[Michlib-l] State Board of Education Approves Statement on School Libraries!

[Lester, Kathy]

The State Board of Education approved a statement on support for school
libraries yesterday (October 14th) at their Board meeting.  [See below for
the text of this statement.]

I believe this is a great step forward in the effort to advocate for school
libraries.  Currently, Michigan ranks 46th nationally in the ratio of
students per school librarian.  In addition, based on National Assessment
of Educational Progress (NAEP) 4th grade reading scores, Michigan is one of
only six states that has negative reading improvement.

I've attached a press release.  Library partners -- if you have a chance to
share this information in your communities; please do so.  I believe we all
work together to promote reading, information and technology literacy in
our students and in our communities.

A huge thank you to Michelle Fecteau, State Board of Education member, who
was instrumental in getting the resolution on the agenda and gaining
support from other board members.  Michelle also brought up the effort to
add School Libraries as one of the Best Practice funding items with the
Board.  [You may hear more about this later.]

Thank you to Cathy Woolford who over a year ago suggested to MAME that
Michelle Fecteau might be a 'friend' to school libraries!

Thank you to Dr. Kafi Kumasi from Wayne State University and Jeanna Walker
from Portage Schools, who along with myself, spoke at public comment in
support of the statement.

Thank you to Karren Reish, Library of Michigan, for all of her support on
this and other advocacy issues... and for providing Superintendent Flanagan
with the right words to support the statement.
Thank you to Randy Riley, State Librarian, for supporting the resolution
with Superintendent Flanagan and the Board.  Thank you also to previous
State Librarian, Nancy Robertson, for taking the SL21 benchmarks to the
State Board of Education last year.

Thank you to Deb Biggs-Thomas, Dian Walster, Tim Staal, Tom and LInda
Stream, Lisa Brakels for being at the meeting to support the resolution.
Thank you to other library supporters who could not be at the meeting, but
sent their support.

Please let me know if you have any questions.  Thank you for your support
in getting the word out about the importance of strong school libraries!

-Kathy Lester

*RESOLUTION*
*The Michigan State Board of Education recognizes that school library media
centers provide Michigan's students and staff equitable access to print and
digital resources critical to supporting 21st century teaching and
learning.*


*The Board further recognizes that certified library media specialists
serve a critical role in increasing student achievement by supporting,
collaborating, and co-teaching with classroom teachers in reading
development, in integrating information and technology literacy skills into
the content curriculum, and in meeting the expectations for student
research set forth in the Common Core State Standards.*


*The Library of Michigan, an office of the Michigan Department of
Education, has developed the "SL21 Measurement Benchmarks for Michigan
School Libraries for 21st Century Schools" and calls for school
administrators and school librarians to use the SL21 measures to assess the
quality of school library programs in individual buildings.*


*The Board supports these efforts and supports a call for all elementary
and secondary students to have ready access to a library in their school
with appropriate resources, programming and certified staff.*


*------*
Kathy Lester, MLIS, MA
MAME President 2014
School Librarian/Technology Integrationist
East Middle School, Plymouth-Canton Schools
*2012 **State Librarian's Excellence Award Winner*
<http://www.michigan.gov/libraryofmichigan/0,2351,7-160-19270_20585-289712--,00.html>
kathyL at mimame.org
cell: 810-333-5873
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