Q&A with Ayn Frazee

Q: You're the first school librarian to serve as president of the Oregon Library Association, but even before you served as the OASL president, working with OLA. How has your role as an advocate for school libraries within OLA evolved?

A: Increasing my involvement in OLA has deepened my understanding of the ways that all libraries are serving Oregonians, and how school libraries fit into this bigger picture. Many students in Oregon also use their public libraries and will go on to use academic, special, or law libraries later in life. Your access to library services shouldn't change based on your zip code, but sadly we see students in rural areas who aren't able to find the same resources. As OLA president I'm speaking for all library programs, but I'm finding that my school library perspective is particularly valuable in discussions around collaboration and equity.

Q: School libraries play a vital role in connecting students and families with public libraries and, eventually, college libraries. Given the challenges of understaffed and underfunded school library programs in Oregon, how are librarians in other settings supporting schools and addressing these issues?

A: My colleagues at academic libraries are sharing stories of college students arriving without basic research skills. The trend of underfunding and cutting K-12 school library programs is surely a contributing factor, as families and classroom teachers can't be expected to directly instruct on information literacy in a meaningful way on top of other obligations. There is of course amazing info literacy instruction happening outside of the library, but the consistency that teacher librarians bring to this important curriculum is key. Our public libraries are already at capacity with their own programming and serving the diverse needs of communities, we can't expect them to pick up the slack that decades of underfunding school library programs has created. It's more important than ever that students learn critical thinking and inquiry skills as they grow up in our complex and changing world. I think everyone agrees that students need these skills, and the obvious solution is teacher librarians. I'm hoping that Oregon law and budget can catch up. Our public libraries are offering workshops and programs to support these skills, and our academic librarians are delivering lessons, but what would it look like if kids were arriving in these spaces with a solid understanding, skills, and background knowledge around information literacy? 

Q: Book challenges have been on everyone's radar the past few years, and they have affected several libraries in Oregon. How can we move forward?

A: It's important to remember that there are more Oregonians out there championing intellectual freedom and the right to read at every level than there are people who want to ban books. Book banners are a small but very vocal minority, with some extremely effective strategies. We are working hard to appeal to the majority of people who understand that knowledge is the antidote to ignorance. Removing access to materials narrows our world view and ultimately harms our whole communities. There are some wonderful local groups and committees working hard to support the right to read. Get involved even if your library isn't experiencing a challenge, it can happen anywhere. 

School districts and libraries need to have strong policies in place to address concerns over materials. If you don't have one in place, take the steps to research and craft one that will be fair and supportive. OSBA has released an updated Instructional Materials Policy and Administrative Regulations for districts to use as a model. This was an amazing joint effort from the Intellectual Freedom Committee, OASL, and OSBA, that can be adopted in every district around the state. Educate students and families on your collection policies and how your collections are curated to meet the needs of your specific students. Be brave, and know that OASL and OLA have your back from answering questions to supporting you through a challenge. You're not alone.