Download I Love Libraries Web badges for your site.

What is information literacy? Learn the answer to that and more on I Love Libraries' Ask the Librarian page.

Grassroots Group Grows School Library Support in Washington State

Republished with permission from American Libraries, February 4, 2008

More than 100 people gathered in the rain at the state capitol steps in Olympia, Washington, February 1 to rally for school libraries (above), despite cold winds and a storm in the eastern half of the state that prevented many from attending, and which later caused Governor Christine Gregoire to declare a state of emergency for 15 counties. The rally and an all-day summit were the culmination of the work of a group of concerned Spokane mothers.

The effort began last spring when Lisa Layera Brunkan, Denette Hill, and Susan McBurney, enraged at the cuts to school library media programs in Washington and determined to strengthen them statewide, began a grassroots movement to combat their school board’s decision to close part of a $10.8-million deficit by halving the hours of the 10 full-time, K-8 teacher librarians still employed by Washington’s second-largest district.

Julie Andrews is the honorary chair of National Library Week 2008, April 13–19. Read, watch, listen to, or download National Library Week announcements starring the legendary actor.

Naming themselves the Washington Coalition for School Libraries and Information Technology, the moms partnered with the Washington Library Media Association, Washington Library Association, and other key groups. Their first victory came with the introduction of Senate Bill 6380 on January 22 by State Sen. Tracey J. Eide (D-Federal Way); the bill codifies through a per-pupil formula how many credentialed school library media specialists should be employed by each district and offers some $55 million to fund the initiative. Its aim of guaranteeing the presence in school libraries of certificated staff echoes the language of the federal SKILLs (Strengthening Kids’ Interest in Learning and Libraries) Act, introduced in June 2007 as an unfunded amendment to the No Child Left Behind Act and scheduled for Senate committee review in February.

The inclement weather at the rally may have ultimately resulted in the “Perfect Storm” of events, forcing the cancellation of many committee meetings. SB 6380 then took a backseat as House Bill 2773 was called to the floor. A companion bill to SB 6380, HB 2773 was introduced by state Rep. Don Barlow (D-6th Dist.), seconded by Rep. Kathy Haigh (D-35th Dist.), and sent to the Appropriations Committee February 5. It would give districts extra funds that can be spent on hiring more school library media specialists.

An all-day summit comprised approximately 60 members of the Washington school library media community, and featured speakers such as educator Jamie McKenzie; researcher Gary Hartzell; Michael Eisenberg, founding dean of the University of Washington School of Information; Washington State Librarian Jan Walsh; American Library Association President Loriene Roy; and Sara Kelly Johns, president of ALA’s American Association of School Librarians.

For more information, visit the Washington Coalition for School Libraries and Information Technology http://www.fundourfuturewashington.org.