Job security...

When I took the job I have now, I did my research. Having been cut out of two school libraries due to budget cuts, I wanted to make sure my next librarian position would be secure. This school has always had a credentialed librarian in it's entire 30-year history. Last week, my principal stopped by to give me a heads up that the district administrators would be meeting to discuss budget cuts for next year. He expects my position to be mentioned in the brainstorm and he didn't want me to hear about it through the grapevine. At the same time, he believes that it won't happen. Still...it makes one wonder and worry.

I took a look at Doug Achterman's research into CA libraries again this week. Only 40.7% of our high schools have full time librarians. In Santa Clara County, the number is even lower...what are we doing to our students? How do we change this in tight budget times? Talk, share, advocate, we have to keep fighting. Some of us are foot soldiers, others are warriorsand others are generals, whatever role you are there is a job to be done and the students in our schools need our voices.

There are tools out there to help:
CSLA: Toolkit for Advocacy & Action
Doug Johnson @ Blue Skunk Blog: When Your Job is on the Line
AASL--Crisis and Health& Wellness Toolkits
Saskatchewan School Library Association--50 Ways to Love Your Library