A Decade of Advocacy

The Beginning of Advocacy

Our journey began over a decade ago when only high schools had certified librarians, and the district lacked a district librarian. As concerned parents not yet employed within the district, two of our current library team members began engaging principals, district officials, and board members in conversations about the value certified librarians bring to school communities. This effort grew into engaging Parent-Teacher Organizations (PTOs), and circulating flyers and online petitions that outlined the multifaceted role of school librarians. Many people were unaware that a teacher librarian’s contributions extend far beyond books. 

However, we consistently faced significant barriers:

1. Misunderstanding of the Librarian’s Role: Many believed librarians were only responsible for book checkouts and collection management.

2. Budget Constraints: Decisions often came down to choosing between essential services: counselors, nurses, smaller class sizes, or certified librarians.

Lack of Advocacy Beyond Librarians: “You don’t know what you don’t know.” Many stakeholders in our school communities, from teachers to parents, assumed that as long as books were circulating, the library was fulfilling its purpose. There was little awareness of the full scope of a certified librarian’s expertise and their significant impact on literacy, research skills, and digital citizenship. As a result, there was no advocacy from parents or teachers for the presence of certified librarians.

Formal Proposals and a Setback

In 2020, our high school library team crafted a comprehensive proposal at the request of district leaders. This plan, supported by research, detailed the costs, implementation strategies, and potential impacts of restoring librarians to all schools. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic brought everything to a halt, sidelining our momentum for nearly two years.

Renewed Efforts Post-Pandemic

When students returned to classrooms, we resumed our advocacy, starting over with new district leadership. We met with the superintendent, district officials and school board members to educate them about the positive impact librarians have on students. Our conversations highlighted inequities in library staffing, funding, and access to diverse, engaging collections.

To support our cause, we used:

• Circulation and collection statistics

• Library budgets and usage data

• Research about how certified librarians boost students’ academic achievements 

• We also backed school board candidates who valued libraries

• At school board meetings, we encouraged parents to share their children's experiences, or lack thereof, in school libraries.

A Breakthrough: The Pilot Program

In the spring of 2021, after almost a decade of advocacy, the school board approved a five-year pilot program to place full-time librarians in three high-need elementary schools. This was a major breakthrough, but it came with new challenges. Educating the community about the qualifications and scope of a certified librarian's role became a priority. These librarians continue to make progress in their libraries and schools by cultivating relationships, collaborating with teachers, teaching critical library and information literacy skills, and curating diverse collections.

Momentum Grows

In the fall of 2023, further progress was made under a new superintendent who recognized the transformative potential of librarians, having previously worked with one of our high school librarians. With his support and that of several board members, funding for additional librarians was secured during budget discussions. In early 2024, the superintendent announced that every elementary school in the district would have a part-time librarian starting in the fall of 2024, a significant milestone.

Balancing Advocacy and Practicality

While our ultimate goal has always been full-time librarians with library aides, we’ve had to navigate compromises. Research consistently shows that fully staffed libraries yield the best outcomes, and in our advocacy, we resisted models like regional or part-time librarians without evidence of success. Despite this, the decision was made, and we are celebrating progress! It later became apparent that the decision to hire part-time librarians was tied to contractual needs for increasing elementary teacher prep time, a solution that, though not ideal, also provides job security for librarians, at least for now.

Looking Ahead

As we celebrate this progress, our advocacy continues. We aim to educate administrators, teachers, and parents about the broader value of librarians—teaching digital citizenship, information literacy, and library skills alongside curating collections. The pilot program’s three full-time librarians offer a powerful example of the impact full-time staff can have compared to part-time librarians.

This is an exciting time for our district. We remain committed to advocating for fully staffed libraries, ensuring all students have access to the resources and guidance they need to thrive.