[LM_NET] SHARE: OKLAHOMA--- Oklahoma Senate Bill regarding Libraries Help Needed

[Shonda Brisco <sbrisco@GMAIL.COM>]

Oklahoma Librarians (and others who are interested):

SB 834 is on the Senate Agenda today.  We are hearing the Senate is likely
to approve the House amendments and forward this bill to the Governor’s
office for a signature.



I’m sure many of you are aware of the conflict involving President Pro Tem
Glenn Coffee and unless this action takes precedence it is very likely SB
834 will be heard today.

http://www.newsok.com/disclose-details-or-exit-oklahoma-democrats-tell-senate-chief-glenn-coffee/article/3365238



*Action Plan:*


*Please call your Senators before 1 p.m. and use these talking points:*
*** *

I am representing the Oklahoma Library Association and the Oklahoma
Association of School Library Media Specialists in opposing this bill and
wanted to include a few more details about why this bill should be rejected.



1.  SB 834 lacks clarity.  By giving control to the local districts with no
strings attached is opening the door to allow these districts to eliminate
the school library, the library media specialist, and funding.  Studies have
shown that a quality school library media program with a qualified library
media specialist have a positive impact on student achievement.  You should
have a copy of Scholastic's "School Libraries Work" with the results of some
of those studies.  I left a copy in your office during the Oklahoma Library
Association's Legislative Day on March 10 and hope you have taken a few
moments to review it.



2.  SB 834 is starting with the schools on the School Improvement list.
These are the schools that are not making Adequate Yearly Progress and are
on school improvement plans.  Is it really a good idea to give them local
control with no strings attached?  These are the schools most in need of a
quality school library media program!



School libraries are all about student achievement.  By working
collaboratively with teachers, school library media specialists help
students to become information literate with the ability to locate,
evaluate, synthesize, and use information effectively.  These skills help to
create better workers and leaders in our communities and state.



Please reject the amendments to SB 834 and work to include the following
statement in any future updates to this bill.



"School districts shall comply with current requirements for library media
programs as specified in "Standard VII The Media Program", of the Standards
for Accreditation of Oklahoma Schools."



Standard VII can be found at <
http://sde.state.ok.us/Teacher/LibraryMedia/StandardVII.pdf>.



Thank you for your help in impacting student achievement and
creating information literate citizens in Oklahoma.



*If you are not able to reach your Senator prior to 1:00 then please call
the office after 1:30 and ask the Administrative Assistant to send a note to
the Senator ON THE FLOOR.*

* *

*Senate Switchboad  405.524.0126*

* *

*Please forward this message to everyone in your address book that can help
us with this call to action.*


-- 
Shonda Brisco
Assistant Professor / Curriculum Materials Librarian
Mary L. Williams Curriculum Materials Library
001 Willard Hall
Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, OK 74078
http://www.library.okstate.edu/cml/index.htm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://osulibrarian.wordpress.com/
http://www.osu-cml.wikispaces.com
sbrisco@gmail.com

http://okschoollibrarians.wikispaces.com
http://okschoollibrarians.ning.com/

"Digital Resources" columnist
School Library Journal

"Libraries will get you through times of no money better than money will get
you through times of no libraries." ~ Library Poster

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