Concern: School librarians would like to seek more support of state library agencies in order to work more collaboratively to promote the academic achievement of students in our schools. The decline in credentialed school librarians and quality school library programs is having an effect on students and staff of our schools.
Action Requested: We are requesting that the ALA School Library Task Force, initiated by ALA President Maureen Sullivan, seek support of state library agencies. Recommendations for this are:
• Provide state library agencies with information about the decline of quality school library programs and the implications for student achievement
• Creation of toolkit for state library agencies that would assist in gathering and/or providing data on status of school librarians and school library programs
• Provide advocacy tools for quality school library programs with credentialed school librarians to support student achievement
• Seek representation from state library agencies on the ALA School Library Task Force
Result: Passed onto ALA's Public Information Office and Office for Library Advocacy since this request fell outside of AASL's governance authority.
