[CALIBK12] Library Leadership

[Ron Black]

Thirty years ago, our school district had an accredited Library Coordinator at the district level watching out for the library technicians who were running each school library. She guided and was an encouragement, attending library conferences with us, helping the district choose new technicians when needed, and generally helping us push reading and libraries at each site. Her position was cut sixteen years ago and when asked who would be directing us, we were told by the then superintendent that who ever they put over us would "be able to handle the job". 

That was the last accredited librarian our district ever had. The ed tec supervisor was given our department and, while they have been helpful to us when it came to automation, slowly they've been given "other duties" as the years have rolled by and we hardly ever see them or each other anymore. We had high hopes during a recent budget cut when we were told by our Board of Education that every one of them was impressed by our pleas for supporting the libraries and student reading (without the "me-me-me" speeches they were getting from other school positions). They were so supportive that we were among the first to get the 8 positions they had eliminated restored within a couple of months after the school year had begun.

Yet we still need strong leadership in our libraries! Even with budgets getting sliced in California every month, we want to begin educating our board and superintendent's cabinet as to why a strong library leader at the district level is so important to not only our own mental health but to help the district push forward in their libraries, perhaps even getting grants and other funding sources that a non-librarian wouldn't have time to search out or even be aware of. 

What I'm looking for is a site or recent books that can give us lists of what a modern district library director should have going for them in today's libraries. Even a criteria list of what's legally expected from such a position in a California school district would be helpful. We want to make a good case to show the leadership that our district could be doing so much more with an informed, dedicated and experienced librarian directing our sites once more. 

Thanks for any assistance or suggestions you can lend us!

Ronald L. Black
SLT- Central School
rblack at eusd4kids.org
Escondido Union School District