[CALIBK12] Library Leadership

[Linda Jewett]

Ron,
Look in Standards & Guidelines for Strong School Libraries (CSLA).  
There is a description of district level duties.

Linda Jewett
On Nov 19, 2008, at 11:38 AM, Ron Black wrote:

> 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
>
>
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