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Subject: School Libraries in Crisis
Prepared by: Barbara Clubb, City Librarian & CEO
Prepared for: Ottawa Public Library Board
Meeting of: June 13, 2011
Date of preparation: June 1, 2011
Purpose
The purpose of this report is to
provide a summary on the increased media attention centred on the decline of
school teacher-librarians and the overall declining support for the distinct
role of school libraries in Ontario. This report is designed as an information
item only, aimed at summarizing numerous reports and media releases that have
received widespread attention. At any time, action may be initiated by
any Trustee. The OPL acknowledges the fact that the Ontario School Library
Association is now (and has been) advocating for more investments in school
libraries. This report focuses on a summary of findings, focusing on
information leading to the current crisis, changing role of teacher-librarians,
statistical information, and the focus on school-community partnerships. These
areas were selected mainly because they provide relevant information on the
current situation facing school libraries.
References
1 School Libraries at the Crossroads, Ontario School Library Association, May 2011
http://www.accessola.com/osla/bins/content_page.asp?cid=72-835-4195
2 Ontario school library staffing down, CBC News, May 2011
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2011/05/16/ontario-school-libraries549.html
3 Libraries in the Internet age, The Star, May 2011
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/letters/article/994225--libraries-in-the-internet-age
4 Librarians fight for a role in a digital world, Globe and Mail, May 2011
5 School boards finding it tough to fund libraries, Ontario Coalition for Accountability, May 2011
http://bill131.ca/2011/05/22/school-boards-finding-it-tough-to-fund-libraries/
6 School libraries – An under-resourced resource?, Statistics Canada, December 2008
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/81-004-x/2005002/8051-eng.htm
7 School libraries: dying or just different?, York Region Media Group, May 31, 2011
http://www.yorkregion.com/news/article/1017597--school-libraries-dying-or-just-different
8 The Crisis in School Libraries Continues, Ontario School Library Association, May 2011
9 Ministry examines catholic board’s books, CBC News, June 3, 2011
School libraries and teacher-librarians have been especially hit hard by under-funding. Staffing by qualified teacher-librarians has been reduced or eliminated in Ontario's elementary and secondary schools; if there is a teacher-librarian, the role is often part-time, or spread over several schools. Student access to school libraries has been limited, with many school libraries closed during part of the day, or left unattended. Budgets for new books for the school library are frequently reallocated for other purposes, Canadian content is declining, and existing library resources are not being maintained. School libraries are in a crisis situation.
The OPL remains committed to supporting literacy and life-long learning as one of its main long term focuses. The OPL has worked to focus and implement its strategic priorities, as listed in the “Strategic Directions and Priorities 2008-2011” Document. The Ontario School Library Association (OSLA) is now calling out to mindful members of the public and organizations across the Province. OSLA is encouraging everyone to act now while they have the Province’s attention, either by:
· Contacting their local school trustees
· Contacting the Ministry of Education to express concern over these recent cuts
· Writing a letter to the editor
· Informing community members such as staff, students, parents
Summary of Findings[1]
A report was developed by OSLA in May 2011 which seeks to enlighten the average citizen on the current situation. The following excerpt summarizes the crisis in question: "Since the early 1990's, school libraries have continued to erode; each year more school boards must make the difficult decision to reduce proper staffing in the school library and to cut back or stop the purchasing of school library resources. This decline is having a direct negative impact on student achievement and reading engagement. Students who are in school without a staffed and resourced library program are not receiving the same education as students who have school libraries. A properly resourced school library program includes a teacher-librarian with library qualifications, a library technician, support staff, access to a robust digital media centre and e-resources, and a current book collection."
Why the crisis?:
Across the Province, school boards have been struggling with reduced budgets over the past decade. Declining enrolment translates into less funding for each respective school. Less funding means cuts have to be made somewhere, making it easier for the school board to justify budget cuts for library services. Due to the fixed costs defined in the Ministry of Education funding associated with classroom teachers and building operations, the most common way to address issues of cost reduction has been through program cuts that haven't necessarily been assigned fixed budget allocations. This means that library programs and services become an easy target since funds haven't been officially reserved. School libraries have been particularly vulnerable to such funding cuts, and these cuts have been well documented even across North America.
Because library budgets have been subject to ongoing cuts over time, these gradual decreases have translated into aged and irrelevant collection and inadequate access to quality materials. Poor materials mean lower usage. Lower usage statistics can then be used to justify elimination, ultimately leading to a self-fulfilling prophecy. Few people outside of the school library profession fully understand the fact that a teacher-librarian's role has changed drastically over the years. In fact, teacher-librarians are the primary teachers of 21st century information literacy who continuously help to promote literacy. Parents and the broader public community are unaware of the facts; therefore, the need for advocacy is not considered a priority.
The evolution of technology is also considered to be a contributor to the crisis situation facing the decline of teacher-librarians. Some children have never even seen a teacher-librarian and most likely never will. For example, Nova Scotia currently has none and New Brunswick has the full-time equivalent of three teacher-librarians remaining. The technological advances being implemented to help students navigate through loads of information is now being used as the justification for eliminating the need for teacher-librarians as important resources. People now tend to think that online resources essentially replaces the teacher-librarian when in fact, the teacher-librarian's role has been heightened thanks to the introduction of new information technology. The lack of understanding of the teacher-librarian's role remains. Technology can be characterized as a research tool and making it available doesn’t mean a person will automatically know how to use it properly for research purposes.
Teacher-librarians are trained in the use of technology for information retrieval and search and often, their duties include the training of staff and students in the use of these tools. In addition, in some schools, the teacher-librarian also serves as the IT resource person. The school library has undergone a radical change of importance. The library has gone beyond the simple provision of resources to students and now focuses on creating lifelong learners equipped with the skills to locate, use and evaluate information. Information literacy, whether electronic or otherwise, is fundamental to the school library program.
Statistical Information[3]
Staffing at school libraries across the province is declining, a trend that could affect children's ability to think critically about information, according to a report released by an education advocacy group (People for Education). The report found 56 per cent of Ontario elementary schools in 2010 have at least one full-time or one part-time teacher-librarian, an accredited teacher who has library training. That's down from 80 per cent in the 1997/1998 school year. Meanwhile, 66 per cent of secondary schools across the province have at least one teacher-librarian, down from 78 per cent in 2000/2001, when the group first started tracking data for high schools. The trend of reduced staffing is particularly emphasized in small communities where only 19 per cent of elementary schools in eastern Ontario and 10 per cent of elementary schools in northern Ontario have teacher-librarians. On the other hand, 92 per cent of elementary schools in the Greater Toronto Area have a teacher-librarian.
Latest Updates at Windsor-Essex Catholic School Board[4]
The recent outcry of the school board’s decision to layoff teacher-librarians and close school libraries has prompted the Ministry of Education to review the school board’s financial situation in an effort to find out why the board's administrative costs are so high. Student protests have been held in May as a result of the board’s decision and brought a number of concerned parents to a board meeting on May 24 calling for the resignation of trustees and the reversal of the cuts. The board responded by calling back 19 employees who had been cut, and further agreed to let the provincial ministry review its books. The board blames the library cuts on a lack of cash, but parents believe it's more a matter of where funds are being spent. With declining enrolment, the school board will have to look at further budget cuts.
Conclusion
This report is intended as an information-sharing and awareness-rising tool, aimed at summarizing numerous reports and media releases that have received widespread attention. A number of attachments have been referenced in the making of this document.
[1] The Crisis in School Libraries Continues, Ontario School Library Association, May 2011
[2] School libraries – An under-resourced resource?, Statistics Canada, December 2008
[3] Ontario school library staffing down, CBC News, May 2011
[4] Ministry examines catholic board’s books, CBC News, June 3, 2011