Entry filed under: AASL, advocacy, Education, Future of Libraries, Libraries, New Jersey Libraries, School Librarians, School Libraries, Teaching and Instruction, Uncategorized. Tags: budget cuts.
This nightmare is becoming a rude reality in many places, not just NJ. SC is already preparing us for a possible five additional furlough days next year for all educators (double that for admin–and My husband is an admin) and the possibility that many will be losing their jobs. You are right– ADVOCACY is critical right now. We must not only advocate for our jobs, but work endlessly to show that we are indispensable.
Wow, Cathy, that doesn’t sound good. Our collective bargaining agreements don’t allow for them to force furloughs, but I wouldn’t be shocked if in the future, as our contracts expire, we are forced to do something like that.
Many of our librarians are serving up to 3 schools and closing their libraries on the days when they are not there.
One bit of hope I heard the other day- a school librarian just got her job back after there was such an uproar that the library was closed. She is serving 2 schools, but has a job.
Good Luck fighting the fight!
Nearly every person says that education is incredibly important to them, yet they are electing candidates who want to cut taxes. When you cut taxes, you cut funding. Less revenue means less services available, all services.
America needs to better understand who they are electing and what exactly is their plan for our schools, our libraries and the variety of public institutions that enrich and educate us all. Fear and negative sound bites are not platforms and plans.
Funny that this is exactly the time that the only library school in NJ has decided to abandon the ‘library’ moniker…and all semblance of common sense (and common decency). It would be very interesting to find out exactly how much this school relies on tuition money from school librarians to fund the programs it appears to be more proud of, like ‘communication studies’ (I’m thinking quite a lot). Without a strong market (or the perception of same) for school library graduates, would the school be in financial trouble? One would certainly hope so. Poetic justice indeed!
First off it is not for ever it is until the state gets its act together so stop complaining, you like these programs then you pay for them. People have become SO decieved that they are entitle to ther peoples money that the think that they are owed the wonderful programs that they have had. Please either pay more to the state or take the control out of their hands and do ithe p[rogram right , if you say but I don’t have the money ,, then realize NEITHER DOES THE GOVERNMENT!
Living in California this has been a problem for such a long time. I actually go in twice a week at my daughter’s school and volunteer in the library letting classes come in and check out books and shelve what has been brought back. It is such a sad state as parent volunteers isn’t what is needed. I have absolutely no training and my best just probably isn’t good enough.
It’s happening here in Indiana as well. The Governor frequently mentions the need to stop the Indiana “Brain Drain” and then proceeds to cut school and library funding to the bones. One school district that I know of has closed all their elementary and middle school libraries. I don’t know what the solution is.
You did the right thing Cathy. Bunn said that many librarians are serving 3 or more schools and close the libraries at that time when they are not there. After finish that agreement what is the our position. Cathy, you need to fight.