How Are You Doing?: A librarian fights to retain positions in her district

I fought for the retention of our elementary librarians this past year. I did everything I knew how to do and still 100 percent of the positions were cut (10 librarians covering 18 schools). We now have volunteers that are “running” the show. When I found out cuts were in the air, I contacted [author] Ann Martin, she wrote letters to our superintendent, commissioner of education, and the governor of our state. She also blogged to our local papers. Jim Rettig [American Library Association President] did the same. Our state librarian also wrote letters and posted to the state library Web site. I attended board meetings and town hall meetings along with my elementary librarians. We rallied parents and children to attend and they spoke. Our budget passed and still with all that we lost the fight. What more could we have done?

I am a positive person and I choose to look forward. I love what I do and I love being involved. I feel in my own building wonderful things are happening but I am sad for the program as a whole.—LaDawna Harrington, library media specialist, Avenel Middle School, Avenel, NJ

A comment on the SLJ Summit Ning in response to Lisa Layera Brunkan (pictured), one of the Spokane Moms, who is collecting the experiences of school librarians from around the country. If you’d like to share your story, visit the Ning page.