Mike McQueen's Comments

nice

Gday Mike,

Your history sounds like it has been substantial in making you into a TL who really makes a difference. I have been a TL in secondary schools in Australia for 35 years and I never cease to be amazed at the enthusiasm and ingenuity of my colleagues. Although I love technology, I still find being able to encourage and inspire kids to read books for sheer enjoyment gives me  a real buzz. I have some brochures I am happy to share about Boys and books. I also find that making things visual for older readers allows them to grasp difficult concepts.  At present I am in a school where there is a high Non English Speaking background - finding resources with advanced concepts but in simple language is a real challenge... P.S. I LOVE picture books.

This is such a shame. Our district is cutting 9.25 Library Clerks leaving a 3/4 time clerk for Jr. High / Sixth Grade School. We are a large district in Central Iowa. We will be leading the way, too, I am afraid. I am at the large high school as Teacher Librarian. One TL will rotate to the Jr. High / Sixth grade school, opposite the clerk. The other three TLs will have eight elementaries to manage. I wonder how teaching literacy and 21st C literacy Core Curriculum will work under these conditions of lack of assistance in the Library. You know it's not all about putting a shiny digital device into the hands of our youth and expecting them to get these literacy essential skills we are trained to teach. What to do?

Hi Mike,

Thank you for writing.  I was saddened to hear that your district is having financial problems.  I have worked for two districts that have financial problems and eliminated their librarian position.  It is too bad that many school-board members do not think librarians are as important as teachers.  

I recommend using the statistics found in a national widely-known study, Reading Counts, as a means of showing how important librarians are to the success of a school's students.  Remember that you are fighting the good fight, and librarians will prevail in the end, despite the tough times we are going through currently.  In the future, I recommend working at a school where the school-board, community, and principal are strong supporters of the school library and feel that it is an integral part of the school.  I will do what I can to raise awareness of your potential plight by writing about it on my blog, The Pen and the Paintbrush.

Best wishes and God bless,

John Wellcome

Librarian

Valdez City Schools

Valdez, Alaska

johnwellcome@gmail.com

blog:  The Pen and the Paintbrush

Mike, just commented on the  Support School Libraries FB page - here's hoping that the powers that be make the decision that is in the best interest of the schools and the learners in those schools & keep the teacher librarians on board.  I find it ironic that Colorado was the state that started the studies showing the correlation between properly staffed & funded school libraries & student achievement.  Ironic & sad.

Thank you Mike for making me aware of the Facebook page.  

Maggie

Hi Mike,

I just "Liked" your Support School Libraries page on Facebook. Keep up the great work, and best of luck to you!

All the best,

Gabe Kaufman

Hi Mike

Thanks for the FB invite.   I signed up last week!  :-) 

Just wanted to let you know that I was sharing some JCPL links last week with 4th graders at Meiklejohn when a little bird told me about your family connection.  Nice to "meet" you!  The boys were a little excited to know that you had a site just for them!

Hi Mike,

I did click and LIKE your page. I can't believe what I am hearing about what is going on in school libraries these days! I am still living in Cote d'Ivoire, and when I think of coming back home I wonder if I would be able to....Wishing you all best of luck!!

Hi Mike,

Also, tried to reach you through your gbtr site, but the 'reCAPTCHA' doesn't work. Got your message through Ning and wanted to let you know you have our support, but I also wanted to make sure that you were aware of this petition going around to ensure that there are sch. librarians in all schools. Here is the message and it is a legitimate petition. The deadline is soon, so push it hard like your pushing your FB page. Also, tried to reach you through your gbtr site, but the 'reCAPTCH' doesn't work:
Hi everyone,

A few months ago I sent (most of) you a link to a White House petition to help fast-track the petition to senior White House officials.
The petition is to encourage legislation that would require a certified school librarian in every school.
We almost made the required number of signatures in the allotted time- but not quite. We're trying again, and so again
I'm asking if you could take a minute to help by following this link to the White House website, sign-in (or register- takes less than a minute)
and add your name to the petition. I would greatly appreciate your taking a minute to do this, and (pushing my luck), if you could send this to a few of your friends
and request that they do the same, that would make the difference for this- we're almost there just need 4,000 more signatures by Feb. 4th (we already have
10,388 signatures!!!). Thank you so much for helping if you can!

Best,
Martha


https://wwws.whitehouse.gov/petitions#%21/petition/ensure-every-child-america-has-access-effective-school-library-program/tmlbRqfF

Fight the good fight, Mike!

Liked on FB.  Left message on the site.   Shared on my FB.  Good luck!  I hope you can keep the librarians.  Why can't they ever cut sports instead???  I have 4 libraries and 2600 students.  It's my first year, and I think I'm doing well.   Have researched online eReaders and purchased the first ebooks not on Kindles in the district.  I developed the protocols for the use of the Kindles in the district because the use has been sporadic at best.  I'm also in charge of developing the curriculum for K-2 technology. All this besides keeping the libraries running smoothly.   The libraries all need weeding, and inventory hasn't been done for years.  I was just told that I don't share the district's "vision of the future of the libraries", and my job is in jeopardy.  

Mike:

What is happening in CO is insane. The previous district I worked in (Middle School LIbrarian) eliminated elementary first year and then chopped out the middle school leaving 3 librarians (most senior staff) to cover 3 HS, 5 MS, and 23 elementary schools. I attended town hall meetings, BOE meetings, Ann Martin (who was at the time AASL President) wrote a letter to our superintendent...I will pull out some of my documents. I think a strong voice would be the student/parent voice...if there is anyway you can mobilize that group. Unfortunately it seems that people are quick to complain when things aren't right but never think to sing praises when things are going right. I am ready to help in anyway I can. I have a soft spot for Colorado...it is my home state. My sister-in-law works for AFT so if there is anything that can happen from that direction let me know and I will put that into motion.

Posted Open Letter to Librarians Everywhere on Bibliotech.me - Includes an invitation to "Like" Support School Libraries on Facebook!
http://mluhtala.blogspot.com/2012/01/open-letter-to-librarians-everywhere.html

Mike - I have liked the facebnook page and shared it - good luck with the campaign to preserve middle school teacher librarians in your school district!!!

Lizzie Chase 

Hi Mike,  We recently went through something like what your district is going through: targeting libraries for major cuts.  We fought back pretty hard, creating a library advisory board that produced a movie to be shown to the board.  We highlighted what our libraries do using our local newspaper.  We sent out reams of research to our building principals.  We never let up and although it was dismal many days coming in to work we focused on the kids and their families.  That helps tremendously.  I would encourage all of our library community, kids and parents and teachers to rally support community wide and inundate the board with everything you have.  We were hired back full time after a year of cuts because we now deliver literacy group instruction as well as weekly library information instruction.  Make your program invaluable.  If there is anything we can do from Montana let us know!!

We are there as well. Last year our elementary librarians were split so that one librarian serves 2 schools. This has caused a real hardship and injustice toward our elementary students. As the middle school librarian, I have been forewarned that next year's incoming students are not getting the skills they will need for middle school. My question is for your board would be, "How do you plan to run a middle school library program, preparing your students for the 21st Century without your librarians? In the long run, this is not a cost saving measure for your community." We are in the same position here, and I am concerned for my job for next year.

thnx Mike!!!!this is my blog http://nikosvoyiatzis.tumblr.com/ !!!im trying also to  create a programm for elementary school readers, based on literature and arts..im only in the beginning ....be good!