Letters

Unenlightened administrators smother a quality library program

I read Evan St. Lifer's editorial "Lightning in a Bottle" (February 2004, p. 13) at a critical time in my professional life. I have 26 years of experience as a librarian, 14 years as a school library media specialist. Our school library program is—or I should say, was—the type of effective, strong program with a "meaningful instructional component" that Mr. St. Lifer refers to. It has been favorably reviewed by Michael Eisenberg who served as a consultant to our district. Our staff has provided local school districts with in-service training on flexible scheduling and teacher/library media specialist collaboration. However, we have many new administrators who view the library as "nothing more than a room where books are." These administrators, who have never stepped foot in the library, tell me that "it is not my job to teach research skills"!

We no longer have a library coordinator as that position was cut a few years ago. Just last year, more librarian positions were cut, leaving five full-time library media specialists for more than 4,500 students. Parents, students, and teachers attended a public meeting and presented a petition to restore the cut positions. They were assured that the situation would be reviewed. Yet, the 2004–2005 budget prioritizes a groundskeeper and lunch monitor over the full restoration of librarians! No matter what evidence or "lightning in a bottle" is provided, this administration refuses to understand the importance of school libraries.

While teachers, parents, and kids cannot be wrong, one or two administrators and a superintendent who are wrong make all the difference. Although I am years away from retiring, I am seriously considering leaving the profession.

My opinions are my own and not necessarily the views of the Ballston Spa Central School District.
--Marie Rossi, School Library Media Specialist, Malta Avenue Intermediate School, Ballston Spa, NY

Thanks to Debra Lau Whelan for her excellent coverage of Student Learning Through Ohio School Libraries. In the article "13,000 Kids Can't Be Wrong" (February 2004, pp. 46–50) professors Ross Todd and Carol Kuhlthau question why African-American students score higher in rating the school library to be more helpful with reading than white students. As a school librarian in the inner city of Cleveland, OH, I serve a population that is overwhelmingly African American. These students have great difficulty in going to the public library after school. Two compelling reasons are lack of transportation and danger on the streets. The school library is the only library available. I am pleased to see that the results of this study confirm the vital role of the school library in advancing the goals of No Child Left Behind for these and all children.
--Renee Rabinowitz, Library Media Specialist, Whitney Young School for the Gifted, Cleveland, OH

I read with interest Kathy Ishizukas article about the restrictions of usage for teenagers at the Joliet Public Library (January 2004, "Rowdy Teens Get Carded at Library ," p. 16). It is difficult to imagine the circumstances that precipitated a policy requiring possession of a library card or student ID for students wishing to use the library after 5 p.m. who are unaccompanied by an adult. It could not have been an easy decision and we can be grateful such a stringent policy has a time limit. Perhaps this would not be the first choice of action for many librarians when dealing with the particularly complex situation the Joliet Public Library encountered. However, I found the assessment by a fellow librarian disturbing. "Blatant discrimination" is an inflammatory accusation that only fuels a volatile situation.

I can only hope that I will never have to make a decision such as the one forced on Mr. Johnston. However, if I did, I would hope for something more akin to understanding and compassion from my colleagues. It is easy to stand at a distance and point fingers. It is much more difficult to work together in search of solutions that address the issues. The library profession faces conflicts pertaining to equity, access, and information literacy on an ever increasing basis. We do not need to tear each other apart while we take a stand for the rights of others.
--Roberta J. Ash, MLS student, School of Library and Information Science, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN

Since I was quoted out of context in the March issue of School Library Journal ("A Filter That Lets Good Information In ," pp. 28–30), I send a note of clarification.

When Walter Minkel asked for my thoughts about CIPA [Children's Internet Protection Act] compliance, I wrote: "Several of us have had conversations since the advent of CIPA about whether or not we could, say, block only those sites we've found problems with on a firewall and consider that compliance. The collective legal wisdom since the Supreme Court decision seems to indicate that a library might not be considered in compliance if its chosen blocking software doesn't block as much as a standard commercial product." At that time, I was unaware of the Kansas effort, which sounds as though it works more or less like other filters. Hence, it is inaccurate to say I doubted "that KanGuard would survive a court challenge." Furthermore, I am far from sure that a CIPA noncompliance decision would require a court case and am sorry Mr. Minkel didn't get a legal opinion as I suggested.

Libraries across the country are having to deal with a situation where we are X-ed if we do and X-ed if we don't, so I don't wish to criticize any one organization or effort. In the long term, only time can tell how the mass, institutionalized, prior-restraint, automated censorship of information in libraries will affect free expression and our profession. Meanwhile, it seems ironic that many libraries will now be working with the abridged version of a resource patrons have in full at home.
--Melora Ranney Norman, American Library Assoc. Chapter Councilor/Intellectual Freedom Co-chair. Maine Library Association, Augusta, ME

Our March feature "ALA Book Picks 2004 " (pp. 58–66) transposed the names of the authors of The Kindling, a science fiction title. They are Jennifer Armstrong and Nancy Butcher.

An editorial oversight in the review of John Bankston's Diego Rivera (Mitchell Lane, 2003; Feb. 2004, p. 154) resulted in the statement that the author does not address Rivera's habit of embellishing the truth. Indeed, Bankston does distinguish fact from fiction, and makes it clear that the artist took creative license in telling about the events in his life.