Bleeding Libraries - A Video Dramatization

Sun Valley High School Teacher Librarian Laura Graff created this video by Los Angeles students and school teacher librarians. Viewers will experience tears of sadness about the tragedy of school libraries in California. It is by lauralee2002 — June 02, 2010 — A dramatization of what will happen to school libraries when poorly conceived budget cuts close libraries. Well done.



Also available on VIMEO.

Hope this makes more people learn more about what is happening to weaken our schools and student access to learning. Learn more about the California School Library Association's Campaign for Strong School Libraries, also known as the "Best Sellers" campaign.

Young Learners Need Librarians, Not Just Google

Good to see a respected business publication, Forbes Magazine, carry an "intelligent investing" article about the importance of strong school libraries. "Young Learners Need Librarians, Not Just Google" by Dulcina Media CEO Mark Moran is a article that will be shared widely within libraryland and hopefully to the policymakers and education leaders who keep shortchanging students and our future by reducing funding for school library service.

If Mark could write a series of followup articles, here are some topics he could cover:

School Library Standards -- require them! The AASL - American Association of School Librarians has developed school library curriculum standards, as have many states. in fact, research shows that strong school library programs increase student achievement, regardless of a school community's poverty level. State school library standards are important, yet do not exist in all states. Here are some California and national material that supports the case for strong school libraries as a key element in student success. Technology is a key element of a strong school library program. Sadly, library programs are often cut because they are not seen as "classrooms", when in fact they are classrooms.

• California DRAFT Model School Library Standards (2010)
• National AASL "Standards for the 21st Century Learner" (2009)

READ the Research:

1. Primary Sources: America's Teachers on America's Schools (2010)
2. "Haves, Halves, and Have-Nots: School Libraries and Student Achievement" (2009)
3. School Libraries Work (compendium of state studies, charts, graphs)
   

Define "strong school library" (most parents and policymakers don't know the elements of a strong school library ...this is why school library standards are important). See"Best Seller" Campaign for Strong School Libraries. Does the library have:

• A full time, certified school Teacher Librarian and a full-time paraprofessional working as a team? This allows the teacher librarian to collaborate with teachers in co-designing instruction which incorporates information literacy into the curriculum.
  
• Lots of carefully selected books, databases, and other learning resources? Resources must reflect the school curriculum and student recreational reading needs.
• A program which provides instruction and activities for students to use the research process in finding the information they need? Research is a process, not an end product – it is the thinking process which the students benefit from, not the ultimate "find." The "find" is generally forgotten – while the process remains with them forever.
• Technology, including hardware, software, and networking that form a virtual library without walls linking students to the world of information, a cybrary that fully supports the school curriculum, 24/7?
• Its doors open before, during and after school hours, with liberal circulation policies? This means access to the school library, its resources, and staff.
  

Legislator Urges Support of Model School Library STANDARDS

California Assembly Member Jerry Hill, a "Best Seller" for strong school libraries, co-authored a letter that was sent to all legislators. In it, he outlined the importance of strong school libraries for our students, and encouraged fellow legislators to urge their local school districts to read and use the new draft Model School Library Standards.

Letter is co-signed by 6 additional legislators. Check it out and share with your "Best Sellers", school board members, parents, curriculum administrators.

School Library Advocacy in Action

"School Library Advocacy in Action" is the title of Teacher Librarian Tom Kahn's post, after he spent a day at California State University East Bay campus, promoting the importance of strong school libraries in increasing student academic achievement. Hundreds of middle and high school students attended a morning "education summit" to learn more about how and why to successfully go on to college. All got 2 handouts:

• "Haves, Halves, and Have-Nots: School Libraries and Student Achievement" by Dr. Doug Achterman
• CSLA "Best Sellers" Campaign for Strong School Libraries.
  

In addition to California School Library Association's table, each northern California CSU and many community colleges staffed a table. Another organization there was Project SOAR, a program funded by the U.S. Department of Education GEAR-UP initiative. GEAR-UP programs provide after school programs for at-risk middle school and high school students. GEAR-UP programs all SHOULD have school library/research skill components, but most overlook the obvious. CSLA should be able to collaborate and upgrade grant requests.

The Uniform Project - Library Version?

Have you heard of The Uniform Project, where a fashion student decided to wear the same basic black dress for one full year (1 dress. 365 days), using different fashion accessories, with a goal of raising money to pay for student uniforms in India? Here is what Sheena Matheiken says:

"Starting May 2009, I have pledged to wear one dress for one year as an exercise in sustainable fashion. Here’s how it works: There are 7 identical dresses, one for each day of the week. Every day I will reinvent the dress with layers, accessories and all kinds of accouterments, the majority of which will be vintage, hand-made, or hand-me-down goodies. Think of it as wearing a daily uniform with enough creative license to make it look like I just crawled out of the Marquis de Sade's boudoir.

The Uniform Project is also a year-long fundraiser for the Akanksha Foundation, a grassroots movement that is revolutionizing education in India. At the end of the year, all contributions will go toward Akanksha’s School Project to fund uniforms and other educational expenses for children living in Indian slums."

Is there a library version of the Uniform Project? For example, what would a "1 book. 365 days" project look like? Here is a starter list. A librarian, team of librarians, FRIEND of the Library, or Library "Best Seller" could:

• Read Aloud the SAME book to a different person or group of people each day for 365 days (and post about it).
• Read Aloud a DIFFERENT book to a different person or group of people each day for 365 days (and post about it).
• Storytelling. Tell the same or a different story each day to a new person or audience.
• Book Talk a book-a-day for 365 days. Create an online "book talk"podcast/video for each day.
• OTHER? What project would fun and meaningful to support libraries and literacy?
  

In all cases, each day should include a new "post" to a blog; a "tweet" to followers; ongoing requests to support the library or a library program.

"Best Sellers" Campaign for Strong School Libraries - PR

Redwood High School Teacher Librarian Tom Kahn alerted me to Dr. Joyce Valenza's 1/24/10 article in School Library Journal. Title is "California's Proactivity: "Best Sellers Campaign". This is excellent publicity for the California School Library Association (CSLA), its members, and its online professional development tutorials because Joyce is the most sought-after practicing "new media" school librarian in the nation, if not the world! Joyce is most known for her "Neverending Search" blog, which is now a regular feature in School Library Journal.

Tom actually alerted all California School Library Association listserv subscribers to the article and added: 'It would be great if each of us could make Jackie and CSLA proud by giving school libraries at least one "Best Seller" by the end of February's "Love Your Library Month."' Yes! Thank you, Tom, for your words of encouragement. "Best Sellers" is a grassroots advocacy program. Grassroots mean everyone gets busy to advocate for strong school libraries. [Tom is also CSLA Northern Section President and has a fine blog that I've followed for years, "My Continuing Educ@tion"]

When the Scores Go Risin' Up @ Your Library

Explored the American Library Association's website and discovered a tune that would be appropriate for the California School Library Association's "Best Sellers" Campaign for Strong School Libraries. Research consistently shows that strong school libraries increase student academic performance, yet library programs are often whittled away year after year when school finances are in distress.

Check out the Lyrics to "When the Scores Go Risin' Up @ your library®. Written to the tune of "When the Saints Go Marching In," this was the song that the @ your library special committee sang during the kick off of the @ your library® Campaign for School Library Media Programs at the Taste of Kansas City event at the October 2003 AASL Conference. This would be fun for a school glee club or chorus to sing and capture on video!

Lyrics by Judi Moreillon, Library Media Specialist, Sabino High School, Tucson, AR.
[Well done, Judi!]

Oh, when the scores go risin' up

Oh, when the scores go risin' up

Kids'll be learnin' @ your library®

When the scores go risin' up.

Oh, when the kids are readin' books

Oh, when the kids are readin' books

The librarians'll be there smilin'

When the kids are readin' books.

Oh, when the teachers are makin' plans

Oh, when the teachers are makin' plans

The librarians'll be willin' partners

When the teachers are makin' plans.

Oh, when the lessons are bein' taught

Oh, when the lessons are bein' taught

Librarians and teachers workin' together

When the lessons are bein' taught.

Oh, when the principals are makin' change

Oh, when the principals are makin' change

The librarians'll be leaders with 'em

When the principals are makin' change.

Oh, when the scores go risin' up

Oh, when the scores go risin' up

Kids'll be learnin' @your library®

When the scores go risin' up.

"Best Sellers" Campaign for Strong School Libraries

The California School Library Association is going into high gear in promoting its grassroots advocacy effort, the CSLA "Best Sellers" Campaign for Strong School Libraries. CSLA introduced the campaign at its November conference and will continue to promote it to its members -- they are the grassroots! "Best Sellers" work to save California's school libraries and teacher librarians and to help our students become college and career ready.

California’s massive budget cuts have dramatically impacted K-12 public school library programs. The national average for the ratio of students to teacher librarians is 1 to 916. California ranks last in the nation with a current ratio of 1 to 5,124. The number of credentialed teacher librarians has continued to drop each of the last 5 years and is now at 1,151 for 9,846 schools in the state. Additionally, the age of library book collections has increased due to a lack of funding.

Why is a quality school library so important? According to research by Doug Achterman, PhD, in his work entitled “Haves, Halves and Have-Nots: School Libraries and Student Achievement,” California public schools with strong school library programs outperform those without such programs on the state’s STAR tests. This is true regardless of the school community’s parent education and poverty levels, ethnicity, and percentage of English language learners. Policymakers fight to improve student performance, so this remarkable data should not be overlooked or ignored. Achterman’s research shows that increases in the following library program elements correspond to increased STAR test scores at the elementary, middle school and high school levels:

• Total hours library open
• Total technology available through the library
• Total services provided by library staff
• Offering a program of curriculum-integrated information literacy instruction
• Informally instructing students in the use of resources
• Providing teachers with information about new resources
• Providing reference assistance to students and teachers

What can "Best Sellers" do?

• Study the issues and the impact of strong school libraries on student success and put this information to work in whatever you do - speaking, writing, policymaking.
  
• Encourage your local school districts and communities to include strong school libraries as a key solution to improving academic achievement.
• Become an advocate or “Best Seller” for strong school libraries and their role in developing 21^st Century learners and workers by telling the story of why school libraries are a crucial component of student academic success. Learn what it means to be a “Best Seller” and invite others to become advocates as well.
• Read the national research on school libraries. The document, “School Libraries Work,” chronicles the research done in 19 states on the value of school libraries. The cornerstone of student success is their ability to read. The research shows that access to a quality school library is the most important factor in student success.

I'll keep track of this important California campaign.

Frontline Advocacy - ALA Panel

ALA Midwinter Planning Conference in Boston features a Saturday 1/16 program on Frontline Advocacy. California School Library Association's 08/09 President Connie Hamner Williams is on the panel, representing school librarians. ALA President Camila Alire sees the CSLA "Best Sellers" grassroots advocacy campaign for strong school libraries as a prime example of frontline advocacy.

Program description of Frontline Advocacy: "Do you think advocacy is just for the higher-ups in your organization? Everyone can – and should – have a role in advocating for their library and the profession. Learn how advocating from the front lines is possible: Join ALA President Camila Alire and guests in a discussion on Frontline Advocacy, a unique initiative designed to motivate, encourage and train librarians and library support staff to seize opportunities to promote the diverse professionals, resources, and services of public, school, academic, and special libraries."