students come to us...without having interacted with a librarian. this puts them at such a disadvantage when they get to college

Rachel Bridgewater
Portland Community College

How Does the Work of School Libraries Impact Your Work as a Library Professional or Person?
As a teaching librarian at a community college, I am very aware of the importance of school libraries and school librarians in helping to prepare students for college-level research and, indeed, with the skills to participate meaningfully as members of their community. In Oregon, most of our students are coming to us without any experience with a librarian or school library since so many schools have eliminated their librarian positions. We have students come to us without ever having been exposed to a system for organizing books and materials, without ever having been guided through the basics of conducting academic research in a library, and without having interacted with a librarian. This puts them at such a disadvantage when they get to college. School libraries and school librarians are essential!

 

For the first time we are seeing strong language protecting School Libraries in national education policy. ESEA is up for a vote and this bill will be CRUCIAL to the future of school libraries, a section of the profession that has been under assault for decades. An Assault on One is an Assault on ALL. Stand up for School Libraries in America TODAY!

Find your Elected Official in the House

  1.       Contact your Representative to let them know how essential this bill is to our children’s education and futures.
  2.       Contact absolutely everyone you know and ask them to do the same thing.

Talking points

  •         Vote Yes on the Every Student Succeeds Act Conference Report.
  •         School libraries are critical to our children’s future and the Conference Report includes critical language to support effective school library programs.

This language is historic: For the first time in half a century Congress has underscored the importance of effective school library programs by expressly including them in multiple parts of this watershed reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Join the movement to protect school libraries and call Congress today.