American Library Association says Obama's DOE abandoning school libraries.

Not only are public libraries being defunded in many areas, school libraries are taking a huge hit as well. It seems hypocritical to cut funds to the very area that is so vital to the communities without too many other resources. Families who can't afford to buy books could more easily afford to get a library card and have their kids check out books to read.

DOE Zeros Out Improving Literacy Through School Libraries Program



Here is more detail about that program. Money that once went to school libraries now must be shared with other initiatives.

Arne was meeting with librarians in this article from 2010.



They are cutting school library spending although a study shows that test scores improve when more is spent on them. Makes no sense at all.

More library spending ups test scores



Of course we already knew this was happening. Last year we learned that while more money is being provided for charter schools, school libraries are being defunded.

States get millions in federal money for charter schools as school libraries defunded.

I can't imagine not having a library in school. I can still remember the one in the huge red brick building where I attended grades 1-5. It had the atmosphere that a library should have, and we were silent and rather in awe of the many books. I still remember the feeling of satisfaction walking home with another book checked out to read. I was a bookworm for sure.

School libraries fulfill a special need now that states are cutting their funds for public libraries. I can not imagine having a school without a library.

Here's what happening now in 2011, just as predicted in 2010.



Here's just one example of the money going to charter schools.



There are many other examples.

Take that money that will be funding charters that will be mostly unregulated and give it to the districts that desperately need funding for school libraries.

As school libraries are being defunded, there is more and more money being allotted for more testing and more teaching to get high test scores. It is as though it has not occurred to anyone that a well-stocked school library would do more to increase true learning more than any testing.

Priorities are definitely out of order in this country's education agenda.



Sometimes I can't wrap my head around the fact that this is being done...it is not sinking in. Libraries have always been a part of this country...how did we let this happen.

Liberals support President Obama by 87 gazillion percent.

You could click the links and wonder why that tidbit didn't make it into the OP.

If I have $450 to spend, and I buy a $450 watch, it doesn't matter that I wanted to spend $19 on books. The watch ate up all the money. Seems like a pretty simple concept.

Do you have any evidence that the money is all going to watches?

From my link:

"The proposed literacy fund, along with the Department’s Race to the Top and Investing in Innovation (i3) programs, intentionally allow for greater spending flexibility at the state and local level, but AASL’s incoming president expressed concern that school libraries were not explicitly named components of these grant programs.

“If we’re not on the roster, we can’t get into the game,” Nancy Everhart said, employing a sports metaphor with the basketball-playing secretary."

Instead of applying to a 19 mil fund, they apply to a 450 mil fund.

Again, I don't see the problem.

PROPOSED 415 mil fund. Proposed being the key word. The other funding was guaranteed.:smoke:

The 19 mil was by application. So is the 450 mil.

If librarians can handle an application to a 19mil program, they can handle an application to a 450 mil program.

Because there is bipartisan support for it, thus we should not question.

It won't be mentioned very much.

The thing is that when the entire community uses a resource it is more likely the funding is there. When the upper middle class goes digital and only the poor need the physical library then that is difficult.

Unless libraries move where technology is and improve their ebook selection their usefulness for communities is diminished.

I thought I voted for a Democrat...or has the party been taken over by the right?

She said an alarming amount of the program content was actually political and focused on defending their reason to exist.

That just blows my mind.

Libraries exist to be a resource to impart knowledge of the people they serve. They do not exist to store words in paper form.

A library could be so much more than stack of books and periodicals. Yes, books feel nice and going digital is hard for a fuddy-duddy like me. But imagine if every kid had an e-reader. Instead of looking at a local library with 5,000 titles they can read almost anything. This is especially true in urban areas. Libraries could then be community centers where knowledge is shared. Heck, they could give music lessons to kids. THe building exist - just repurpose them.

I don't think worrying about the job security of librarians should stand in the way of education.

in that field at this moment.

And libraries ARE community enters where knowledge is shared, not just buildings that house books. There's no reason at all why incorporating new tech should be in opposition to keeping librarians on the payroll.

That really s not needed anymore or is automated to a great extent. Librarians need to step up their game and prove why they are relevant anymore. If not then they can get a new job.

I've shown twenty somethings that are on the computer (facebook, etc)all the time how to search with Teh Google and they are amazed I can find things in moments that they can't find at all.

I don't have any degree at all, let alone one in library science.

Yes, people often have theoretical access to information but in a great many cases they have not a clue how to find it, that's where a trained librarian comes in.

:thumbsup:

No, librarians can't be replaced like the cashiers at Safeway. They do much more than check out books. They are not glorified file clerks but a gateway to community education.

And I realized I don't have to read such stuff.

This is my livelihood and I resent a "liberal" dismissing this profession with such glibness.

"Find a new job." Dude, I went to grad school and went into debt to get this job. What am I supposed to do now, go spend another 50,000 to find another career in a field that'll just disappear in a few years anyway?

Not everyone can be an entrepreneur or a small business owner. And not everyone wants to be. But it seems as though, in America, those are the only people who matter at all. The rest of us are just fucked and we're expected to accept eating shit. Fuck that. I want to do something that helps people. Public librarianship is the ideal job for my ethics and my abilities as a researcher, fact-checker, and community organizer. After years working in food service, I finally found a job I love to do - reference librarianship - just as the PTB want to eliminate the profession all together. And I have some so-called liberal telling me to love it or leave it?!

Not only that, but your statement indicates that you have NO idea what kind of education and what kinds of tasks librarians actually do. Ever create a MARC record? Ever use a content management system like Omeka to create an online searchable finding aid for an archive or special collection? Ever make your way through AACR2? Ever had to do global changes in the new materials section? Ever had to work in acquisitions, cataloging, or technical services? We do a lot more than just check out books and "edit the collection" (seriously, you think that's all we do?!) Your view of this profession is sincerely fucked up.

I've thought about going back and completing a degree in the field but am worried about the job market.

a "special librarian".

One good place to start researching is the Special Libraries Association:

http://www.sla.org/

Special librarians do earn more, and we need good people in all aspects of librarianship. It can be a demanding career, too, but has many rewards.

Good luck!

I'd love to do it but am worried about the job market. I have a child to support so I have to worry about money.

I will definitely look over the link.

I've been lucky - I've been gainfully employed for the last 20 years. Sometimes I think about changing careers, though. I don't have kids and can move around, pretty much, at will, which really helps. Good luck to you and your family! :hi:

You know how sometimes you just have to watch the market. I'm not the only one.

Someday we'll be better off. Until then, I'll still volunteer at my local public library to get my fix.

:pals:

Libraries will exist and librarians will exist. It will just be different.

More than half of law school grads don't get jobs as lawyers. Should we create special, publicly funded fake courthouses where they can go everyday and argue with each other?

It is not the PTB that is doing this. It is technology. Just like the horse breeder who had a lot of education and specialized knowledge that was made redundant with the car. Do you think they starved. No, they changed.

librarians do so much more than check out books. There is an enormous amount of behind-the-scenes activity librarians and other library workers do to provide access to information, much of it seamless. We make it look easy. We embed with doctors and nurses and show them different point-of-care apps for their mobile devices, and develop apps, too. We negotiate licenses for eBooks and eJournals, and provide the best return on investment and bang for the buck out there.

Kids' reading programs, community involvement, consumer-health education, adult literacy...librarians are in the thick of it all. And paid less than comparably educated people, as well.

So buy a clue before you opine so ignorantly.

It's not the job security of librarians that is being decried, it is the very existence of libraries.

That librarians have to spend much of their time now lobbying to keep their libraries funded is a major problem, the same as it is for teachers to spend so much of their time worrying about getting resources for their classrooms. Both groups would much rather spend their time actually taking care of the needs of their patrons and students but through a vast lack of respect for their professions and a total lack of understanding of what both groups do they have to spend time educating the people who should be pushing to help them.

Librarians have been moving toward digital access for decades. The librarians at our local public library had to fight tooth and nail for even a few computers for public access. The only way they could provide internet access was through donations and volunteers. Many in the community fought the volunteers when they set up public access type internet pages for the use of local organizations, even though that cost the library absolutely nothing.

Our local library now has e-books available for download by anyone with a library card from anywhere with internet access. Their card catalogs are all online, so anything they have available is easily located. For those who want hard copy books, they can request that they be sent to any branch or bookmobile from the online catalog listings - as can any of the many types of media they offer for use.

The librarians are happy to work with any group that encourages community involvement - they are hungry for ways to open their doors to all. If you think your local library should offer music lessons, go ask the librarians about how you can help them set that up. If you can teach or know a local group which can do that, maybe you can get it going.

For example, our needlework group has set up displays of embroidery at various branches of the local library. Each time, the librarians pulled related books and set up displays to go along with our displays. In February, we had a "Stitch in Public" event where members of the group took various projects and simply stitched and answered questions. It was a big hit and we've been asked to do it again in August.

Embroidery is a weird little niche - I am sure there are other subjects that would get a much larger response. And the librarians would absolutely love it if groups would help them find those subjects and offer more opportunities. But if they are spending half their time fighting for basic funds because know nothings have an antiquated idea of what a library is and want to cut off support, librarians don't have the time to hunt out those opportunities.

The major thing that needs to be "re-purposed" is the stick in the mud attitudes that prevent public libraries from being the community resources that they could be. Many librarians are willing and would be ecstatic to open their possibilities up for more community involvement.

*sarcasm*

It interests me that this topic is not of major concern.

I started to leave Obama's name out of the subject line because I knew it would draw unwelcome attention to the post.

But I didn't because it is his responsibility and his Secretary of Education. It is in effect his policy.

I guess we don't need libraries anymore now...we have Kindle.

I fail to see the problem.

Sometime programs get consolidated--it promotes efficiency.

Librarians still have access to the money, it's just in a different program.

Pretty pathetic you are defending the closing of school libraries under a Democratic administration.

says "libraries are excluded?"


Further, what makes you think librarians would have to guess to apply? No librarian I know is gonna have a problem with the application....

I am quite certain you that not included and excluded are two different things.

Bye.

You seem to think that librarians would have a tougher time applying to a 450mil fund than a 19mil fund.

Maybe they would, but I would think that anyone who got a Library Sciences degree can hack a slightly tougher application process.


Edited to add--asking for the language in a proposal that supports what you are saying is hardly "baiting" you--it is asking you to prove what you claim.

to prove your statements.

Up until I was about ten, the school library was the only place I could get a book. Can't even imagine what my life would have been like without them.

It boggles my mind.

I worked in every library of every school I attended. That was school -- a library with some classrooms around it, lol.

There's another piece of this, too, that may not be self evident. School libraries are how kids get to college. Learning how to navigate a library is how kids starts deciding that this education thing is worth working for, especially now that real full time school counselors are a faint memory for a lot of schools and especially for low income kids who get little enough encouragement in the first place.

ARGH. :argh:

What's the problem???

From your Links--

"The Secretary pointed to the Obama administration’s support for libraries and librarians through a proposed $450 million fund for literacy under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. States and school districts could apply that money toward library services and other uses that improve student literacy. This larger, broader fund would replace an existing $19 million fund expressly for school libraries."

http://www.ed.gov/blog/2010/06/librarians-nurture-students%E2%80%99-passions/

Programs are sometimes consolidated. So what?

Read my post. Read what the librarians said.

A 19 mil program replaced by a 450 mil program.

Can you tell us why that's bad?

"The proposed literacy fund, along with the Department’s Race to the Top and Investing in Innovation (i3) programs, intentionally allow for greater spending flexibility at the state and local level, but AASL’s incoming president expressed concern that school libraries were not explicitly named components of these grant programs.

“If we’re not on the roster, we can’t get into the game,” Nancy Everhart said, employing a sports metaphor with the basketball-playing secretary."

From my link.

So the restricted funds were turned into fund that not only does libraries, but literacy programs--

which allows for greater flexibility when it comes to allocation.

What's wrong with that?

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I think efficiency is a good thing!

to try and trick people. I don't do that. I take schools and their libraries seriously, it is not a game.

From my link:

"The proposed literacy fund, along with the Department’s Race to the Top and Investing in Innovation (i3) programs, intentionally allow for greater spending flexibility at the state and local level, but AASL’s incoming president expressed concern that school libraries were not explicitly named components of these grant programs.

“If we’re not on the roster, we can’t get into the game,” Nancy Everhart said, employing a sports metaphor with the basketball-playing secretary."

Instead of applying to a 19 mil fund restricted only to them, libraries apply to a 450 mil fund that is open to libraries and other literacy programs.

The public library was created to ensure that ALL PEOPLE have access to books, magazines, newspapers, and other important info. Not just the rich.

How can a school provide education without a library?!

I suppose only the rich neighborhood schools will get to keep theirs.

Consolidating just allows the money to go elsewhere.

I was afraid of that when I posted it. Wonder what would have happened if I had changed their headline and left out Obama's name?

Secretary of Education says they do.

"OMG teabaggers hate books!!!111"

People rarely read past the headline.

nt.

Not everything is his fault. He's the best we've ever had in fact.

Hubby and I donated a lot to his campaign, we worked hard for his election.

I as a retired teacher have every right to speak out when his appointed DOE head is allowing the dismantling of public schools.

The fear of legitimate criticism of our president is not healthy.

The education policy is his and I grew up with great libraries and no president who was willing to cut their budgets, thanks.

nt

and Learning Ally (formerly RFBD).

Learning Ally sent out the following email about that encouraging people to contact Duncan and ask him to continue funding. That this would even need to be done for this program which has been funded for over 30 years is disheartening:

http://lvatug.wordpress.com/

May 17, 2011

Your immediate action is needed to help hundreds of thousands of students with print disabilities.

Secretary of Education Arne Duncan is wavering on his commitment to hold a competition to fund accessible educational materials and textbooks for the hundreds of thousands of students who cannot use a standard textbook.

You need to e-mail Secretary Duncan’s office today to urge him to hold the competition and preserve the program.

Under the FY 2011 budget passed by the Congress, Secretary Duncan has the discretion to hold a competition for the development, production and distribution of educational materials in accessible formats to students with visual impairments and other print disabilities. The US Department of Education has supported this project for more than 30 years, and President Obama included it in his FY 2011 budget plan. Now the Secretary might use these funds for other projects!

The Secretary needs to hear from you today to prevent the shifting of funds away from this vital program.

The Secretary might make his decision as soon as the end of the week so we need you to e-mail him today. Your voice and that of hundreds of other supporters urged the Congress to preserve the funding in the budget, and Congress heard you and took action. Now we need your voice to urge Secretary Duncan to preserve the funding for accessible materials and to hold the competition.

Hundreds of thousands of students benefit from this program each year and if the Secretary does not fund it this year its future is unknown. We need your voice to be heard again!

Please e-mail Secretary Duncan’s office today. We have included the sample language below to help you in making your e-mail. Please add your personal story, name and hometown to your message!



Secretary Duncan’s e-mail is arne.duncan@ed.gov


RE: Urgent Support Needed for Students with Print Disabilities


Dear Secretary Duncan:


I am writing to share with you my support for the accessible educational materials project and Learning Ally.

Learning Ally has a long-established relationship with the Department of Education and has had broad support in Congress, state departments of education and 10,000 schools from coast to coast. I urge you to continue that support by holding a competition for the development, production and distribution of educational materials in accessible formats to students with visual impairments and other print disabilities.

Learning Ally is a critical partner in the success of hundreds of thousands of students, and federal support of their efforts, leveraged with private philanthropy, has made much of their work possible. Continue USDE’s 30-year commitment to students with disabilities and hold the competition.


Sincerely,

As we keep the pressure up on the Department with our allies in Congress, we will update our Policy Advocates’ Center with developments as they occur. We will also share critical Advocates’ Action Alerts with you when key decisions are to be made.

Your support has helped to preserve this program so far, and will be a key to its future!




http://www.learningally.org/About-Us/19/
About Learning Ally:

Founded in 1948 as Recording for the Blind, Learning Ally serves more than 300,000 K-12, college and graduate students, veterans and lifelong learners – all of whom cannot read standard print due to blindness, visual impairment, dyslexia, or other learning disabilities. Learning Ally’s collection of more than 65,000 digitally recorded textbooks and literature titles – downloadable and accessible on mainstream as well as specialized assistive technology devices – is the largest of its kind in the world. More than 6,000 volunteers across the U.S. help to record and process the educational materials, which students rely on to achieve academic and professional success.

Learning Ally, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, is funded by grants from the U.S. Department of Education, state and local education programs, and the generous contributions of individuals, foundations and corporations.

of public education piece by piece.

I'm sure you could ask them.

The program?

I'll gladly write in support of a worthy program, but when the concern is amorphous, it makes me wonder.

contact them.

You see, astroturf organizations tend to promote vague letters to Congress that don't mention specific programs, grants, proposals, or bills....

Please name the program being cut??? The line item??

They are a genuine organization that provides important access to individuals with print disabilities.
They are saying this is an issue and are asking for email to be sent to Duncan.

I included the Learning Ally link for heir About page in my 1st post.

You seem to have many questions. If you really want to know the answers to your specific questions, you should ask them.

http://www2.ed.gov/programs/lsl/index.html

It doesn't say that at the link, but in my OP it says that.

"DOE Zeros Out Improving Literacy Through School Libraries Program

It's official. Media centers around the country won't be getting one cent from the Improving Literacy Though School Libraries program in FY2011. For the first time since it was created in 2001, the federal grant program is being zeroed out, following a decision Monday by the Department of Education (DOE).

"This decision shows that school libraries have been abandoned by President Obama and the Department of Education," says Emily Sheketoff, executive director of the American Library Association's (ALA) Washington Office."

The same people keep asking me that same question, but there is no category now for school libraries. They will have to compete with other programs for a grant, and that could get very political. The reformers have the power.

from libraries. Theres change you can believe in. A 19 million dollar fund you can count on gets replaced by a PROPOSED 450 mil fund with no guarantees that libraries will be eligible for funding. Typical center right stance by Mr Obama. He's just a sell-out.:smoke:

but what about this whole controversy about ebooks that disappear off the reader after so many 'reads'. How is that going to go down in small rural libaries, for instance, with little resources to begin with? I'm just thinking about the posts here that talk about libraries needing to 'get with the times' and 'modernize'. I don't think ebooks are going to be the answer.

We need brick and mortar libraries. Free access to knowledge, and knowledgeable people to help guide you to it.

I've had just about enough of this DOE also. Been sorely disappointed in the Duncan appointment from the get go. Too sad to see that I was correct about him.

:cry:

:cry: