more
eloquent, or more telling, than their words.  (And perhaps you CAN--in your
own schools... .)
    BTW, the Greeley school district administration at the time went
obstinately--ignorantly--ahead with its plans to eliminate professionals
from library positions.  Then, a few years later, I noticed a new district
administration was advertising for qualified candidates to fill those
positions, again... .
    And we continue.

Take care.

JEK

***


Apple Juice

[published as "Schools threaten to close the book on libraries," in a June,
1992 issue of the Greeley (Colorado) Daily Tribune.]

        Not long ago it was discovered that a major producer of baby food
had been criminally and morally irresponsible in selling a product which
looked, smelled and (arguably) tasted like apple juice--they even called it
apple juice--but which was nutritionally deficient.  They sold this
so-called apple juice to parents, who dutifully fed it to their developing
babies--babies who critically require nurturing, vitamin-rich foods to grow
and thrive.
        The parents took it on faith--as we sometimes must--that the
manufacturer was acting responsibly.   Yet, though these children's health
was the manufacturer's livelihood, this manufacturer nonetheless recklessly
sold out, for money, and because it could.
        Parents, consider what is happening to our developing children once
again--this time in our schools.  School district principals and
administrators believe they have the right and authority to cut library
media specialist positions without regard for, responsible consultation
with, or even decent acknowledgement to those of us with vested interests.
        Library media specialists are professionals with specific education
which transcends that of classroom teachers.  They are teachers first, with
all the necessary requirements to be teachers, but they also must have the
critical knowledge and expertise necessary to sustain a vibrant, living,
nurturing library media center.
        Thus, a school library media center, without full-time professional
library media specialist staffing is, by definition, deficient.
Nonetheless, administrators delude themselves into believing these
specialists can be replaced with aides, student help, volunteers or closed
library media center doors.
        But let me spell this out.  If we are to truly promote lifelong
learning through our schools, it is vital for students to know how to look
outside the classroom for answers.  Without professional library
instruction, access to materials becomes frustrating and bewildering, if not
impossible; like trying to use a computer without knowledge of its language
or commands or passwords.  Further, without professional organization and
maintenance, former collections soon dissolve into chaotic
clutter, wherein nothing can be conveniently found.
        Imagine the words on this page scrambled randomly and you may
visualize what information-powered media centers will have become.  Trust
me--I have seen it happen.
        So now you know.  Without a professionally staffed and maintained
library media center in your child's school, you don't have education.  You
have instead some cheap, illusory fake, bereft of substance and worth--a
firetrap and nothing more.
        As far back as Brown vs. Board of Education, the Supreme Court
acceded that education has become "perhaps the most important function of
state and local governments."  Mere prudence dictates that for parents and
students to rely on schools to provide adequate mental nourishment,
sufficient for growth, laws and by-laws must be in place to see to it that
administrators do not--simply because they can--fail to meet their
obligations.  With today's constricted budgets, we cannot afford to blithely
trust these fallible souls.  It is time to demand that our children be
guaranteed free access to viable library collections and appropriate library
instruction.
        Understand, it is not out of malice or wantonness that school
administrators act.  Rather, it is from their simply not yet having learned.
Educate them.  Like all of us, they too are but learners.  We taxpayers
willingly, responsibly fund schools to educate our kids.  So long as true
education is provided, were we to do otherwise we would acknowledge our
indifference to the future.  But we dare not blindly accept flavored,
colored water as rich, nutritional apple juice, lest our children suffer for
our misplaced trust.
        Please, as you love your kids, you must be certain that the product
you are buying is not something which only (arguably) looks, smells and
tastes like education, but which is vitally inadequate to student learning
and growth.
        You must insist that those who hold the keys to information access
and independent learning be exemplary, both in library media centers and
beyond.  You must cry for education--not some baneful, watered-down
substitute.

Jeffrey E. Kirkpatrick

***

    With permission from J. Matthew Dixon, Opinion Page Editor of the
Greeley Tribune, following is the text (sans photos), from page A6 of the
March 22, 1993, "Greeley (Colorado) Daily Tribune":


YOUTH VIEW

(headline) Jackson students leery of District 6 budget-cut proposals


    This week, Youth View columnist Scott Childers, a senior at Greeley West
High School, asked Linda Trimberger's fourth-grade class at Jackson
Elementary School how they think the Greeley-Evans School District 6 budget
cuts will affect them.  Their answers appear to the right.

    Anthony Carrillo--I believe the budget cuts will affect me because if
they take away the library, it is just like taking away my reading skills.
Reading is a great part of my education and success.

    Kellie McGrail--I think the budget cuts will affect me most by not
letting me have the best opportunities I can have so that I can get the best
education possible.  The library is probably one of the worst things they
can cut because who will I ask if I need to find a book.  Some libraries are
run by computer and I will not know how to use one.

    Ben Roehrs--The budget cuts will affect me because I am not too good in
library skills and I won't know how to look up library books.  I will be too
scared to ask for help.

    Bryan Gonzales--I think the budget cuts will really affect me a lot.  I
had a dream that if library was cut, I would not get a good education.  The
future depends on all of the children learning all they can learn.

    Amanda Romero--I just moved here from California.  I did not have p.e.
and music at my other school.  There was no librarian, and when I had to ask
for help, there was no one who knew how to check out a book.  When I came to
Jackson, it was hard for me because I was behind my classmates.  After six
months, I have learned more than I would have in California.  Please don't
make it hard for other kids that come to new schools in Colorado.

*****
        The individual or institution that fails to honor and support viable
libraries is simply not credible.  For, a library, as a society, is people,
sharing in trust, for their mutual benefit and edification.  The naive who
fail their libraries fail themselves.
        'Nuff said.

Jeffrey E. Kirkpatrick
Advocate for libraries, education reform and humanity, in Aurora, CO
e-mail address: jeffkirk@concentric.net

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