"Researchers have reported an 'alarming' loss in the number of qualified teacher librarians in schools, warning student literacy will continue to suffer if the trend is not reversed. Once a staple of schools, the roles have been branded a dying breed with many principals opting to replace them with cheaper 'library officers' and 'library assistants', often with no qualifications or educational training. Literary researcher Margaret Merga said while teacher librarian numbers had been in decline for some time, they appeared to have hit a critical low, which she warned would have serious implications for students, particularly struggling readers." (emphasis added)The article talks about how there are fewer school librarians, and has a three bullet-point standout section toward the beginning of the article:
For me, the first two points really summarize the entire dilemma.There are concerns the number of teacher librarians has fallen to a critical low Experts say they are vital to school literacy outcomes and should be mandatory Education officials say library staffing in government schools is up to principals
All of the data, and I do mean all of it, says that schools suffer when they don't have a certified librarian. This doesn't mean paras or aides.
A Word on Paras/Aides as Library Clerks
Paras and aides are essential to the work of the library. Period. I am constantly advocating for a more consistent level of staffing in the libraries in my district. I wish my paras were in there all day, every day. Don't pull them to cover lunch duty. Don't pull them when you need a sub. Don't close the library because you want the library para to do another job within the school. I know with the realities of schools today that is never going to happen. It just isn't. Well, not in a district that doesn't have money.
When I was working on my MSLIS (the graduate degree required to be a school librarian) (Yes, school librarianship requires a masters degree), I got an email from a professor. I was attending the University of Illinois, which is ranked first in the nation in the field of librarianship preparation. A wealthy, highly-competitive public high school (which shall remain nameless) had a library clerk going on maternity leave. This was not the director or librarian, but a clerk, meaning someone who did check-in, check-out, shelving, and the other day in day out visible work of the library. It is the stuff that people often presume that I do, though I rarely do. That clerk was going on leave, and the school was looking to hire a substitute. They were wondering if anyone in the UofI MSLIS program would be willing to do it to gain valuable library experience.
Why is this an issue at all? This was a wealthy school where the parents would never tolerate the library being closed. They would never tolerate NOT having a fully certified librarian. The clerk went on maternity leave, and the level of expectation included perhaps hiring someone working on a masters degree to be a substitute.
Because libraries matter.
Library staffing levels matter.
Librarians matter.
And the educated, wealthy parents at this school knew that. They knew that if the library staffing was reduced, their child's education would suffer.
Don't think for even a fleeting second that the children of Bill Gates or President Trump go to a school without a full-time certified librarian. It isn't a luxury; this is because certified librarians are crucial to strong educations. They are essential.
That isn't an assumption; it is a fact supported by study after study.
It is because a librarian is a trained, skilled professional who works, often behind the scenes to curate a collection of books, find access to resources, promote reading and literacy, conduct outreach and networking, and in all ways encourage and build a culture of literacy and reading within a school.
All of that is time consuming. It is also, often, unseen. Books are chosen for reasons. Because they are current and deal with important issues. Because they are award winning. Because they are compelling. Because they bring diversity and inclusively to a school. Locating books includes reading journals like The Horn Book, School Library Journal, and others to find those starred reviews that support the needs and interests of the students in your school. It also means combing through things like the longlist for the Man Booker Prize, the National Book Award, the PEN literary Awards, the HUGO nominees, the Eisner Awards, and countless others. Creating a collection that is both timely and timeless is a constant and time consuming task.
But without it, you risk the loss of literacy that comes with entering a library that is just a "room full of books". Book Fairs and Goodwill are staples of the struggling library. But if that is where the collection is being fed, then it is the students and their literacy that starves.
The librarian also helps students locate references and navigate research databases. The librarian promotes the library and reading and the many programs a library can support. They also make sure the systems in place work, the workflows are streamlined, communication is effective, and tasks are completed. Librarians, in many ways, are managers. When they are allowed to manage, libraries run smoothly.
But only when they are allowed to manage.
In the current school funding climate of cost reduction and cost savings, if the chopping block requires a certified staff member, it is far easier to cut art, music, and libraries than it is core classes. (For the record, I don't think any of those should be cut, and I am absolutely opposed to the Teacher Hunger Games climate we have devolved into).
So let's cut a teacher.
Art? Well, the art teacher does something, right? I mean, kids paint and make things and we hang stuff in the hall. They develop art skills and we know art skills are important.
OK Music? That teacher is doing something. Kids can sing and know how to read music and can play a recorder. We know the connections between music and success in math and science.
Library? Why do we need that person? We already have a room full of books. The library has been made, so now it is done. Any idiot can buy a bunch of books.
Plus, I don't see that person up and about. Researching collection development and getting grants and building a culture of literacy? What does that even mean? Those aren't real things. We just need someone to check-in, check-out, and shelve, right?
A few years ago, Chicago Public School parents were outraged when the union stood up and said that no, they could not replace their certified librarians with a rotating list of volunteers.
As a librarian myself, I can't even grasp why this is an option.
Never, ever, in their wildest dreams would a public school district consider replacing an AP chem teacher (a position that typically requires a masters degree) with a volunteer.
What parent would stand for their child to be taught Spanish or physics or history by a rotating list of volunteers? None. It is absurd!
And yet, it is par for the course for librarians. I mean, they don't even do anything. Or all they do is shelve.
Data compiled by the American Library Association directly refutes this idea.
"When comparing schools with and without librarians, the study indicates that the presence of a qualified school librarian can make a tremendous difference in readingachievement. This difference ranges from eight percent for high schools to 35 percent for elementary schools. For instance, schools with librarians have 35 percent more fourth graders who score proficient or above than schoolswithout librarians." (emphasis added)Rodney, Marcia J., Keith Curry Lance, and Christine Hamilton-Pennell. 2003.The Impact of Michigan School Libraries on Academic Achievement:Kids Who Have Libraries Succeed. Lansing, MI: Library of Michigan.<http://www.michigan.gov/documents/hal_lm_schllibstudy03_76626_7.pdf> (accessed December 15, 2010). Source
OK, but what about test scores? Because schools have to be all in on test scores these days, right? We all want to raise our SAT scores, so we need to cut librarians in order to fund other SAT-ish stuff, right?
"In an Iowa study, in all three grade levels surveyed, the students’ test scores tend to rise with the increased incrementally as [library] staffing and library usage increased." (emphasis added)Wait, so that means, if we care about SAT scores, we need more access to libraries and more staffing, not less.
Rodney, Marcia J., Keith Curry Lance, and Christine Hamilton-Pennell. 2002. Make the Connection: Quality School Library Media Programs ImpacAcademic Achievement in Iowa. Bettendorf, IA: Iowa Area Education Agencies.<http://www.iowaaeaonline.org/pages/uploaded_files/Make TheConnection.pdf> (accessed December 15, 2010). Source
OK, but we don't need a librarian though. Just check-in, check-out, and shelve.
“The most important thing a strong library program can have is a full-time certified librarian with support staff.” (emphasis added)
PA School Library Project, et. al. 2012. Creating 21st-Centry Learners: A
Report on Pennsylvania’s Public School Libraries. <http://www.elcpa.org/Creating21stCenturyLearners_LibraryDataReport.10.17.12.pdf> (accessed March 18, 2013). Source
Maybe that is an outlier.
Full-time school librarians linked to higher student reading scores (2012)Barack, L. (2012, March). Full-time school librarians linked to higher student reading scores. School Library Journal. Retrieved from http://www.slj.com/2011/09/industry-news/something-to-shout-about-new-research-shows-that-more-librarians-means-higher-reading-scores/OK, maybe that is an outlier too.
http://www.slj.com/2011/09/industry-news/something-to-shout-about-new-research-shows-that-more-librarians-means-higher-reading-scores/
Want better reading scores? Hire a full-time librarian (2012)"This article briefly addresses findings by the Library Research Service that 45 percent of students in grades three through ten increased their CSAP test scores over the course of a year, compared with just 29 percent of students who did not have a school librarian at their school. The resource also asserts that library aides and volunteers cannot substitute for school librarians, since they likely do not possess the time or the requisite skills for the role."
Klenke, A. (2012). Want better reading scores? Hire a full-time librarian. Retrieved from Care 2 Make a Difference website: http://www.care2.com/causes/want-better-reading-scores-hire-a-full-time librarian.html# ixzz1pCrjvfnThttp://www.care2.com/causes/want-better-reading-scores-hire-a-full-time librarian.html# ixzz1pCrjvfnT
It isn't an outlier. It is reality.
Certified librarians are essential to schools. They are essential to their libraries and the programs it runs.
Even with the internet.
Their time spent on advocacy and outreach is important.
They are important in helping schools prepare students with 21st century skills.
And because the current trend is all test scores, all the time, librarians lead to higher test scores.
Cutting library positions puts student learning at risk.
Also, test scores.
And test scores!
Oh, and did I mention test scores?
You know, with all of this data (each word is a separate link, if you enjoy lots of data), it is almost as if school librarians are important to schools and students. Even if people don't understand what librarians do or why they are important to the library, they are.
No school would ever dream of getting rid of the football coach because we have an established team. Heck, we only see the coach do anything for a couple of hours on a Friday night!
Oh, wait, that's absurd.
And it is.
Just as it is absurd to think that a room full of books without a librarian is a library. Or that any idiot could order books, so why do we even need to pay someone to do that?
But if none of that matters, there is always the issue of test scores.
