presented at Cambridge Public Library, March 2013

1. Advocating for School Libraries
Presented by Judi Paradis
President-Elect
Massachusetts School Library
Association

2. Why do
we need
school
libraries
anyway?

3. We have a nice children’s room at the
public library….
School libraries Public libraries
• Users are the school • Users are the general public
community (primarily (preK-grade 12, parents,
students and teachers) adults interested in
• Teaches information children’s literature)
retrieval, evaluation and • Provides access to materials
use for the community
• Collaborates with teachers • Collection supports entire
to develop and teach community including
curriculum projects
recreational reading,
• Collection reflects the homework support
curriculum
http://mslaplanning.pbworks.com/f/SimDiff-color.pdf

4. Status of
School
Libraries in
Massachusetts
….
Depends on where
you are!

5. We want to find
out where things
stand…..
Bill H.2993 188th (Current)
An Act creating a special
commission on school library
services in the Commonwealth
By Mr. Garballey of Arlington, a
petition (accompanied by bill,
House, No. 2993) of Sean
Garballey and others relative to
establishing a special commission
(including members of the
General Court) to make an
investigation and study
concerning school library services
http://www.malegislature.gov/Bills/188/House/H2993
in the Commonwealth

6. Establish a
commission to
assess… • Which districts have
school libraries
• Staffing—
professionals?
• Collections—
– print and nonprint
– Age of materials
• Spending on materials

7. Look at Pennsylvania!
http://paschoollibraryproject.org/content.php?pid=289948&sid=3234452

8. • Awareness of school
Our students
library programs in need support
our communities
• Advocating at the
local level to support
library programs
• MSLA Friends
• Legislative support
for bill H.2993 and
S.1475