Our current situation: My school district continues in its refusal to recognize the important role a strong school library program plays toward student success. Our staff has been downgraded so now librarians work multiple buildings with no aides or support staff to keep libraries accessible in their absence or free them up from clerking skills to provide vital library support to students. The school district also has stuck to their outdated and underfunded stance that technology skills and 21st century skills do not need to be taught explicitly and should, instead, be infused throughout all school activities. As the schools do not contain sufficient access to technology it is impossible to support these statements.
As I studied blogs, spoke to and emailed colleagues near and far about their library/technology situation one point quickly emerged – schools that recognize and value the contributions of the school library program towards student success also recognize the necessity of technology education. This is evident in programs like the one in the Vancouver Public Schools, where librarians were identified early on as being key to success, and closer to home where smaller districts (even those struggling with monetary issues) show clear support for library and technology programming. Dallastown school district has a computer ‘special’ in addition to both Librarians and library aides at the elementary level. Milton school district also provides library AND technology services for elementary students. And although those teachers travel between three buildings there are library aides in an attempt to meet the needs of the students and staff. The wonderful blogs of Milton’s Librarian, Karey Killian and Technology/Gifted teacher Sue VanKirk are evidence of both their dedication and the fine work they are doing with their students even under less than perfect situations. Each blog or school site I investigated led me to more, and more, and more innovative caring professionals making a difference for their students. Amazing!
I would love to investigate the effects some of these ongoing strong technology and library programs have had on students. Perhaps this kind of information would help my district rethink their actions to help educate tomorrow’s leaders.