As a student learning about school librarianship I am immersed in the world of school library ideals and best practices. I read of makerspaces, library blogs, twitter feeds, and book clubs. I imagine that when I graduate this year, I'll find a job at a perfect little library somewhere, and will lovingly transform that library into the heart of the school -- complete with all the best books, programs and equipment that engage and inspire my students to become lifelong learners and library lovers. How could anyone not support that? Then, as I read my new library-filled Twitter feed, I heard about VA SB261. Apparently, people want to reduce the staffing in the school libraries in Virginia?!?! I decided to do a little investigating to see what the fuss was all about.
What is VASB261?
Sure enough, when I visited the Virginia legislature's website, I found all the details about the proposed Virginia (VA) Senate Bill (SB) #261. I found the entire bill and learned that this is not a new bill, but one that would amend an existing law (§ 22.1-253.13:2 of the Code of Virginia). The original law specifies the number of classroom teachers, special education teachers, reading specialist, math teachers, principals, guidance counselors, librarians and more required for each school based on their total population. This new bill only proposes changes to librarians and clerical positions for the library. Basically, it says that for those schools that would be required to have two full-time librarians, they would now only have to hire one librarian and one other teacher (instructional coach, personalized learning lab facilitator, content coordinator, or instructional resource teacher). This applies to middle schools and high schools with over 1,000 students. I’m guessing that “other” teacher would not be helping in the library, but would be working somewhere else in the school.
As if that weren’t enough, this new bill reduces the requirements for library clerical staff as well. Instead of requiring one full-time clerical staff for the library, now that can be a full-time instructional assistant. I’m betting that instructional assistant would not be helping out in the library!
What now?
I knew my library best-practice dreams would probably not be realized my first year in a new library, but I had hoped they weren’t completely out of reach. Now I wonder how just one librarian can even run a mediocre library, much less a library striving to become the heart of the school. Will this bill make our libraries look like those from my grandmother’s days? Not if I can help it! Below are a few things we can do to block VA SB261, and keep our libraries fully staffed.
- Let your state senator know you oppose VA SB 261. Send an email and call his office. Then get everyone you know to do the same!
- Get the word out. Going along with #1, get your family, friends, neighbors, students, their parents, co-workers, administrators, and anyone else you can think of to tell their state senators to oppose VA SB 261. Share the great infographics put out by AASL on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Ask your social media friends to share or retweet your posts so the message to oppose VA SB 261 will spread like wildfire around the internet.
- Keep promoting your library to those who use it. Keep reminding your co-teachers and administrators of all the amazing things you’ve been doing in the library. Remind them of all the ways the library has made their lives easier and helped the students. Sometimes your biggest advocates can be those just down the hall.
Much to my surprise, my challenges in the library have started before I even have the job! Hopefully, if we all speak up, we can keep our school libraries fully staffed so we can keep our students fully learning and growing each day.
Jen Singleton
Virginia State Senate (2018). Senate Bill No. 261. Retrieved February 5, 2018, from https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?181+ful+SB261.
Jen Singleton
References
American Association of School Librarians. [Infographic]. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/aasl/sites/ala.org.aasl/files/content/aaslissues/advocacy/AASL_infographic_strongstudents-2013.pdfVirginia State Senate (2018). Senate Bill No. 261. Retrieved February 5, 2018, from https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?181+ful+SB261.
Thanks for sharing. It is very sad that there is a possibility of cutting school librarians in Virginia. I will be sending an email to my state senator tonight.
ReplyDeleteGreat Post Jen! This is definitely unsettling. I have seen school libraries suffer in other states and I have felt very lucky to be a librarian in Virginia. I am hoping our wonderful school library community here in Virginia will pull through to help keep our great programs safe and sound.
ReplyDeleteI recently read about 2 major school districts who eliminated licensed librarians from their budgets. One school district gave pink slips to 51 librarians! The press release indicated that this was the way they could cut the budget with the least instructional impact on students. So depressing. I couldn't help thinking that I was happy to be a librarian in Virginia and then I read about Bill 261. I am scared that this is the first step towards what other states are doing. How long before schools don't even have to have a librarian?
ReplyDeleteAction on this matter is extremely important for the future of our profession! Thanks for posting about this and spreading awareness. It is imperative, now more than ever, that we advocate for our value as educators and demonstrate our abilities and worth!
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