Putting children first…

Districts across the country are making choices regarding their budgets this season; with the economies around the country struggling and funding limited, it has caused some painful decisions in many districts to reduce library services to students, (see Shonda Brisco’s map) as well as many other cuts.

Yet even in these difficult situations, some districts, either the leadership or the teachers themselves,  have made the choice to save library services for their students by sacrificing other things.

As librarians, we need to support and applaud leaders like Superintendent Jonathan Raymond of the Sacramento Unified district (whose new strategic plan is “Putting children first”) and the teachers and unions at Elk Grove district(Ca.)  who agreed to salary freezes or cuts in order to maintain a supportive and consistent learning environment for their students.

We talk often of staffing cuts, but there are stories like this all over the country of districts who have supported library staffing because  it’s best for students.   It’s important that as librarians, we highlight these districts who have recognized the instructional partnership that libraries provide for our students and have been leaders in maintaining their library programming and staffing even in the face of budget reductions.

Thanks to those of you all over the country who have “stood up” and recognized that the learning that happens in libraries is significant to our students’ success.  You are appreciated!

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