Scholastic Administrator article…start a conversation February 18, 2008
Posted by Sara Kelly Johns in : Community , add a commentEllen Rubin from Wallkill High School Library posted a link to a Scholastic Administrator article in which I was quoted
FYI everyone!
There’s a terrific article in the February issue on “Meet the New Librarians,” complete with an interview with AASL President Sara Kelly Johns!
Here’s the url to read the article online: http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3748779
I appreciate Ellen’s bringing it to our attention. I hadn’t seen it yet and was:
1. Pleased with ISTE’s Executive Director Don Knezek affirming the new perception of school librarians as savvy and smart. His wife Jana is a terrific librarian and he “gets” what school librarians do these days.
2. Intrigued by South Carolina’s ADEPT standards and want to know more.
3. See it as a reason to have a conversation about your school library program with your administrator…”Do you get this magazine? Did you see this article?”
4. Realized I own four black pants suits.
After the link was posted on AASLForum, this response came from Deborah Hensley, an elementary librarian in the District of Columbia:
Thank you for sending this, Sara. I actually sent a link to it to my school system’s Chancellor (DC public schools). I think it speaks directly to the issues that face us, and how we need to be viewed very differently from in the past.
Libraries are in a sorry state in DC, and LMSs are almost invisible to the school system’s leadership, but I am trying in my persistent way to advocate for those of us library media specialists who are left. Thanks for providing this excuse to reach out again!
Deborah
Good for Deborah…and all of you who contact your principal or superintendent! When we are doing our jobs well, our jobs look “easy” and we are pretty invisible. This will help raise our visibility quotient a bit.
Unanimous! On to the House…. February 14, 2008
Posted by Sara Kelly Johns in : Community , add a commentThank you to everyone around the country who have passed the word on about the Washington legislation and/or showed support in other ways.
GREAT news came later yesterday afternoon from Susan McBurney, one of the Spokane Moms:
Susan wrote:
Well folks, unbelievably good news!
Olympia continues to mystify and thrill us. After passing out of Ways and Means yesterday, we expected to wait to be scheduled in the Senate Rules Committee. But …. SB#6380 was heard by and passed through the Rules committee this morning, and then went for a full Senate floor vote this afternoon. Senators McAuliffe, Eide, Marr, Brown, Honeyford, Hargrove, and Parlette spoke in support of the bill, and it in was UNANIMOUSLY PASSED just after 4pm this afternoon.
Lisa was there to experience it, and was mentioned by name in Senator Eide’s speech. Our grassroots effort was also publicly recognized in the speeches given by Senators Brown, McAuliffe and Parlette.
THANK YOU EVERYONE for all you’ve done to get us here! This is an AMAZING accomplishment, a testament to all of us! The bill will go over to the house next. We’ll keep you posted.
There will be more info. posted at the blog later http://librariesfordemocracy.org/fundfuture/
But we wanted you to know the great news.
YEE-HA!!!
Susan and Denette
Know anyone in Washington? Action is needed NOW February 6, 2008
Posted by Sara Kelly Johns in : Community , add a commentBelow is a thorough explanation from Lisa, one of the Spokane Moms who is asking Washington State residents to e-mail, with personalization, right away, the members of the Appropriations Committees in the House and Senate. They need to know how endangered school library media programs are RIGHT NOW as budgets for next year are being finalized. The bills are headed to the fiscal committees and have a real life going for them. The contact information and background info are on the Fund our Future Washington blog: http://fundourfuturewashington.org/9.html
Please pass the word on; swift action now can make a real difference for kids in Washington!
Dear School Library Supporters,
We are moving closer (at what feels like light speed the last couple of days) to making school library funding a priority in our state. We are at another critical juncture and are requesting your much-needed help in the next twenty-four hours or as soon as you can.
Could you please write an email and send it individually to the Appropriations Committee Members? We have heard Olympia “insiders” say repeatedly “Mass email is not appreciated.” Please personalize each email greeting to the legislator.
The question has now shifted to ‘why does the funding matter for this issue in this session?’ We need to articulate the urgency of the hemorrhaging library programs. Just yesterday, a school administrator was on his way to communicate layoff news to his library/technology staff. Legislators need to know that if they allocate dollars this session the result will be immediate help for our schools. It is an “investment” not a “cost.”
Please pass the word. These are crucial actions. Here’s a link to the information:
http://fundourfuturewashington.org/9.html
The House Bill (#2773) was revised to reflect that funding for staffing could be used anywhere across the K-12 span. It passed out of committee on Friday and yesterday was referred to the House Appropriations Committee. We were told today that we will have 24 hours notice of the hearing and it could be held as early as this Friday or Monday.
We admit this Appropriations Committee terrifies us a bit. We would be incredibly grateful if you could pave the way for our testimony by making the case in your own words, in advance.
It looks like the amended Senate bill #6380 (see blog for details) may be headed out of the Education Committee, we will know after 8pm tonight when it is scheduled for executive session. Please email the Senate Ways and Means Committee Members individually (same parameters apply-including the terror!!). Here is the link:
http://fundourfuturewashington.org/9.html
Thank you so much, your actions are truly making a difference. Legislators are working hard to come through on this issue. Please forward us any responses you receive so we know where we stand and have context for the hearing.
We were told in Olympia on Friday that it can take on average 3-10 years for an issue to move through the process, friends it has not even been 11 weeks since we began the push for funding in this session. Please help us bring it home.
THANK YOU!
Lisa, Susan and Denette
blog:http://librariesfordemocracy.org/fundfuture/
The Rally and Summit with the Spokane Moms was incredible February 5, 2008
Posted by Sara Kelly Johns in : Community , add a commentEnergizing, exciting, exuberant, effective…Lisa, Denette and Susan, the Spokane Moms, are certainly all of that and so was the Summit orchestrated by Mike Eisenberg Equally so was the wet, cold and windy rally on the steps of the Capital Building on February 1. For the full story about the Spokane Moms, WLMA, AASL and ALA working together for the students of Washington, check out my blog
Wow!
