Staffing and Budget Cuts

Concern:

1. Librarians are teachers! Each librarian in our state must have a teaching degree and a library media endorsement of MLS. Many librarians are not treated as teachers.
2. Because of budget cuts, requisitions (supplies, books, magazines and technology equipment) are not meeting the current and future needs of students.
3. School librarians are fearful of staff cuts when (non-certified) paraprofessionals are frequently brought into the library to do the “job” of the librarian. Often the scope of the “librarian’s job” is construed as “checking in and checking out” books. In smaller schools, more often than not, a non-certified person is in charge of the library.

Action: The Affiliate Executive Committee did not approve this concern for submission to the Affiliate Assembly body.

Job Elimination and Staffing

Concern:

• Elementary certified librarian positions continue to be cut and replaced with a clerk or paralibrarian.
• Districts have now begun to cut middle school certified librarians and replaced them with a clerk.
• Districts are either cutting high school certified librarians or down sizing to one certified librarian and one clerk regardless of school size.
• Program expectations remain the same in all schools where downsizing took place.
• Major budget reductions at campus level for next year
• District budget bib services cut 57% and district media cut 47%
• As “other” districts search for budget solutions they see down sizing of the library department as a solution
• Certified librarian can teach both library and technology skills however our replacement … the clerk can not and should not
• Library skills are being viewed something “anyone” can teach we just need someone who is tech savy
• Award winning school library programs are cutting certified librarian positions

Action: The Affiliate Executive Committee did not approve this concern for submission to the Affiliate Assembly body.

Budget Cuts

Concern: Budget cuts that impact staffing and materials and a lack of a mandate for the position.

Action: This concern was not approved by the Affiliate Assembly Executive Committee.