[Libs-Or] FW: School Libraries Must Be Staffed (Div. 22 Compliance)

[MAURER Jennifer * SLO]

Please pardon the cross-posting. Hi. This morning, I posted this on two listservs that reach Oregon school library staff. I'm sharing it more broadly so you can share it should you hear about situations in which a public school in Oregon plans to stop staffing the library as a solution to budget woes. That would make the district out of compliance with ODE. Please let me know if you hear anything like that. Also, a few people reported having problems opening the two ODE documents linked below. If that's true for you, try accessing them directly from the ODE Division 22 compliance website<https://www.oregon.gov/ode/rules-and-policies/StateRules/Pages/Division-22.aspx>. Questions? Please ask. - Best, Jen (Jen Maurer, School Library Consultant, State Library of Oregon, jennifer.maurer at slo.oregon.gov<mailto:jennifer.maurer at slo.oregon.gov>)

From: oslist <oslist-bounces at omls.oregon.gov> On Behalf Of MAURER Jennifer * SLO via oslist
Sent: Friday, May 1, 2026 7:53 AM
To: OSLIST & OASL Listservs
Subject: [oslist] School Libraries Must Be Staffed (Div. 22 Compliance)

Please pardon the cross-posting.

Hi Folks,

I've heard from two people who said they know of schools considering not staffing their library next year in response to budget woes. It seems the administrators in those situations didn't know that would result in the district being out of compliance with the OAR about school libraries. Given that, I am sharing some basics about school libraries and Division 22 compliance.
The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) oversees the Media Programs Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR)<https://secure.sos.state.or.us/oard/viewSingleRule.action?ruleVrsnRsn=145320> of Division 22, and they take a "floor" not a "ceiling" approach to enforcing OARs. ODE requires four things at a minimum for a district to be in compliance with the Media Programs OAR:

  *   Program goals/guidelines and instruction
  *   A library (facility) in each (physical) school
  *   A circulating collection in each school library
  *   Some level of paid staffing in each school library
Those expectations are documented with a bit of detail in the Rules at a Glance document<https://odemail-my.sharepoint.com/:w:/g/personal/ode_educationalprogramstandardsteamonedrive_ode_oregon_gov/EXO9XPjGvUlMk_GO_R5QYnoBm_U5aljBVsUcs4fPEY1EyA?e=4VkaQB&action=embedview> (Tools & Resources section) and in the Media Programs rule summary<https://odemail-my.sharepoint.com/personal/ode_educationalprogramstandardsteamonedrive_ode_oregon_gov/_layouts/15/onedrive.aspx?id=%2Fpersonal%2Fode%5Feducationalprogramstandardsteamonedrive%5Fode%5Foregon%5Fgov%2FDocuments%2FEPST%20OneDrive%2FFinished%20Docs%20for%20Website%2FDivision%2022%20FINAL%2FUnpack%20this%20OAR%2FUnpack%20this%20OAR%20Media%20Programs%20ACCESSIBLE%2Epdf&parent=%2Fpersonal%2Fode%5Feducationalprogramstandardsteamonedrive%5Fode%5Foregon%5Fgov%2FDocuments%2FEPST%20OneDrive%2FFinished%20Docs%20for%20Website%2FDivision%2022%20FINAL%2FUnpack%20this%20OAR&ga=1> (Unpack This OAR section) of ODE's Division 22 Standards and Assurance of Compliance website<https://www.oregon.gov/ode/rules-and-policies/StateRules/Pages/Division-22.aspx>. (I have communicated with ODE staff that I do not agree with some of their suggestions regarding how to get help when a district has no licensed librarians on staff.)

If a school library were not to be staffed for a specific school year, the district would need to report being out of compliance with the Media Programs OAR when they submit their Division 22 assurances in November of the following school year.

Questions about compliance and school libraries can be directed to Tina Roberts (tina.roberts at ode.oregon.gov<mailto:tina.roberts at ode.oregon.gov>) at ODE. I'd appreciate being CCed on any emails to her so I can stay current on guidance.

Please share this information with administrators if needed. And, may budgets and situations for next school year turn out better than expected.

Best,
Jen

Jen Maurer, MLS (she/her)
School Library Consultant, State Library of Oregon
jennifer.maurer at slo.oregon.gov<mailto:jennifer.maurer at slo.oregon.gov> | 971-375-3540 | https://www.oregon.gov/library/libraries

[Logo with this text: State Library of Oregon, Library Support and Development Services]
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