PowerPoint Presentation

Maintaining Access:How to Adapt to Budget Cuts in School Libraries and Media Centers

1Broad Outlook:While the current economic climate has resulted in an unexpected reversal of the previous decades declining demand for libraries and librarians, the most brutal economic downturn since the great depression is making their survival questionable. Even more ironic is the idea that the conditions that led to the recent recession provide strong justifications for the critical necessity of libraries.

Michael Germano (2011)

Budgets cuts are effecting public, academic, and school libraries across the board

2Broad Outlook Cont.What is cut?HoursPart-time staffSome library buildingsGrants

What increases?Need for technology (job searchers)Need for computer skillsFree facility and programming

Library budgets can be broken down into three categories:Salaries and wagesCollectionsOther expenditures (technology, utilities, furniture, consortia fees, etc.)

Largest section of budget is salaries and wages.

Public libraries: 65.5% of budget Academic libraries: 49.3% (Davis, 2008)

3K-12 Schools and Budget Cuts:What gets cut?

StaffHoursLibrary/Media Centers closeLibrarians reassigned to classroomsLibrarians spread across multiple school

Consequences:

Librarians and Media Specialist stretched thinStudents lose accessLoss of contact between students and Media SpecialistsInstructional time lostRelevancy placed in jeopardyDecrease or loss of collection and professional development

Mary Alice Henderson- when juggling schools, less interaction with teachers and students. b/c not visible (1 day per week) teachers see no value and become easy target for cutReduction of research instruction and technology in classrooms (teachers stop scheduling)Loss of collection development4Value to Education:Why are Media Specialists important to education?

Information overloadResearch skills, citations, etc.Technology skillsAiding teachers

The teacher-librarian is a learning specialist who speaks the language of curriculum and its various dialects of reading, social studies, science, and whatever curricular program is popular. (de Groot 2009)

5Value to EducationSusan La Marca (2005)

Attitude, Access, and Ambience

Value of the Media Center:Access to current, quality, extensive, and high-interest collectionCertified librarian enthusiastic about reading/booktalkingCreate opportunity specifically designed to engage readingCreates school environment where reading is encouraged, valued, & promoted

http://www.andertoons.com/cartoon-blog/tag/education

Children need access (esp. impoverished areas)Need wide varietyRecreational time to readThese things are so much more important and vital to future success than we realize. Ex. Prisons- built for future capacity based on % of 10-11 yr. olds how cannot read (Neil Gaiman article)6Value to Education Cont.Keith Curry Lance & colleagues: Colorado Department of Educations Library Research Service

Conducted studies in Colorado, Pennsylvania, and Alaska Across the board results

A strong library media program helps students learn more and score higher on standardized achievement tests than their peers in library impoverished school. (Hamilton-Pennell, 2000)

Example: In Alaska schools with strong libraries 86% scored proficient in reading as opposed to 73% in library impoverished schools

Regardless of social and economic factors

7Plan of actionBuild a constituency to come to your defensePublicity- PTA, school newsletter, local newspaperSchool-wide programs and incentivesReport to administrationMake sure teachers see you as resourceMake library the hub of schoolMake connectionsDenise B. Geier (2007)

1. Establish library as place cannot live without; 2) contribute!; 3) showcase programs, involve parents, tells newspaper; 4) toot horn; 5) set up program with PL for resources; 6) brown bag booktalks, student involved reviews/displays, fun and inviting reading areas; 7) for support, network8Plan of actionDont play blame gameDont bad mouthTake lead in restructuringHelp teachers transitionGrow your programProfessional developmentTake care of yourself!Kristin Fontichiaro (2008)

https://corporate.target.com/corporate-responsibility/education/schools

It is not what principle wants to do, doesnt get anyone anywhere. Instead take leadDont burn bridges at critical pointAllows you more power to craft plan that follows your vision of necessities/capabilities, list value & core activities of program(minimize impact to students teachers, maintain role as instructor, maintain integrity of curriculum, reassign non-essentials to other staff/vol./students, prioritize things that impact teaching, learning, & require technology expertise4) Take time at staff meeting to explain changes/plan to classroom teachers, ask for help in implementation, be prepared for tough moments5) Connect with prof. organizations, local/state support, reading dinner, have separate email for listservs/blogs6) Be human sometimes instead of superhero! Reflection, reflection, reflectionAdministrators will see committed attitude in circumstances that makes them more prepared to give support9Other SuggestionsCustom screen savers featuring student-recommended booksHave student aides to help prepare for shelvingParent volunteersCreate electronic bookshelvesGrant writingPrepare elevator/grocery line speech

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10ATTITUDE! ACCESS! AMBIENCE!http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/oct/15/neil-gaiman-future-libraries-reading-daydreamingRemember why you are a school librarian/media specialist:

You are connecting students with books and instilling a love of reading, reaching children to become independent critical thinkers, and creating an active learning lab for all ages.

(Edwards, 2012)

Students want help. Make them want it more!

Michael Germanos poignant question:Is it possible that the current economic crisis is merely accelerating a process that had already begun? One that leaves libraries severely disadvantaged in any budgeting discussion regardless of the overall resources available for allocation due to an imprecise and unclear understanding of their worth and value?-need a defined notion of value that is aligned with customer needs and benefits from using library as resource (Germano, 2011)11

http://www.cleveland.com/sun/all/index.ssf/2013/04/its_national_library_week_edit.html

12BibliographyDe Groot, J., & Branch, J. (2009). Solid Foundations: A Primer on the Crucial, Critical, and Key Roles of School and Public Libraries in Children's Development. Part of a special issue, Important to us all: school libraries and LIS research, 58(1), 51-62. doi: 10.1353/lib.0.0066

Edwards, B. b. n. k. o. u. (2012). CAN-DO. Knowledge Quest, 40(3), 54-57.

Fontichiaro, K. (2008). Staffing Has Been Cut...Now What Do You Do? School Library Monthly, 24(8), 28-30.

Fontichiaro, Kristin. Its About you. but it isnt. or why budgets are like shark tank. January 21, 2010. School Library Monthly blog.(October 10, 2013). Retrieved from http://blog.schoollibrarymedia.com/index.php/2010/01/21/its-about-you-but-it-isnt-or-whybudget-cuts-are-like-shark-tank/.

Gaiman, Neil. October 14, 2013. Lecture for The Reading Agency. Neil Gaiman: why our future depends on libraries, reading, anddaydreaming. The Gaurdian. October 15, 2013. Retrieved fromhttp://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/oct/15/neil-gaiman-future-libraries-reading-daydreaming.

Bibliography ContinuedGeier, D. B. (2007). Prevent a Disaster in Your Library: Advertise. Library Media Connection, 25(4), 32-33.

Germano, M. (2011). The library value deficit. Bottom Line: Managing Library Finances, 24(2), 100-106. doi: 10.1108/08880451111169124

Goldberg, B. (2005). WHY SCHOOL LIBRARIES WON'T BE LEFT BEHIND. (cover story). American Libraries, 36(8),38-41.

Hamilton-Pennell, C., Lance, K. C., & Rodney, M. J. (2000). Dick and Jane go to the head of the class. studies in Alaska, Pennsylvania and Colorado demonstrate importance of school libraries, 46(4), 44-47.

Ishizuka, K. (2003). School Libraries Struggle With Layoffs. School Library Journal, 49(2), 18.

La Marca, S. (2005). The Three As: Attitude, Access and Ambience. New Review of Children's Literature & Librarianship, 11(1), 87-109. doi: 10.1080/13614540500105628

LaRue, J. (2010). Tough Times and Eight Ways to Deal with Them. American Libraries, 41(1/2), 16-17.

Moyer, L. S. (2005). Library funding in a budget-cut world. Bottom Line: Managing Library Finances, 18(3), 112-115. doi: 10.1108/08880450510613560

Olson, R., & Meyer, R. (1995). Cincinnati school librarians to be reassigned, district announces. School Library Journal, 41(5), 12.

School Library Media Specialists In Budget Crunches, Fight for Jobs. (1975). School Library Journal, 22(2), 62. Bibliography ContinuedBurnette II, Daarel. December 11, 2010. Star Tribune. (October 10, 2013). Retrieved fromhttp://www.startribune.com/local/east/111702274.html.

Images:

http://www.sps.lane.edu/domain/14

http://www.andertoons.com/cartoon-blog/tag/education

http://www.cleveland.com/sun/all/index.ssf/2013/04/its_national_library_week_edit.html

https://corporate.target.com/corporate-responsibility/education/schools