<div dir="ltr">FYI,<div><br></div><div>Suzanne L. Sager</div><div><br><div class="gmail_quote">---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>From: <b class="gmail_sendername">Don Wood</b> <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:dwood@ala.org">dwood@ala.org</a>></span><br>Date: Tue, Mar 29, 2016 at 1:27 PM<br>Subject: [alacro-l] ALA, AASL collaborate with NJLA and NJASL to support South Orange school libraries<br>To: "<a href="mailto:alacro-l@lists.ala.org">alacro-l@lists.ala.org</a>" <<a href="mailto:alacro-l@lists.ala.org">alacro-l@lists.ala.org</a>><br><br><br>
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<p>The American Library Association (ALA) and the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) collaborated with the New Jersey Library Association and the New Jersey Association of School Librarians to oppose proposed cuts to school librarians in the South
Orange Maplewood School District.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p>The proposed cuts come on the heels of statewide property tax limits that leave the school district with projected income that is unable to keep pace with expenses.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p>In a unified voice, these organizations pointed out the essential role of school librarians in preparing students to succeed in school and as citizens. In a March 18 op-Ed in the Village Green, ALA President Sari Feldman and AASL President Leslie Preddy
note the many roles librarians fill within their learning communities: “A school librarian is a certified teacher who provides a continuum of information literacy instruction; an information expert who curates a collection of resources that are tailored to
a school’s learning objectives and its students’ unique needs; and a technology specialist who develops ethical and capable digital citizens. School librarians are also essential partners to their colleagues, bringing instructional resources, technology and
literacy tools to the curriculum, as well as professional development to teachers and staff.”<u></u><u></u></p>
<p>Feldman and Preddy also note the consistent and broad research that shows student achievement is higher in districts with certified school librarians. They point specifically to a 2010 study of New Jersey school libraries by Rutgers University that echoes
this research.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p>The full op-ed is available here.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p style="margin-left:.5in">The American Library Association and American Association of School Librarians are concerned to learn that the South Orange Maplewood School District proposes to cut school librarian positions from the 2016-2017 budget. Now, more
than ever, school librarians play a vital role in preparing students for success in an increasingly complex information landscape.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p style="margin-left:.5in">School librarians are the heart of vibrant learning communities and wear many hats. A school librarian is a certified teacher who provides a continuum of information literacy instruction; an information expert who curates a collection
of resources that are tailored to a school’s learning objectives and its students’ unique needs; and a technology specialist who develops ethical and capable digital citizens. School librarians are also essential partners to their colleagues, bringing instructional
resources, technology and literacy tools to the curriculum, as well as professional development to teachers and staff.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p style="margin-left:.5in">Classroom libraries are not the answer. School librarians develop collections that address a diverse range of student academic needs, abilities, and personal interests, and the resources available through the school library are equitably
available to all students. It would be prohibitively expensive and spatially impossible to replicate this depth and range in a classroom library. With classroom libraries, students have less access to the resources they need to succeed as students; and they
have less opportunity to develop their passion for reading, ignite their curiosities, and blossom as lifelong learners.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p style="margin-left:.5in">The newly reauthorized federal education statute, The Every Student Succeeds Act, includes provisions that specifically support school library programs, school librarians and the role they play in academic achievement, literacy and
digital citizenship. This legislation recognizes the value that strong school library programs bring to student learning.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p style="margin-left:.5in">SOMSD librarians have received national recognition from such organizations as <a href="http://code.org" target="_blank">code.org</a>, the International Society for Technology in Education, and the Academy of Education Arts and Sciences. In addition, two SOMSD libraries have
received School Library Media Program of the Year awards from the New Jersey Association of School Libraries. With a track record of strong library programs, your school librarians are well-positioned as partners in developing ESSA-aligned plans for the district’s
literacy, digital literacy, and community learning initiatives.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p style="margin-left:.5in">Numerous studies from across the nation—including a 2010 study of New Jersey School Libraries conducted by Rutgers University—show that student achievement is higher in schools with certified teacher librarians. As Rutgers lead researcher
Dr. Ross Todd stated, “New Jersey school libraries and school librarians contribute in rich and diverse ways to the intellectual life of a school, and to the development of students who can function in a complex and increasingly digital information environment.”<a name="m_8761144542100713512__ftnref1"></a><a href="http://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2016/03/ala-aasl-collaborate-njla-and-njasl-support-south-orange-school-libraries#_ftn1" title="" target="_blank">[1]</a><u></u><u></u></p>
<p style="margin-left:.5in">The return on investment in school libraries is clear. While the elimination of school librarian positions might seem like the answer to current budget challenges, the long term cost to the students and your district will outweigh
any short term savings. We urge the South Orange Maplewood Board of Education to reconsider the proposed cuts.<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Don Wood<br>
Program Officer<br>
<a href="http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/cro/index.cfm" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue">Chapter Relations Office</span></a><br>
American Library Association<br>
50 East Huron Street<br>
Chicago, IL 60611<br>
<a href="mailto:dwood@ala.org" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue">dwood@ala.org</span></a><br>
<a href="tel:1-800-545-2433%2C%20ext.%202429" value="+18005452433" target="_blank">1-800-545-2433, ext. 2429</a>; <a href="tel:312-280-2429" value="+13122802429" target="_blank">312-280-2429</a><br>
<a href="tel:312-280-4392" value="+13122804392" target="_blank">312-280-4392</a> (fax)<br>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">“Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing.”—Albert Schweitzer<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">“</span><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">One child, one teacher, one book, and one pen, can change the world.<span style="color:#1f497d">”—</span>Malala
Yousafzai<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”—Anne Frank<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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</div><br><br clear="all"><div><br></div>-- <br><div class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><span style="color:rgb(136,136,136);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)">Suzanne L. Sager</span><div><span style="color:rgb(136,136,136);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)">Oregon ALA Representative</span><div><span style="color:rgb(136,136,136);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)">Portland State University Library</span><br style="color:rgb(136,136,136);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"><span style="color:rgb(136,136,136);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)">PO Box 1151</span><br style="color:rgb(136,136,136);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"><span style="color:rgb(136,136,136);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)">Portland, OR 97207-1151</span><br style="color:rgb(136,136,136);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"><br style="color:rgb(136,136,136);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"><span style="color:rgb(136,136,136);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)">Phone: </span><a value="+15037258169" style="color:rgb(0,0,204);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)">503-725-8169</a><br style="color:rgb(136,136,136);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"><span style="color:rgb(136,136,136);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)">Fax: </span><a value="+15037255799" style="color:rgb(0,0,204);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)">503-725-5799</a><br style="color:rgb(136,136,136);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"><br style="color:rgb(136,136,136);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"><span style="color:rgb(136,136,136);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)">email: </span><a href="mailto:sagers@pdx.edu" style="color:rgb(0,0,204);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)" target="_blank">sagers@pdx.edu</a></div></div></div></div>
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