THE PRICE OF NOT SUPPORTING

SCHOOL LIBRARIES
By Vonita White Foster
WHAT IS HAPPENING?
Libraries are special learning centers, especially
when confironted with challenges from
researchers, reactionaries, re-educators, referees,
reformers, rejecters, relaxers, repairers, repeaters,
replacers, requesters, respecters, resisters,
responders, renters, reviewers, retirees, revisers,
readers, rewriters, riders, robbers, roofers,
romancers, rowers, or rulers. Yet, school libraries
and their importance are often not realized by
administrators in schools all over the country.
Often, when downsizing is necessary due to
budgetary issues, libraries are impacted first
School library budgets are cut effecting staffing,
resources, and equipment. Staff members are
eliminated by mandated reductions in workforce
without any authentic data or thorough research.
Library space is confiscated when needed for
additional administrative space, exceptional
education classes, as well as resource classes
(art, music, foreign language, or ESL). School
administrators are known to slice up the school
library piece by piece to accommodate other
school needs without the slightest concem
for a growing library program and the strong
impact it has on leaming. Decisions that impact
school libraries are made without involving
library professionals. Consequently, librarians
are pushed, puUed, and marginalized as their
classroom slowly vanishes and support
evaporates because of lack of vision from
instructional leaders and decision makers. Should
these instructional leaders be challenged? Should
school systems invest in re-educating them?
Without vision, schools will perish. Without
school libraries, learners wiU be harmed. In impact
studies summarized by Mansfield University of
Pennsylvania the following was reported:

Policymakers are in a position to impact

every student in every school by supporting
quality school library programs. School
libraries, under the guidance and instruction
of a certified/licensed school librarian,
economically deliver and share essential
resources and provide access to technologies
that improve both the quality of student
learning and quality of teacher instruction
(Mansfield University).

30

LIBRARY MEDIA CONNECTION

WHY SCHOOL LIBRARIES?

The true importance and necessity of school
librarians and libraries is not realized by many
leaders, and the price of not supporting them
is irreversible. At the heart of progressive,
innovative, and engaging schools (public or
private) are school libraries. School administrators
must be re-educated if they are unable to
utilize every venue in their schools to improve
leaming. The price is too great! If leamers are
to excel, dream, and be nourished, encouraged,
empowered, and inspired while surrounded
by valuable resources and information, every
educator involved in student learning must buy
into the importance of school libraries.
On July 15,2013, at the National Education
Association (NEA) annual meeting, delegates
adopted the Strengthening America's Schools
Act. The unanimous vote stated that the NEA
wiU assist the American Association of School
Librarians with public support of its lobbying
efforts, in the passage of the Title IV Part A,
Subpart 2 (Improving Literary and College and
Career Readiness through effective School
Library Programs) under the Strengthening
Americas Schools Act. The act addresses the
necessity of staffing of all school libraries with
state certified or licensed librarians as well as
up-to-date books, materials, equipment, and
technology (including broadband).
According to U.S. congressman Paul Grijalva
from Arizona, "School libraries often serve as a
second classroom... Our children are losing out
on qualified professionals trained to collaborate
with teachers and engage students meaningfully
with information that matters to them both in
the classroom and the real world" (ALA).

WHY MUST LIBRARIANS SPEAK UP?

Librarians must play an integral part

in educational/instructional decisions
directly at the core of student learning.
School librarians must be vocal and speak
up about the importance of their library
program (advocate). Librarians must make
others aware of their profession and the
effect libraries have on learning.
School librarians maximize academic
learning, share expertise and new ideas
with learners and colleagues, utilize
performance outcome data to develop
learning targets, teach for self-assessment,
work cooperatively with appropriate
school personnel, help students make
real-world connections, differentiate
instruction to meet the diverse needs of
learners, help students learn how to use
effective collaboration and communication
skills, and develop lessons and strategies to
assess learners' needs.
The price of not supporting school libraries is
obvious to innovative, talented, outstanding, and
visionary educators who value the importance
of knowledge.
WHAT ISTHE PRICE?
The price of not supporting school libraries is
too high. Literacy skills, knowledge, inspiration,
exploration, enjoying, and learning for life are
tools school librarians instill in every learner.
Lifelong learning is paramount as librarians
teach students how to explore diverse resources
that wl enable them to open the door to the
vast possibilities globally. Isn't this priceless? It is
what we do as librarians!

The price of not supporting school libraries is obvious

to innovative, talented, outstanding, and visionary
educators who value the importance of knowledge.
March/April 2014

OOESTHE FUTURE HOLO REGRESS OR PROGRESS?

All students deserve a quality education.

After all, the future of the world depends on
it Lacking vision and knowledge of the total
educational experience only harms our future.
School Kbraries should be supported and
embraced by teachers, parents, administrators,
the community, and elected or appointed
officials. The cost of not providing tbe best staff
(including library administrators), finances,
facilities, and resources for school libraries
shows an ugly advancing gap in schools across
America. Progressive thinkers in many school
divisions support school libraries andfindways
to enhance, not destroy, library programs. When
decision makers value something, they fhid ways
of sustaining it. They look at the large picture,
the impact on learners, and progress even in the
face of financial challenges.
WHY ARE SCHOOL LIBRARIESTHE CORNERSTONE?

School libraries are places for any learner to

enter and find information, gain knowledge,
locate resources on any subject, experience
formal and informal learning, enjoy quiet
reflection, dream and pursue, discuss any topic,
connect with books,finddatabases/electronic
resources, share ideas, and so much more. The
"L" words to ponder ifyou respect, love, and
understand the importance of school libraries are
literacy, literature, learning, language, librarian,
letters, lifeline, liberty, ladder, Latin, laughter,
lecture, light, legacy legend, legitimate, liberal,
liberate, lifeboat, light, link, linguist, lip-reading,
lithography, livelihood, location, longevity, look,
lovely, luminary, lyceum, libra, and lyric. Each
"L" word speaks to the heart of this important
institution. School libraries are the cornerstone
of learning and theflowof knowledge.

WHY PONDER "R" WORDS?

The "R" words mentioned in the beginning of Respecters - Observing of high regard,
this article are explained here:
esteem, and correct in conduct

Librarians can no longer

sit back and be passive as
little lambs. Huge wolves
all around libraries are
devouring the profession
slowly but surely.
March/April 2014

Researchers - Always exploring, inquiring,

discovering, and interpreting

Responders - Reacting to a call for help,

assistance, and advice

Reactionaries - Inquisitive, emotional, and

exciting

Renters - Involving a split in an organized

group

Re-educators - Providing information,

developing morally as well as mentally

Reviewers - Looking over, studying

materials, resources

Referees - Always investigating and settling

issues often vocally

Retirees - Withdrawing from active duty or a

career, but not the library

Reformers - Improving faults, character,

habits, and corruption

Revisers - Improving and making a new

version

Rejecters - Usually refuse to accept, receive,

or admit

Readers - Understanding language by

interpreting written words

Relaxers - Seeking to become less tense, rigid, Rewriters - Communicating by words and
searching for rest and recreation
revision
Repairers - Restoring in good condition with Riders - Attaching clauses to documents
vital information and knowledge
Robbers - Depriving others of books,
Repeaters - Frequent performing or doing
resources, and information
over again
Roofers - Covering upper parts of the temple
Replacers - Supplanting knowledge by
of knowledge
restoring to new
Romancers - Imaginary, visionary people
Requesters - Instantly asking and
who read, write, enjoy love stories
challenging (politely or not)
Rowers - Noisy quarrels in the hbrary
Resisters - Opposing ignorance for the
Rulers - Controlling, governing, and decisionfreedom to inquire and learn
making about the library

on an important mission in the lives of our

children. School libraries possess amazing
resources and professional instructors to mold
the lives of learners.
ARETHEREOREAMERSANOOOERS?

Let's demand the best for learners by realizing

the value-added effects. School libraries are

The price of not supporting school libraries is

increasing, especially in urban communities.
When it comes to literacy, books (print and
nonprint), critical thinking skills, building
knowledge, inquiry, drawing conclusions, and
research skills, many decision-makers fail to
embrace orfightfor libraries. Why? It may all be
about how each feels about the important role
of school libraries as well as the experiences each
has had with school libraries. School libraries are
the bedrock for most schools and learners. School
libraries are in it for the long run. School libraries
are important for gateway skills, learning for life,
and the power of information. Librarians can

no longer sit back and be passive as little lambs.

Huge wolves all around libraries are devouring
the profession slowly but surely. It must stop!
Librarians must be proactive and stand strong
for school libraries because they are essential
to teaching and learning. Many who enter their
doors come in as dreamers and leave as doers. If
you believe the price of not supporting libraries
must end, work to prevent it. Now!

ALA. "Legislation Introduced to Ensure Essential Library

Resources, Support tor 21" Century Education." ALA, 2007
"Schooi Library Impact Studies Chart." Schooi Library
Impact Studies Project Library & Information Technologies,
Manstield University ot Pennsylvania.

Vonita White Foster, Ph.D., is a librarian at Henderson

Middle School in Richmond, Virginia.

LIBRARY MEDIA CONNECTION

31

Copyright of Library Media Connection is the property of ABC-Clio - Library Media

Connection and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a
listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print,
download, or email articles for individual use.