To the Editor,
We are writing in response to what was shared about the April 20th Rushford-Peterson School Board meeting. The School Board authorized a $500 contract with the superintendent of the St. Charles school district, who is also a licensed library media specialist, in order to provide library management oversight.
While we understand and appreciate the need for the district to be budget-conscious, we are concerned that the district may view this as a “good deal” for students and teachers.
Licensed library media specialists, more commonly known as school librarians, play a critical role in student learning. They are licensed teachers who are not only responsible for managing the media center’s resources but also for teaching research skills, promoting information literacy, and fostering a love of reading among students. In a time when information is readily available but often overwhelming, school librarians help students navigate this sea of information, teaching them how to find, evaluate, and use information effectively and ethically. School librarians also collaborate with teachers to design instruction, support curriculum, and connect students with high-quality resources. This is not work to be done on a quarterly basis but each and every day.
Unfortunately, when looking at the ratio of full-time school librarians to students, Minnesota ranks 46th in the nation (libslide.org). While solutions like these may look like they increase access to school librarians, they risk substituting minimal oversight for the meaningful, ongoing instruction and collaboration students and teachers deserve.
Ashley Dress, Caledonia, and
Mandy Bellm, Waconia, Minn., Co-Presidents of the
Information and Technology Educators of Minnesota, a
Division of the Minnesota Library Association
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