National Library legislative Day
Sacrifices are made to attend ALA’s National Library Legislative Day. I lose time with my family, lose professional work time, and spend “a bit” of money on flights, hotel, and food. Ah! But the gains! They may not be easily viewed, listed as income on my tax return, or carried in a suitcase, but I know they are occurring. This year the school librarian presence was made known during the Monday Briefing Day. I overcame my intense panic at speaking publically to ask 2 questions and to speak up during the smaller session. Over 550 people participated so this is no small step. Even better, other school librarians spoke up. When the advocacy trainer asked for key messages, they suggested things like “school librarians help raise test scores” and “school librarians increase student achievement.” I was so proud of them for speaking up. I took the time to remind everyone that they needed to speak for the school librarians who couldn’t be there.
The issue briefings are still available on the ALAWON website for those who couldn’t attend. We did mention fair use, supporting the e-rate, net neutrality, and funding. I am concerned that we may need to change some of the messages that we convey on the hill. For example, for school libraries the key message was that the Literacy Through School Library program funding needed to be increased from 19.5 to 100 million dollars. That message was an impossible sell. The gap is too big. Legislators from Tennessee laughed out loud. I countered with the proposal that they go back and insert the words school librarians into all groups of people eligible to apply for grant funds to implement reading programs. One legislator and her staff member jumped on that idea (although she argued fair use vs. free use and argued against the e-rate). We have to have more messages, not all related to funding, but therein lies the rub. What other type of legislation does Congress have dealing with school libraries except for funding this one tiny program? We really are invisible.
Also, while in DC, I was able to join a small group for a meeting with NCES officials. It was very positive. We discussed problems, possible solutions, timeframes for implementation, approval processes, and more. It is amazing, but the message is still not getting through to the majority of DOE officials that school librarians spend the majority of their time teaching, not just managing the books. We have got to be speaking more to other educators about our teaching roles. I believe this meeting was one of the most positive things to happen in the 3 years I’ve attended NLLD.
I hope that many more school librarians will consider attending next year. We have 358 days to consider what our message will be. Better start thinking.
