CJUHSD Teacher Librarians appear on list of potential cuts

2/4/2010

Yesterday, all eight Teacher Librarians in the district were notified that their positions may be eliminated as part of a number of sweeping budget cuts the district must make.

This hits hard after the cuts to libraries last year: all but one site lost a library technician.

The purpose of this blog is to collect stories or comments about how the CJUHSD libraries have had a positive impact on you(teachers, staff, parents, but especially STUDENTS)

Feel free to add any concerns you may have about what might happen to the libraries if this position is eliminated.

It doesn't matter which district school you attend or where you work.
YOUR VOICE MATTERS!

STUDENTS: For your safety & privacy, please only include yourfirst name and last initial when making comments.

TL's play a key role in student success and it would be a great loss to each of the eight comprehensive school sites in the district to lose them. For more information about the role Teacher Librarians have in student achievement, check out these resources:

California's School Libraries Make a Difference by Doug Achterman, University of North Texas, December 2008

School Libraries Work! 2008 Edition (PDF; 28pp. Scholastic)
Summarizes findings from a decade of empirical studies that cite the measurable impact school libraries and library media specialists have on student achievement.

School Libraries Make a Difference (PDF; 2pp. summary of findings from CSLA, 2005)
Research studies from 1993-2005 in Sixteen States

Other Research Related to School Libraries (California Department of Education)

For more information about the CJUHSD's budget, including a space to send comments or suggestions to the district, check out their Budget Watch webpage.

We need your help, let your voice be heard!
Act Now! Click the COmment link at the top of this post.
(you may post anonymously if you wish)

46 Comments

Julie DuVall

2/4/2010 09:52:09 am

I am a Library Media Technician at Montclair High School. Here are some of my reactions to the news, which I have shared with other library staff and CSEA members:
Without a certificated teacher in the library, will we still be able to get TAs? There is no way we can keep books shelved and get textbooks processed without TAs, yet if there is no Teacher Librarian, who is responsible for grading them? Are we, classified employees, going to be responsible for implementing the library TA curriculum even though we do not have teaching credentials?

In order to continue receiving our E-Rate funding, the District must prove to the county that we are teaching cyber safety skills to all students. Without Teacher Librarians to teach this information, what do we do? Classroom teachers already have enough on their plates and we (the techs) are not qualified to teach, nor would we have the time to do so. Losing the E-Rate funding will cost the District money, so this must be factored into any decision.

Without a Teacher Librarian there will no longer be a Freshman Orientation to the library, and any research skills, information literacy skills, website evaluation, MLA citations, etc. will have to be taught by individual teachers, resulting in gaps in student knowledge. I believe that the information literacy standards are tested on the STAR exams, which will result in lower test scores for those students whose teachers do not have time to cover those standards.

Who will order library books and other library materials if there is no Teacher Librarian? Who will be in charge of each library's budget? Our job description includesassisting the TL in ordering decisions but would this now fall to us, adding more work to our plates? If not, how many hoops will we have to jump through to get something ordered?

With one less staff member, most schools will be running with two techs, one handling textbooks and the other handling library matters. If either one is out sick, this means closing down one side or the other. I know some schools are already facing problems with not having enough staff to keep parts of the library open, even with the TLs. This will be even worse without them (the TLs). We will not be able to serve students and faculty as much as we do now, and this will have an impact on teaching if classes cannot get their textbooks or conduct library research as scheduled.

With only two staff members, we will have to decide whether textbooks or library is the priority when it comes to making decisions about student/staff access to the library. For example, if there are classes scheduled to pick up textbooks AND check out library books/do research at the same time, and only one tech is present, which teacher(s) has to be rescheduled?

With only two staff members, it will take us much longer to check textbooks out in the fall and check them back in in the spring. This will impact classroom learning, as students will not get their books in as timely a manner.

As it is, much of our (the techs) time is taken up with "being at the desk" (checking books in & out, assigning computers to students, supervising the reading room, helping students find books or helping them with research, taking money for fines, etc.). If other duties that were previously done by the Teacher Librarian, such as handling the budget, ordering books and materials, collaborating with teachers on materials for research projects, etc. are placed on us, when will we have the time to get them done, short of reducing our open hours and denying students & staff access to the library and textbook room?

Who will maintain the various library websites? These are important information portals for our staff and students. Techs will not have the time, nor in some cases the skills or desire, to maintain a website. Without a library website we lose staff/student access to collections of links for research projects, subscription databases, the online catalog, etc.

The library's presence on school committees such as Leadership, School Site Council, LCSC, etc. will be lost unless one or both techs take time away from students/staff to attend and participate in meetings. Without a voice, will libraries be perceived as less important and someday done away with altogether?

Without a Teacher Librarian, who will attend Back to School Night and Freshman Parent Night to inform parents and incoming students of library policies and programs? Parents and new students might not even be aware that we HAVE a library available!

One of our goals as a district is to prepare all students for college, but what use is fulfilling the A-G requirements is students leave our schools ill prepared for the demands of college because they have not learned the research skills they will need? Studies have shown that students coming from high schools that have librarians on staff do better in college. Today's college student (and worker) nee

Siska Lie

2/4/2010 02:08:18 pm

I was a TA at MHS in 2008. I was really shocked and sad when i read this blog. I just want to say, "Please do not cut any library teachers or the techs that provide such a great services for students who will need help in their research and study. Without library teacher, there won't be any TA that can help to sort out books and put them in places. It will be hard for the library to work as efficient without TA. TA library play important part of the library. But if there is no library teacher, it is not possible to have TA.So, library needs a library teacher that can help, organize library, and the most important is they are there to help teachers and students for their education.

Julie DuVall

2/5/2010 01:30:15 am

My original response was cut off, here is the rest:

Today's college student (and worker) needs to have information literacy skills to succeed, for example, how to evaluate web sites for validity, why intellectual property rights and copyright are important, how to find information on the Internet and in print, etc. Who will teach these important life skills if we no longer have Teacher Librarians in the schools?

How will losing these information literacy skills affect our AVID students? Montclair is a National Demonstration School -- can our AVID program remain effective if we lose our Teacher Librarian?

Studies show a strong correlation between fully staffed school libraries and student achievement. How can we take away something that will help our students get higher test scores, when those test scores are the ultimate measure of how well our schools are doing (whether we like it or not)?

Jenny Parker

2/5/2010 01:59:31 am

I think it is extremely important for each site to have a teacher librarian. At Montclair Sarah Bosler has been an extremely important part of our students success. She takes the time to find books that students are interested in and shows them how much fun reading can be. I have had more students ask to go to the library to check out books to read for enjoyment, not because they have a book report or some paper to write, just because they want to read. She has also been a great tool for teachers in all content areas. She is ready and willing to help teachers create, modify and explore new ideas for lessons and projects. Without teacher librarians I feel that schools would be doing a disservice to its studnets and staff.

William T. Wehrle, PhD

2/5/2010 03:28:29 am

Any half-educated person can tell you what a Teacher Librarian means to a school: essential help with computers, references, periodicals, texts -- the list could go on. The library is the academic/intellectual core of the school, and the Teacher Librarian (MHS has the best) maintains it. As for "budget problems," we all know there are other, less destructive solutions than attacking the library.

Andrew V.

2/5/2010 03:33:26 am

I never really appreciated the library until i had the recent chance to spend more time in it. I have really gotten into reading while here as well. I honestly don't think the library will have the same help without the librarions. There wouldn't be anyone to give suggestions on some excellent books. This would also hurt the students directly because some of the students who are library aides would not have a class. What if they need this in order to graduate? There can't be any library aides without librarians. If there are no aides to help then the school library would be a mess all the time. The books would not be in order and the library would not be the same. Sure you can ask people to clean up after themselves but how often do you think that is going to work?

Librarian make the library function correctly. If you take away the librarians then you take away all order in the library. I don't think getting rid of the librarians would make the budget any better. I think this would just cause a problem. How would people even check out books if there is nobody to help them. The librarians should stay. Not only are they really nice, but they do more than you think and they deserve more respect.

K.S.

2/5/2010 03:37:59 am

I'm a student here at Montclair High School and when I heard that our Teacher Librarians may be eliminated because of the economic problems that the state is going through I was really suprised. I don't think that this would be the right thing to do because if nobody is in cahrge of the library who will have control in orgainizing all the books and textbooks that are checked out everyday by the students that attend the school. It will be really tough if their is nobody in the libraries because every thing would be a mess. We need this librarians and the TA's that help them keep this libraries organized and clean. The librarians are really important in the schools so that they can help us with the books that we need also their TA also play a big roll in this school because they also help out with this. It will be unfair if they leave because we will no longer have someone to help us out in getting the books that we need for our education.

Veronica C

2/5/2010 04:23:41 am

As a senior, I am currently a library TA for the 2009-2010 school year. If there is no teacher librarian, this can cause problems. The teacher librarian is a great contribution to student's achievements. From my experience working in the library, I was introduced to new books by the teacher librarian who has helped me become involved in reading as a hobby. I watch the teacher librarian help many students with researching skills that are not given by the class instructor. Teachers do not have enough time to something that is not part of the class cirrrculum. If the teacher librarian is gone then students will not be taught researching skills that are beneficial to them in high school and college. If the library is short staffed,library hours may be cut which does not give students the oppurtunity to get there work done with the resources the library offers. I myself spend much time in the library using the computers or books to get my work done. From my observation, it is a hard task to keep a library organized that requires more than two people. The teacher librarian helps student get access to teacher forms on the library links which will not be accessible anymore. The teacher librarian is a great contribution to student's achievements and their education.

Jonathan H.

2/5/2010 04:25:04 am

My name is Jonathan & I am a student of Montclair High School. I'm also one of the library assisstances at the MHS library. I think Ms. Bosler should not be eliminated because she has been a librarian since the day she started working at MHS as well as I known her since my freshmen year. What a school needs is a professional librarian and that includes Ms. Bosler.

Gina Lopez-Gerlach

2/5/2010 06:56:56 am

All 150-164 of my students use the library within the first three weeks of school. They are scheduled for a brief orientation led by our Teacher-Librarian and then guided through the process of picking out a book for our school wide sustained silent reading program. Many of our kids have never been in a situation where they have to pick out books for themselves, and find the process overwhelming. Mrs. Bosler’s expertise in guiding students is at its best at this time. She can ask a student a couple of questions and within just a few minutes she has an armful full of reading suggestions tailored to each individual kid. We have a fantastic online catalog (picked out and maintained by Mrs. Bosler), but nothing can replace the personal connection she has with the kids.

I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with Mrs. Bosler on curriculum for the 9th grade research project. This year in particular, she’s helped me expand my horizons by suggesting topics that are current and relevant from the student perspective. This new approach has also helped me present students with more opportunities to read non-fiction and functional texts (another one of our school wide goals). She has challenged me personally and helped me grow as a professional by exposing me to multi-media available that helps me in the classroom.

I’m sure there are other examples of wonderful things happening in libraries across our district and it is unthinkable that we may have to function without our Teacher-Librarians from now on.

One of the MHS goals is to foster an environment where reading outside of school is the norm. We’ve done a great job in the past few years, as I know our circulation has increased significantly, but we have a long way to go. How can we possibly convince our reluctant or even “on the fence” readers that reading is a priority if we cut out such an important component of our reading culture?

I hope that we can find a way to save this valuable position, to go through with this particular cut would be completely devastating.

Marla White

2/5/2010 01:50:08 pm

I am completely taken aback by the possibility of this decision. In my 15 years with the Chaffey District, I have come to value and appreciate the teacher librarians who have served me and my students. Textbook distribution is only an ancillary function. I have benefited by the hours these colleagues have provided to me in helping my students research and evaluate materials. They have invested countless hours in the preparation of materials for my courses. They are not the shushing librarians of my youth but hands on collaborators in teaching the entire school population. These are tough times but these professionals benefit our entire community from books sales to blogging. They make an important impact on each campus.

Marilyn Irwin

2/5/2010 10:54:11 pm

February 4, 2010

Open letter to stakeholders in the Chaffey Joint Union High School District:

The undersigned teachers of the Alta Loma High School English department express our dismay at the thought of teacher librarians losing their jobs in this budget crisis. The teacher librarian plays an important role in student learning and is a major source of support for teachers as they help students achieve the standards. The teacher librarian helps teachers find resources and appropriate materials, instructs students on the research process, defends teachers against censorship, and works to help students become lifelong readers.

If we concede now that our school can operate without a librarian, we fear that this position will be seen as a luxury we can live without in the future. Anne Hebert said, “Libraries will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no libraries.” Without a librarian, what is the library? This vital organ in our schools will be essentially shut down. The teacher librarian is the one person on campus who supports virtually every teacher and student in some way.

Thank you,

(All teachers of the English Dept. at ALHS signed)

Joan McCall link

2/6/2010 05:48:01 am

Sent to Canan Tasci on 2/6/10:

My district cut their four middle school Teacher Librarians to one for the 2009-2010 school year. As the one left to rove between the four schools I can tell you the proposed cuts to CJUHSD will be devastating to every school affected.

So many people are unaware of the magnitude of the role of Teacher Librarian. This person is not just the "keeper of the stuff." This person provides direct instruction to all students in the school. Instruction in research skills, instruction in the use of technology, and instruction in reading - especially reading for pleasure. The Teacher Librarian collaborates with and coaches classroom teachers. At many sites, this person is the technology lead at the school, bringing new techniques and fresh ideas to engage teaching and learning. You want 21st Century skills? Make sure you have a Teacher Librarian and at least one support person at every school in your district!

Ofelia V. Pankratz link

2/6/2010 06:50:11 am

Why! take the Librarians jobs away, when this personnel has played a very important role throughout history. The librarians second to the Teachers, have always assisted on the Childs education. Where would the children go after school, to learn about the history of the United States of America, and also how to avoid a budget crisis for the future.

Teacher Librarian

2/6/2010 08:18:06 am

[1911-2010] Chaffey keeps a Librarian in the library. Ninety-nine years and then suddenly, in the 100th year anniversary, when students need us more than ever (due to rapidly advancing educational technology, laws, and 21st century learning skills) we are slated to be eliminated from the contract forever. What's wrong with this picture?

Paul Martinez

2/6/2010 10:00:09 am

One only has to step foot inside the library for a few seconds to realize the importance of the teacher librarian. When it comes to books, she is an educator, a guide, a mentor, a facilitator, a traffic officer, an organizer, a financial expert, and a well of information, among many other things.

I remember a few years ago how I scoffed when a friend of mine in another district told me that her district had eliminated the teacher librarian position at her school. I couldn't help but feel absolute disgust as she described to me the chaos that ensued; ultimately, the library at her school essentially became a miniature ghost town because it simply became impossible to run it without a teacher librarian in charge.

At the time, I bragged about how my district would never be foolish enough to enact such a ridiculous measure.

CJUHSD, please don't prove me wrong.

Robert Haine

2/6/2010 10:41:11 am

Having taught for 33 years at Chaffey High School, I cannot imagine the idea of the Chaffey Memorial Library without a Teacher Librarian. The position has always been one of leadership and innovation. I am aware that difficult budgetary decisions need to be made, but a library media center is a vital part of what makes a comprehensive high school work, with the Teacher Librarian as the guiding force.

Ann Lihl link

2/6/2010 11:45:59 am

Wow!! This is unbelievable! I can't imagine a library being ran without leadership of some kind---with a credentialed leader that knows the ins and outs of a library.
I used to be a library media tech at COHS and it was a tough position at times, although I loved the work. The librarian (TL) has to have so much education to know how to catalog and service the students, teaching them research systems of being able to complete their projects, etc.
As a library media tech I was never taught how to run a library completely on my own or with the other LMT either. We were always quite stressed even with the three of us the first three wks of school and the last three weeks of school because of the thousands of books being returned to us.
There is so much entailed in the library that most people have no idea what is entailed, and my feeling is, if this happens, where they let these TLs go, the school will see for themselves the degradation of the library and the student's education. The students won't even be able to ask a question where they get one on one attention when needed because there won't be enough eyeballs to man the library, etc.
I could say more but I'll leave room for someone else.....

Ed Spicer link

2/6/2010 12:23:23 pm

I graduated from Montclair High School in 1972. When I was in high school, I was often homeless, although no one knew. I travelled from home to home and I spent many months hiding out in the youth center at Bethany Baptist Church.

Today I am teaching first grade scholars in a small Michigan farm community. I work with a high school reading group. I write young adult book reviews for the Michigan Reading Journal. I have served on the Michael L. Printz Committee (2005), Best Books for Young Adults, the Randolph Caldecott Committee (2009), and Notable Children's Books committee.

Much of who I am is directly related to libraries. The librarians who assisted me with my informational needs helped create a purpose to my life that I believe saved my life in a way that is closer to being literally true than the cliched figure of speech this may resemble. Removing librarians from schools is short-sighted and sends exactly the wrong message to students.

Now that I am working with high school students, I see the same need for help that I had. Which information can I trust when there are so many conflicting reports? Today when Google can provide millions of websites to teen queries, it is more important than ever to have trained professionals showing students how to find information more efficiently and how to evaluate the content.

As a former high school student who, at times, thought he was smarter than God, all I can say is that the school libraries and public libraries in the Montclair area were humbling and life saving and the force that transformed my life into something that has stayed with me far longer than any lessons from my teachers, any information from my high school friends, and especially the dysfunctional messages from my family. Don't take this critical educational component away from students. Libraries are the academic soul of any school community. They were when I was a student and they are still today.

Ed Spicer, 1972

Anna Koval link

2/7/2010 01:29:53 pm

The Chaffey Joint Union High School District Board of Trustees "steadfastly believes" that "Nothing is more important than student learning and achievement."

It's too bad that the District's proposal to eliminate the teachers from the largest classrooms on their campuses (their libraries) does not mirror that belief.

It's too bad that the District doesn't understand that school libraries positively impact student achievement.

The relationship between school libraries (staffed by credentialed teacher librarians) to student achievement has been proven in study after study.

http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/aasl/aaslarchive/resourceguides/studentachievement.cfm

kimberly 9th

2/8/2010 01:53:58 am

The libary and the librarian had such a positive impacted on me.Whenever i needed help with my homework thier was a place for me to go.When i wanted quite time away from People and just read i would go to the only placei know the libary.The librarnian Dose so much and we should keep her here.

All kids need the libary in thier frist week of school all the students had to go in thier.What would we do if we need to go in thier.We can't have just any one in the libary we need a librarian.
To show them right from wrongt with the books.
I could sdsay more but i have to go to my next class.
Kimberly lopez(:

Justin C.

2/8/2010 02:39:15 am

i believe that Teacher Librarians should not be cut out of our school systems. It is not fair that we will lose someone who is so helpful to our school and our students. They take the time out of there days to find us books and help us find data bases. Without these great teacher librarians helping us i dont believe we would be as successful. We need to get this story published and get it out to the community so we dont lose such a vital part of our schools. They really are more helpful than anyone will ever know.

April Geltch link

2/8/2010 02:50:54 am

I completely empathize with your situation. Last year, my school district eliminated four of the six secondary school librarian positions. I now oversee two middle school and one high school librarian.
If TL positions are eliminated, there will be notable differences in library services. When I am not present at a particular school site, two of the libraries are closed during lunch so the library technicians are able to have their 30 minute legally required lunch. At the other school, school counselors supervise the library. Two of the libraries are also closed after school as well. They are only open for 15 minutes before school. This greatly limits student access to technology and library materials since lunch and after school are the times students visit the library the most. As far as orientations & research projects are concerned, I only have the opportunity to give one-shot-reference sessions where I provide an overview of resources for class projects. Times for collaboration are extremely limited. As far as use of library TAS go, this varies from school to school. One school doesn't have them. At one school, office TAS volunteer. The experienced library technician supervises the TAS at the final location. I do all I can to support the library technicians with clerical responsibilities such as textbook & library book inventory. This further reduces time for webpage design, instruction, library programming, etc..
Sadly, you won't have the worry about the library technicians ordering books because the funds will be limited or unavailable.
When you speak to the school board, stress the legal & economic ramifications of their decision. Reduced supervision is problem-as I earlier stated. Due to the bad economy, fewer students have high speed online access at home. The library is only place they are able to get this for free. Respond to the they may still use the public library counter argument in the following ways:
--Library visitors get a limited amount of time 20 minutes-1 hour for computer use. This won't be enough time for students to complete research & technology based projects.
--Students must also wait in line with adults who also need this service.
--Finally, public libraries are shutting down and/or reducing hours as well.
The most important argument to make is the library is the only place that serves the entire school from school staff, teachers, students of all stripes, and parents.
Best wishes to the TLs at Chaffey Unified!

ALICIA

2/8/2010 06:55:56 am

We need our students to become proficient readers and capable researchers so they can reach their full potential as current students and on-going learners. We cannot maintain high levels of expectations if we continue to cut those essential educational elements that nurture the growth we strive to achieve. These highly professional and supportive Teacher Librarians are a vital part of what makes a school function optimally, and both students and teachers will feel an enormous loss if they are slashed. When an entity as ours is hurting the way it is and hanging on for dear life, we MUST not rip out a major artery. THAT is how important TLs are to CJUHSD. Montclair HS, in particular, would suffer tremendously if we lose Sarah Bosler.

Laura Turnbull

2/8/2010 11:50:29 am

The teacher librarian has helped support crucial instruction that is so needed for the education of our students. Research skills are so important to the English departments within our district that they have all required research papers at every level. Without, the teacher librarian to assist and support this requirement, it will become increasingly difficult for our students to achieve mastery in this skill. Please reconsider this action; it seems like we are cutting where it hurts our students the most.

Meredith Kadlac

2/8/2010 10:30:01 pm

As a math teacher, I don't often work directly with our Teacher Librarian, but I know that she does amazing things to promote literacy at our school. She makes a point of acquiring books that students WANT to read, instead of just stocking the library with dusty old copies of 19th century novels and outdated sci-fi, such as was the case at the library at my high school. The research seems to show that if students voluntarily read more, then their test scores improve. So if we cut the Teacher Librarian positions at our schools, we might as well just slash our test scores, while we are at it.

Our TL, as the information guru of our school, also scours the internet in search of any materials that might help improve our instruction. She has sent out valuable information to us math teachers several times, including information about professional development opportunities.

As the yearbook advisor, I am grateful to the TL because I can expect my students to already be familiar with MLA format. I'm sure the English and Social Studies teachers are doubly grateful for this. As Julie Duvall said, they are already overloaded with teaching the standards and CAHSEE prep, and overloading them even more may create huge gaps in the students knowledge, not to mention burned out teachers.

Even as a math teacher, I sometimes advise my students to look up certain points of interest in the history of math on the internet, if they are curious. Whenever I say this, the students readily inform me about how you have to be careful about what you choose to believe on the internet. They are wise consumers of what is out there on the net, and that is because of the teachings of our TL.

Consider a school functioning without a principal. Chaos would probably ensue. Now can we imagine the library functioning without a TL in charge?

Furthermore, will our students continue to improve their literacy if we eliminate our TL? Will they be as savvy in the realm of information and MLA standards? I highly doubt it. If we want well educated students to continue to graduate from the chaffey district, we had better hold on to Sarah and our other TLs.

Susan Bleser

2/9/2010 06:51:00 am

What is this world coming to???!!!! Libraries and librarians are a mainstay of and for our society. What will be next - the humanities, teaching the classics, the arts, music . . . everything that makes us the great country we are!!!

Justin C. (student)

2/9/2010 09:48:11 am

this is an outrage. How can our districts want the best for us when they plan on cutting out one of the hardest jobs. i dont know if any of the people from the district can handle the jobs these TL's do. lets see them find data bases for research lets see them get book that everyone will like and accept requests of books to get. THINK ABOUT THIS DOES THE DISTRICT CARE ABOUT US THE STUDENTS OF THEMSELVES AS PEOPLE... ITS UNFAIR AND NOT MORAL TO TAKE THESE LADIES AND GENTELMEN OUT OF A JOB THEY LOVE DOING. AND ALL THAT THEY HELP ON GETS PUT BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY ONE WAY OR ANOTHER...SAVE OUR TEACHER LIBRARIANS NOT FOR THEM BUT FOR US...

Michelle Dang

2/9/2010 01:11:20 pm

Hello there. I'm a student attending Chaffey High School, and I recently heard that my teacher librarian has a possibility of losing her position. I understand that we are in large debt and certain things must be taken away, but I don't think this should be on that list. My teacher librarian, Karman Johnson, has been of amazing assistance for as long as I can remember. Every time I go to work in the library, she offers to help me on finding useful websites or suggests interesting books to read. She's an extremely academically-useful source to derive information from when I need it. I'm not trying to be biased by incorporating my opinion, but I'm just stating the truth. On my campus, money is wasted on other pointless things like ASB (Associated Student Body). I just don't see how that is needed. We already have the authority figures we need. Why not overthrow them and save money? My point is, the district needs to look closely and meticulously again at what should be cut and what shouldn't.

Christine

2/9/2010 11:40:34 pm

The cuts to education these days are simply devestating to our youth. Librarians can show students a love for reading and knowledge. I can rememeber countless hours spent in the library researching for reports and projects where the librarian was able to help me to discover the path to knowledge. I think it is sad that school districts are willing to let our students enter college without having the experience of assisted library use. As an adult, I still frequent the public library, however I wonder, when we start showing our students that this kind of service is expendable, if our public library systems will be used in future generations. I know cuts must be made, but there are already so few of these teacher libraians left. Please save these jobs as they build a culture for students and the community.

Judy Nelson link

2/11/2010 03:17:40 am

As the owner of Mrs. Nelson's Toy and Book Shop in LaVerne, I have worked for 25 years with teachers and librarians to instill a love for books and reading in children and their families. School librarians can have a such a positive impact on the way students look at books and reading...they recommend and encourage and are great at sharing their own enthusiasm for books and the wonders that are inside of them. School librarians are a critical part of what is needed to grow thinking, productive, contributing citizens. By eliminating their positions from schools, we are lowering our standards of what we want for our children and for our country.

Ms. Gomez (Counselor)

2/11/2010 05:31:14 am

Losing our TL especially at MHS would be devistating. Sarah is such an asset to our school. She serves our students as well as our staff as a Teacher, guide and mentor. Sarah is innovative and constantly educates us and keeps us informed of the current techniques, resources and methods that we would otherwise not have the time to research on our own. She is a go to person with a wealth of knowlege of resources and information. Our students feel comfortable in knowing that they have a Librarian that makes them feel welcomed and empowered to utilize the resources that the library has to offer. Without Sarah and Teacher Librarians like her we would be taking a huge step backwards in improving the educational experience for our students.

A concerned citizen

2/11/2010 09:16:30 am

Why don't you cut football instead?

Jennifer Kanter

2/12/2010 01:58:36 am

Teacher librarians are one of the few educators who reach ALL students, across ALL disciplines, into EVERY classroom. Eliminating these educators from our campuses will directly harm EACH and EVERY student's education, both subject-specific and as life-long learners!

KimberlyK

2/12/2010 09:44:34 am

Ever wonder how come we appreciate our librarians so much? It's because our minds and bodies are designed to be life long learners. Librarians help us to access that knowledge that is at our disposal in an organized, meaningful way. Sarah is truly the most amazing TL that I've ever met. She has connected simply thousands of students to the joy of learning and self-education. Wow. Removing this position of authority, resource and guidance from MHS is roadblock in the pathway of knowledge.

Timothy H. Hite

2/13/2010 02:41:30 am

I taught English at MHS for 27 wonderful years. Throughout those years I relied heavily upon the skill and expertise of the dedicated staff at the library, noting with pride and pleasure the annual improvement of the offerings and services the library provides. Currently the MHS library is at the zenith of its progress, and the Teacher Librarian, Sarah Bosler, and the technicians have become a sine qua non in the daily life of the school. They assist teachers daily in procuring educational materials, teaching students library research, checking out textbooks for entire classes: the list continues ad infinitum. This is true at each of the eight campuses in the CJUHSD. Why mess with success? I predict, if these horrific, short-sighted, ill-conceived, draconian, ridiculous, absurd, impossible cuts are instituted, that API scores will drop, teachers will suffer even greater stress as their classes will see delays in textbook distribution, and students will begin to lose library skills as freshman orientation is canceled. Students will stop coming to the library on their own if they can't get the help or attention they are used to. The idea of cutting all the Teacher Librarians is the worst and most destructive budget proposal this district has ever come up with, and doing so will mark the beginning of a rapid decline from the shining levels of performance CJUHSD has reached.

PATRICK.A

2/13/2010 06:32:57 am

THE LIBRARY IS A GOOD HELP FOR SCHOOL FOR ALL MY ESSAYS AND SCHOOL WORK THAT I NEED INFORMATION ON. THE LIBRARIANS ARE A BIG HELP BECAUSE THE KEEP EVERYTHING IN ORDER AND HELP ME FIND ANY THING I NEED.

Dalia

2/13/2010 09:03:32 am

So anyone who knows me, knows the library is pretty much my favorite place. When I first came to Montclair, I didn't go to the library at all. It wasn't until my english class had to go that I finally walked in. I remember Ms. Bosler showing us how to use the school's website and the sources. Ms. Bosler had such a fun attitude when she was teaching, that the library soon became a daily place for me to be.
The librarians are essential because whenever students need help they're the ones who help. Whether its research for an essay or a search for the perfect book, I know Ms. Bosler can help.

Claudia D.

2/17/2010 10:02:07 am

I don't think it's fair that we might lose our librarians. They actually spend their time helping us find books for reading or for information on projects. Ms. Bosler takes time to find the books that a class will need for research projects. WE NEED OUR LIBRARIANS!!!!

Christian H

2/19/2010 09:36:14 am

I am a Freshman to Montclair High and I just moved here this year. I didn't know anyone and I was pretty much a loaner. Reading was my escape from all that and so I spent a lot of time in the library. The first time I went there Mrs. Bosler introduced herself and she made sure she was involved with what I was checking out and with my activities in the library. I kept going for awhile and she recommended many GREAT books to me. I started to really appreciate her and all the other librarians for what they do for us. Without them how are we supposed to interact with the individuals who help us the most? Those "individuals" would be our beloved librarians. They help us check out our textbooks, they keep a lot of order in the library, and they are greatly involved with the students! Without them so many kids' education wouldn't be as diverse or easy as the librarians tend to make it. They make us love to read and love to come to school because we cannot wait for the vast adventures in our books and textbooks. I think that getting rid of our librarians and TLs would be the worst possible solution for our school. Why not get rid of the sports or, I don't know, P.E? I personally think that should not be a requirement in school but that's besides the point! Keep our librarians and TLs they are the best and I would hate to see someone knew go into our library and not know what to do.
WE LOVE YOU MRS. BOSLER, MRS. DUVALL, AND MRS. JONES!!!!! :)

Sarah Bosler link

2/19/2010 11:38:05 am

Thanks for all the kind comments everyone. We are still fighting the good fight and being creative about looking for ways the district can save money.

I want to remind students that the proposed cut if only for the Teacher Librarian at each school, not the Library Techncians. The library would still be open but would not be able to offer as many services to students including the service of the certificated Teacher Librarian.

Keep in mind, if Teacher Librarian positions are eliminated all of us would move back into regular classrooms (Social Studies, English and Art) So we would still be around just in the library.

Keep thinking of creative ways the district can save money and send them into the District Budget Watch website (see link at top)

Carlos G.

2/24/2010 06:21:19 am

School's should be require to have a teacher librarians in order for students like me(TA) at Montclair high library to get a grade and be able to graduate. Librarians are good teachers who help people or students find books.

Carol Abel

2/24/2010 07:08:56 am

With test scores more important than ever, it would seem that cutting library teachers would be like "cutting off your nose to spite your face." There is a reason why higher test scores are tied to having a qualified librarian in the libraries.

It is they who must chose the books for the libraries. In order to do this, they must know the curriculum and work closely with the teachers in order to know what will work for their projects so students can find information in support of their topics. A clerk does not have the training to carry out these tasks, nor do they have the time.

A clerk can run a library, this is true, but can they run a library PROGRAM. That is the question that must be evaluated. Library programs are key to the students learning to use the libraries efficiently and learning a love of books. Library teachers are well read and know what books to recommend to students based on the individual's tastes.

Every state in the union has a library teacher in elementary, junior high/middle, and high schools except California. California has none in the lower and middle grades and in only some high schools. How can our students compete with the rest of the country if they are lacking in library skills.

Eliminating this very important position would put MHS students further down on the ladder of high test scores. We want our schools to be highly performing, not under performing, and by cutting that important position, you will be ensuring the latter.

Michele Hanchett

3/1/2010 07:15:22 am

As a special education teacher at MHS, I am deeply saddened by the suggestion that we give up our TL's. My students have become life-long readers because of Sarah Bosler and the other librarians who have shared their enthusiasm for reading with the students of MHS. Many students go to the library for academic support, but our librarians have also managed to foster a love of reading in our students! We need our Teacher Librarians and library staff!

Justin Cox

3/4/2010 02:53:44 pm

Like a great man once said "No Message Could Have Been Any Clearer If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place Take A Look At Yourself, And Then Make A Change" What does this have to do with the TL's you might ask its very simple in fact. They make students better people i know personally. Once a fresman i never liked to do work, but ever since my first day in the library of montclair highschool i felt like my limits were impossible to reach i felt the sky was then limit and it really got me to look at the man in the mirror and make a change. I am now planing on becomming a Firefighter Paramedic and its thanks to the lovely people that work at montclair highschools library. Now i have a chance to give back if it werent for the T.L.s idk what i would be doing right now. Would cutting these people make a positive impact on students? I dont believe so for the fact that we would be losing a critical part of our school. The same great man from the first quote also states "With Not Enough To Eat Who Am I, To Be Blind?
Pretending Not To See Their Needs?" When you read deeper into that quote it speaks volumes for teacher Librarians because they feed us students with the knowlegde we need to succeed. So who is the school board to tell us we cant "eat" or feed our minds. They know exactly how helpful the teacher librarians are to the students yet they want to get rid of them. To me that sounds awful that they know they are taking away a part of the students quality education and its not right. I would like to see anybody from the governors office of at our district do what these ladies and gentelmen do for us every day. i would like to see them help out 6 different english classes with 6 different research papers in one day giving students exactly what they need. and if they could last one week doing that not getting mad or upset and showing up everyday with a smile on then you could consider cutting T.L.'s but it will never happen so save our TEACHER LIBRARIANS!!!!!!!!!

Jacquelyn Swinney link

6/24/2010 05:52:08 am

As I high school librarian for six years out of my 32 yrs. as a professional librarian, I can attest to the fact that a librarian is integral to the learning and education of a student, especially at the high school level. I have had wonderful teaching experiences with students at both Damien and Azusa High School. Some of the best years of my life were spent discussing life and having fun at the same time. I treasure these momoments in my heart, and realize that the students' have impacted my life for good, as well as hopefully the "library experience" enriching the life of these
impressionable teens.
Please keep these Teacher Librarians around; they are a valuable assest.

Jacquelyn Swinney
Citrus College Librarian

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Author

My name is Sarah Bosler and I am a Teacher Librarian at Montclair High School in the Chaffey Joint Union High School District (CJUHSD).

The Daily Bulletin is working on related stories, please comment on their blog as well.

Letters to the DB Editor

Pros Should Pitch In (Mar 11, 2010)

Pros should fund school sports (Feb 23, 2010)

Save libraries (Feb 14, 2010)

Cut subs first (Feb 13, 2010)

Published Articles

Etiwanda High sit-in emphasizes displeasure with budget cuts (March 12, 2010)

CJUHSD will send 84 layoff notices (March 3, 2010)

Chaffey district considers $10 million in cuts (Feb 17, 2010)

CJUHSD cuts school days (Feb 8, 2010)

CJUHSD Teacher Librarians appear on list of potential cuts

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