Jimmy Allen dropped by to let us know about his blog and campaign to get MLS librarians who may not have a teaching certificate into school libraries.
Jimmy Allen dropped by to let us know about his blog and campaign to get MLS librarians who may not have a teaching certificate into school libraries.Full text of Mr. Allen’s message:
“In the United States today all but 3 states seem to have a shortage of school librarians. Be that as it may, MLS librarians who have master’s degrees that are accredited by the American Library Association are excluded from applying for school library jobs. That is unless, they are also state certified teachers for the public schools.Isn’t this the very expression of the tension between the profession of teaching and the profession of librarianship? Obviously the big losers here sadly are American school children, whose libraries are staffed by part time volunteer parents. Or they would be closed altogether. And well intended volunteer parents often can come to their volunteerism with preconceived notions of protecting school children with their weeding practices, that in many ways mirror censorship. The deleterious effects of this I would submit are wholly axiomatic, and as such bear no further explanation. If we as professional librarians have a commitment to resisting censorship and promulgating intellectual freedom in the public schools, then we must lobby our state legislators and get the laws changed! To allow public librarians, that is librarians who hold MLS degrees from ALA accredited programs to be able to work in the public school libraries, where there is no librarian who is also a certified teacher, who is available. For more information on this very important issue, please feel free to visit my weblog and take a stand and make a commitment to help promulgate in the profession a thoughtful academically responsible polemic attendant upon this very important issue. Indeed don’t we as professional librarians have a fiduciary responsibility to foster this type of thoughtful discussion within our profession. There are no right or wrong opinions here. Everyone’s opinion can be respected and indeed a valued contribution, so make a difference today. Because American school children are worth it, so let’s get those badly antiquated laws changed. Because the right of American school children to read and pursue intellectual freedom in the school libraries is the cornerstone of the American dream.
Please note: The Jimmy Allen American Library Turfwar Blog contains numerous informational links for library professionals attendant upon the informational facilitation of this important issue.
http://usalibrarian.blogspot.com
Written by Jimmy Allen M.B.A., M.L.S.“
National Shortage of School Librarians
First there is not a national shortage. Only certain states are having difficulty in having qualified teacher certified AND MILS personnel staffing their programs. Personally I would consider allowing someone with a MILS from an accredited institution to be hired to allow the library program at a school to stay open. Librarians generally do not have a problem in asking for assistance or finding help when they need it. The basic library information has been obtained in an accredited MILS program. The tools used to help students obtain information would need to be addressed. Also, classes in classroom management and in knowing the age group you will be focusing on need to be taken—learning strategies; types of learners; etc. The need to have a school library open for students to be able to obtain information and read as they are younger and growing is imperative. We need to address that reading is a lifetime activity and having materials readily available in a building where the students spend most of their time in a day is critical—child care not excluded.
Need to be a teacher first – librarian second
Note to those that want the schools to hire public librarians to run school libraries – Just won’t fly in the schools I’ve substituted in – you need to be a certified teacher to advise another teacher on how to use library materials to help kids at each grade level. There is a ton of shit teachers have to do to make sure their class plan meets state requirements for each grade level – you can’t expect the teachers to change or adjust their lesson plans based on what a public librarian thinks will help their students – I admire your desire to help the children – but become a certified educator and then help them.
A reply from Jimmy Allen regarding school library
To Marlene 42 Thanks for your thoughtful reply.
I think we all very much enjoy reading your thoughtful remarks.
I found a resource which I believe will add value to this discussion, that you might be interested in. This resource was created by Nancy Everheart in her article Filling the Void. In which she produced a chart entitled charting the nationwide staffing crisis. Marlene 42 in viewing this resource it identifies only 3 states out of the 50 states in these United States, Washington, Utah and Iowa, which indicate no shortage of school librarians. It identified in fact 44 states are rated by this resource as having either a severe shortage or extremely severe shortage. Here’s the URL to that
resource
Therefore I’d like to suggest to Marlene 42 if I may that her remark of simply becoming a certified educator is not working in these 44 states. I would like to suggest if I may please, that as this is hurting American school children it might be helpful to commit to a responsible discussion of new ideas and help to foster a well thought out discussion and polemic within our profession. Don’t we as professionals indeed have a fiduciary responsibility to foster such a discussion. Also I’d like to ask why can’t the teaching profession recognize the training given in graduate schools of library and information science programs accredited by the American Library Association, wherein graduate students throughout the USA are trained to give bibliographic instruction to students in a classroom setting. Why is it that the teaching profession only recognizes the validity of this type of training only if it takes place in a school of education, as opposed to a graduate school of library and information science accredited by the American Library Association?
Isn’t this a type of prima facie evidence of the expression of tension between the profession of teaching and the profession of librarianship?
In 44 states where there is either a severe or extremely severe shortage of school librarians, who are also certified teachers, is the school library really better off closed or staffed by part time volunteer parents, than it is staffed by public librarians, who hold master’s degrees from graduate schools of library and information science which are accredited by the ALA. It’s time for change. So let’s get the Laws
Changed
Because America’s school children are depending on us as library professionals to keep their school libraries open. As library professionals we may not always agree in expressing our opinions, but we can always agree to respect each other’s different view points in fostering a badly needed, thoughtful discussion attendant upon this very important issue in the larger profession of librarianship. Thank you for your comments.
Jimmy Allen M.B.A., M.L.S.
Web blog