Your ideas for ALA
Camila wants to hear your ideas for what would make ALA a better, more powerful, more useful organization. Please share them here as comments and she will respond.
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December 27, 2007 at 11:48 pm
Hola Camila. As a future school librarian (I just graduated with my MLS), I am interested in how you will help school libraries across the country who are closing by the hundreds, with many school librarians losing their jobs.
In my state, there is a HUGE gap between the rich and the poor neighborhoods, as the state requires they be funded by individual communities. Thus, poor parents do not have the money to pay more in taxes for a school librarian, and their schools do not have them. However, in the richer communities where parents pay the extra taxes, they have school librarians. This is because my state (MA) does not require school librarians (except for high school.) As a result, poor/middle class students are not learning information literacy skills to prepare them for higher education, while the rich are getting these skills and more through their school librarians.
I have often wished that ALA would step into the picture and help this issue. We always hear about the problems public librarians face, but no one talks about the problems school librarians face. Do you have any ideas for how these issues could be addressed? I see it as a diversity issue with the poorer communities being mostly Latino & African American being denied their education. How could ALA help to reverse this very bad trend?
Alma
December 31, 2007 at 12:33 am
Greetings, Alma –
First of all — good for your for your commitment to school libraries! I have a soft spot and a lot of respect for school librarians as that is how I started my career.
Thank you for posting your question and sharing your concerns about the lack of funding to cover school librarian salaries in your district/state; this is a widespread problem across the country. I would agree that there needs to be strong advocacy for school libraries nationwide and as ALA president I would be strongly supporting better funding for school libraries and the hiring of school librarians.
Right now we are really pushing the SKILLS ACT which is co-sponsored by Rep. Raul Grijalva [D-AZ] which would work towards having a school librarian in every school. I chair ALA’s Committee on Legislation and realized when getting ready to make appointments that there were hardly any school librarians on the COL subcommittees especially in grassroots advocacy. I appointed 2 of them to that committee. Additionally, I have been an advocacy trainer for years and hope to continue to train more people in grassroots advocacy.
I have been really pushing for more “grassroots” advocacy — which means everyone getting involved in advocating for libraries [not just library administrators]. There needs to be more advocacy training for “frontline” folks [just like what you will be] to take away the mystery of and intimidation concerning advocacy. We need to be able to “tell our story” well and convincingly. We have to be able to use the power of persuasion to let decision-makers/legislators/policy-makers/school boards/… and the list could go on and on….know how important school libraries are to the welfare of our children and our communities.
I would also agree that there is a real difference between schools that are better funded and, consequently, can afford to hire school librarians and those that can’t. Unfortunately, those that can’t afford to do this widens the gap between children who are information-rich and those who are information-poor. And, unfortunately, this tends to happen more in schools that serve our minority children. If elected, I plan to put together an action task force dealing with school libraries and youth services. I have not forgotten that those of you school librarians prepare the students we deal with in academic and public libraries.
CAMILA
February 5, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Dear Alma,
I am a new school librarian who serves incarcerated youth. I read your homepage with interest and I am very excited to know that a bilingual librarian may take the reins of ALA. I have attended the last two ALA conferences and am honored to be a part of such an excellent professional organization.
Before I communicate my excitement to the other communities I work with, I was wondering if you might speak to where you stand on libraries for prisoners and libraries– particularly school libraries– serving incarcerated youth. I saw no mention of these special populations on your website and, while often invisible to society at large, I am hoping not to elect a president who will contribute to this. I did not notice on your impressive list of career accomplishments if you’ve had any contact serving or advocating for these folks.
Sincerely,
Jessica Fenster-Sparber
Library School Student
ALA student member
YALSA member
ASCLA member
NYLA member
February 12, 2008 at 9:53 am
Hi Jessica –
Thank you for your posting and for your comments/concerns. Although I have no direct experience with library services to incarcerated youth, I do recognize and support those services as part of library services to special populations. My special populations expertise is in library services to the racially/ethnically underserved; however, I am devoted to library services to all special populations because those who fall into this category are many times unserved or underserved. By that I mean there are no aggressive outreach efforts by traditional types of libraries to serve them. One of the strengths I bring to the ALA presidency is my advocacy for library services to special populations no matter the categories that fall under special populations – racial/ethnic, GLBT, incarcerated, differently-abled folks, etc.
As your ALA president, I cannot pretend to be an expert in all areas of our profession. Because of this, I would recognize and consult the experts – those who actually serve incarcerated youth – when I need advice, assistance, and action. That is the mark of a true leader – one who delegates; and one who seeks and trusts the advice of colleagues with the proper expertise. Please know that all special populations are on my radar screen, and I appreciate folks like you who want to make sure that there is someone who will advocate for incarcerated youth at the national level.
CAMILA
February 14, 2008 at 2:46 am
Dear Camila
I am University Library Director Albania.I am only from Albania, ALA MEMBER.In My country libraries are not like as in USA.I would like that you support more international librarians in development countries
I am hoping
Bujar Kocana
March 20, 2008 at 8:34 am
I have been working with Bujar and the ALA International Relations Office to see how/what ALA might be able to do. Bujar has been able to attend ALA at some point, but the issue is the status of libraries in Albania. Will keep you posted….