Iowa School Librarians Fight Law Making Them Optional Staff

Staff -- School Library Journal, 6/1/1998

A conservative Christian schools group is blocking the Iowa legislature from reinstating a law requiring certified librarians and library programs in state schools. If the provisions aren't restored, Iowa's school librarians fear they could soon become scarce.

"We've heard from media professionals who were told that when they retire, their positions won't be filled," said Tom Hoffman, Legislative Co-Chair of the Iowa Educational Media Association (IEMA).

The problem began three years ago when a conservative Republican state senator quietly deleted the school-library requirements during a major overhaul of the state code. The legislation passed without debate, and since that time, the Iowa Association of Christian Schools has lobbied effectively to keep the deletion in place.

Samona Yentes, lobbyist for the Christian schools' association, said the group opposes state mandates that don't take into account the particular needs and priorities of local schools. "I've got a little Christian school in Northern Iowa with 30 students -- if they have to hire a media specialist, tuition goes up $1,000 a year," she said.

Last year, the media association convinced a Republican senator to introduce a bill restoring the school-library requirements. But Ted Anderson, an IEMA lobbyist, said right-wing Republicans in the Legislature have prevented it and similar measures from coming up for a vote in the session just ended.