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The dilemma here is that if you devise models for unstaffed libraries they will 
never put staff back. There will be an assumption that the libraries work OK so why 
did we ever have staff in the first place. Our trouble is that we try to fix 
everything and make it work even if that means working without us.

We need to step back and let it happen - continue to advocate for TLs in schools, 
point out that vast amounts of money and resources will be lost and wasted, 
students will not have the skills they need for higher education and to function 
successfully in a 21st century that is characterised by technology - but let 
schools and the districts accept the consequences of such ill advised action.

We need to stop creating band-aids and propping up administrators, systems and 
decisions which go against every precept of education. Funny how they always find 
the funds for an extra sports specialist or new sporting equipment.
:|
BC


President WA Operations, WASLA, http://www.wasla.asn.au/
Vice President, Advocacy & Promotion, IASL: www.iasl-online.org
The GiggleIT Project: www.iasl-online.org/sla/giggleIT/index.htm
InfoScience Seminars: http://www.scss.ecu.edu.au/seminars/infosci/index.php
Australian School Library Research Project: www.chs.ecu.edu.au/portals/ASLRP/
Barbara Combes, Lecturer
School of Computer and Security Science Edith Cowan University, Perth Western 
Australia
Ph: (08) 9370 6072
Email: b.combes@ecu.edu.au

"Whatever the cost of our libraries, the price is cheap compared to that of an 
ignorant nation." Walter Cronkite

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-----Original Message-----
From: School Library Media & Network Communications 
[mailto:LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU] On Behalf Of kaTe
Sent: Tuesday, 6 April 2010 2:20 AM
To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Subject: Re: [LM_NET] TARGET: models for unstaffed libraries

Thanks for all your responses.  Additional information from Cheryl.  We will put 
together a HIT and send that out.  If you have anything to add, please email Cheryl 
directly: cheryl.beran@tusd1.org





kate  :)







Well, the suggestion to post this query  on the LM_NET listserv was brilliant and 
has yielded responses from school librarians everywhere.  I appreciate the passion 
for libraries out there - such a rare treat to see!
I want to clarify - if the one cent sales tax in May fails, my district is also 
considering:

closing between 10 and 15 of our 100+ schools,

eliminating all or most of the certified non-classroom positions (which is where 
librarians come in)

eliminating most administrators at sites, except for maybe one principal

cutting sports, before and after school programs,  and school security



We will be looking at a reduction of 36% overall in two years.  (we already had an 
across the board cut of approximately 18% last year.)  Ouch. Our Governing Board 
will unveil their plan for dealing with the crisis in the next week.



In addition, the state of AZ stripped all teachers in the state of all their rights 
on Nov. 24, 2009.  (Seniority doesn't matter, nor does tenure.
Schools/principals/site councils can let go of whomever they choose.)  That is 
going to court, but has not been decided.  AZ is a very anti-public education 
state, sadly. It means we can be let go anytime.



I am looking for models whereby possibly we can retain the assistants to cover the 
daily operations, protect the collections, etc. by assigning them half or fulltime 
to a library.  Then maybe have a librarian oversee  a number of those libraries, do 
the collection development, etc.
Collaboration and instruction with teachers requires relationships, so I don't see 
that happening for awhile. But, I did have a librarian at the University of Arizona 
tell me that her teachers taught her everything she needed to know about how to use 
a library; that school librarians are not necessary  (nice show of support, 
right?). And - yes, I know this involves money, but maybe a little spent now will 
save a ton later in terms of replacing collections - again - being optimistic that 
these dark days will pass.



I have fought for libraries, librarians, instruction/ service, and collections for  
4 years in a row now.  This  year I am just fighting for collections.  It is down 
to that. I clearly did not win the other battles.
And- I am not alone in my battle, but I believe that until the parents and the 
community see the value of librarians and libraries, we are doomed.
Ultimately, they are the ones who will have to demand that schools provide library 
services to the students, that we once again are integral to the educational 
process of preparing students for the worlds of higher education or work.  And, I 
hope we prevail in the long run.  I just need a big band aid to get us through 
this.  What is the model in Des Moines, IA?  Anyone know?  ( Not a random question 
- our ex-superintendent is from there and I understand they have a model that might 
be workable.)



And yes, at the end of day, if the sales tax fails, I quite likely won't even have 
a job, so I will walk away - doors locked or not.



Cheryl















Kate Gallion



"It is more than ironic that school districts are willing to spend hundreds of 
thousands of dollars on reading programs and staff development which have had 
limited success in boosting test scores, but are unwilling to invest in school 
library programs that show such direct correlations to student success," researcher 
Douglas Achterman wrote in a 2008 study of California school libraries.





School Librarian ~ Teacher

TUSD Alternative Education

Project MORE H.S.

440 S. Park

Tucson, AZ  85719

520-225-2624


<https://mail.tusd1.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://edweb.tusd.k12.az.u
s/Alternative_Ed/> http://edweb.tusd.k12.az.us/Alternative_Ed/







P Please consider the environment before printing this email.







From: kaTe [mailto:cag02@cox.net]
Sent: Friday, April 02, 2010 8:41 PM
To: LM_NET
Cc: 'cheryl.beran@tusd1.org'
Subject: TARGET: models for unstaffed libraries



Posting this for a colleague.  Please respond to: cheryl.beran@tusd1.org





Hi - I am a librarian in Tucson Unified School District in Arizona. Due to some 
tough financial times and a basic lack of understanding of what exactly it is that 
we do, the site councils in over 70 of our 100+ schools have chosen to let the 
librarian go for next year.  Of those 70+ schools, some have chosen to keep an 
assistant at least part-time to run circulation and provide access to materials for 
the students.  But, in the other schools, 38 of our 70 elementaries, 9 of our 19 
middle schools, and 5 of our 12 high schools, there is absolutely no one staffing 
the library.  Our collections are worth just under $25 million, with $10,665,302.89 
being unsupervised/protected for next year.

What models have other districts used to protect the collections and ensure access 
to the materials to the students without the entire collection walking out the 
door?  I need to present some options to the powers that be next week and to the 
Governing Board the week after.  Any ideas out there?


Thanks,


Cheryl Beran, Librarian
Catalina Magnet High School
Tucson, AZ
cheryl.beran@tusd1.org








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