Support School Libraries

"When I read about the way in which library funds are being cut and cut, I can only think that American society has found one more way to destroy itself"

-Isaac Asimov

As you know, the school and library budgets are interrible shape and it seems that the library and art programs are always the first to be placed on the chopping block. Every week I hear stories of another district reducing their library hours to just one day a week or closing their libraries all together. With these types of cuts, literacy is severely affected as well as the opportunity to instill a love of reading in children. Reading is the key to creating successful, compassionate students and school administrators and city council need to realize that these cuts are handicapping their students.

Mrs. Nelson's has teamed up with the California School Library Association as well as the California Library Association (public libraries) to promote library advocacy through an extensive PR campaign. With the help of some famous illustrators, we have been able to garner quite a lot of media attention as well as the support of parents, educators, and city officials.
 
Librarians across the state created multiple slogans which were used as the theme by the illustrators to create new artwork or donating existing artwork for use on the campaign. CSLA has created a storefront on CafePress.com where supporters can purchase products. All proceeds will benefit the library advocacy campaign. You can view more about this campaign or shop for products at the following websites:

CSLA's California Campaign for Strong School Libraries

Library Advocate Blog

CSLA's Cafepress Storefront

 "Circulate This! Stories from the School Library" Blog & Audio Journal

Press:

Downloads:

• Visit the official School Library Advocacy Wiki here.
  

• View and download a letter template to promote advocacy for school libraries here.

• Get interactive with this map highlighting school districts across the US that are supporting their school libraries.

• Read a letter from LAUSD librarian Robin Merlino here.

• Read a letter from Chaffey Joint Union High School District librarian Victoria Waddle here.
  

• Listen to CSLA's audio journal "Circulate This! Stories from the School Library" here
  

• View a great video here (YouTube) or here (TeacherTube) that shows what would happen if school libraries were closed.
  

What does a Teacher Librarian really do? Watch this video and find out how crucial their jobs really are.

Get Active!

• Find your local state representatives and other government officials here.

• Contact school districts in your area here. 

• Click here to view the CSLA flyer “School Libraries Make a Difference.”

• Click here to view and join the CSLA “Bestsellers” advocacy campaign.

• Click here to view the official School Library Advocacy Wiki.

Reproducable artwork donated by illustrators and artists:

All artwork has been graciously donated by the artists to be used in the School Library Advocacy Campaign. Products can be purchased through CSLA at http://www.cafepress.com/csla/. Any proceeds will benefit the campaign. Posters can be requested through Mrs. Nelson's.

2/24/2010

Letter from Patrick Nelson to Indiebound Booksellers:

Booksellers have a common bond when it comes to reading and promoting literacy. For many of us, it’s the reason we first opened our store and the reason for keeping it open despite so many obstacles. Librarians, like booksellers, are similarly passionate about getting kids hooked on reading and becoming life-long readers yet the obstacles they face are even more daunting.

As you all know, the California school budgets are in terrible shape and it seems that the library programs are always the first to be placed on the chopping block. Every week we hear stories of another district reducing their library hours to just one day a week or closing their libraries all together. According to the American Library Association, in 2009 Corona-Norco Unified School District issued pink slips to five of its high-school teacher-librarians, Las Virgenes Unified School District okayed layoff notices to all six school librarians, and Lompoc Unified School District voted to cut its two remaining school library media specialists and halve the hours of its library assistants. With these types of cuts, literacy is severely affected as well as the opportunity to instill a love of reading in children. Reading is the key to creating successful, compassionate students and school administrators need to realize that these cuts are handicapping their students.

Thankfully, librarians are becoming more vocal about these devastating funding cuts. To garner support for their jobs and their libraries, librarians across the state chose three slogans to use in an advocacy campaign:

1. School librarians teach EVERY student

2. Save California School Libraries

3. Read. Think. Grow. Fund School Libraries

And we are working with illustrators to create buttons, fliers, banners, and other products for their supporters. Now is a great time to step forward and show our continued support for school libraries. Not only is this an opportunity to support literacy but it makes great business sense as well. Here are a few ideas on how you can get involved:

1. Download the advocacy letter template posted on the following link and urge customers to contact their local representatives and school board. http://bookcompany.mrsnelsons.com/support/advocacy.html

2. Review information provided by the California State Library Association and become a “Bestseller” advocate. http://bookcompany.mrsnelsons.com/files/PDF%20documents/CSLABestSellersCampaign.pdf

3. Help create a design based on the advocacy slogans or contact illustrators you think might be willing to help. Send designs to Marie Slim at sraslim@sbcglobal.net

4. Place the buttons, fliers, and other products in your store to spark a discussion with your customers. (Librarians are currently finalizing the designs and will post their results at cafepress.com or zazzle.com)

5. Contact your local school districts, superintendents, and librarians to offer your support and stress the importance of keeping libraries funded.

6. Visit our website for other resources and links. http://bookcompany.mrsnelsons.com/support.html

For more ways you can help, please contact your local CSLA president:

Southern California

Rosemarie Bernier

Hamilton High School

310-280-1430

rosemarie.bernier@gmail.com

Northern California

Tom Kaun

Redwood High School

415-945-3662

tkaun@tuhsd.marin.k12.ca.us

I would love to hear your ideas on how we can further support school libraries. Feel free to email or call me at pnelson@mrsnelsons.com or 909-397-7820.

Thank you!