LEGISLATION AFFECTING SCHOOL LIBRARIES

[Liaison] [RCWs] [Title V] [WLA] [Washington Legislature] [U.S. Congress] [ALA]

For current information about the legislative action regarding school libraries: Washington School Library Media Program Summit (http://www.wlma.org/summit) Fund Our Future Washington website (http://www.fundourfuturewashington.org/9.html) Fund Our Future Washington blog (http://librariesfordemocracy.org/fundfuture/)

Contacts

WLMA Liaison:  Roz Thompson - (360)709-7673

WLMA Lobbyist:  Carolyn Logue - CA Logue Public Affairs / carolyn.logue@comcast.net / (360)789-3491

Legislation

Senator Durbin (D-IL) submits Senate Resolution 134 "Adopt a School Library Month" link

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:sr134:

On Tuesday June 26, 2007, Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Thad Cochran (R-MS) and Representatives Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) and Vernon Ehlers (R-MI) introduced the Strengthening Kids? Interest in Learning and Libraries (SKILLs) Act that guarantees students across America will be served by highly qualified, state-certified school library media specialists and will have the library resources they need to succeed.

http://www.ala.org:80/ala/aasl/aaslissues/SKILLS_Act.cfm

RCW 28a.320.240 - http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=28A.320.240

You can also go to http://www1.leg.wa.gov/legislature/ then choose laws, 2006 laws, 28a Common Schools, then 320, to 240 (each is a separate page)

March 7th, 2006, marked the day of FINAL PASSAGE of E2SHB3098 (.pdf). This is a huge win for Washington state students and school library programs. The language of the new RCW states: ? School-library media program? means a school-based program that is staffed by a certificated teacher-librarian and provides a variety of resources that support student mastery of the essential academic learning requirements in all subject areas and the implementation of the district's school improvement plan. In addition, the RCW states: The teacher-librarian, through the school-library media program, shall collaborate as an instructional partner to help all students meet the content goals in all subject areas, and assist high school students completing the culminating project and high school and beyond plans required for graduation.

What does this mean for school administrators? The good news is that if you have a certificated Teacher-Librarian in your building or in buildings in your district, you have an instructional leader, a collaborator, a resource manager and a reading advocate at work for you. This Teacher-Librarian also has a strong professional organization in the Washington Library Media Association to help support, train and advise the work your Teacher-Librarian does. If you don't have a certificated Teacher-Librarian working with your students, we want you to know about the resources and support available from the Washington Library Media Association at http://www.wlma.org. We are 1400 members strong and are dedicated to ensuring that students are effective users of ideas and information. We want to help you create the best schools possible (posted 5-15-06).

WLMA participates in Library Legislative Action Day each February with WLA (Washington Library Association). the details are on their website - http://www.wla.org/.

V on Title V

Although funds are being reduced every year, there is still real money available to support your library.

I. Purpose: Support local education reform efforts that are consistent with and support statewide education reform efforts.

• Implement promising educational reform programs and school improvement programs based on scientifically based research.

• Provide a continuing source of innovative and educational improvement, including support programs to provide library services, instructional and media materials.

• Meet the educational needs of all students, including at-risk youth.

• Develop and implement education programs to improve school, student, and teacher performance, including professional development activities and class size reduction programs.

II. Here is the OSPI site that gives the funding expectations/guidelines for usage. Please note the FUNDING INFORMATION and APPLICATION INFORMATION for grant timelines on this page as well

http://igrants.ospi.k12.wa.us/docs/04-05/Profiles/FederalProfiles/TitleVProfile/titlev.html

III. This URL has the list of school districts and the amounts allocated for '04-'05.

http://igrants.ospi.k12.wa.us/docs/04-05/AllocationsTables/TitleVAlloc/titlev.html

IV. Some of you are already directly or indirectly involved in this igrant program...PLEASE stand up for your school library and request funds for materials and programs.

V. If you are not, I would encourage you to find out about the committee in your district (district office) and VOLUNTEER to take notes, bring cookies to the meeting

WLA's Library-related Legislation

Our public librarian colleagues in The Washington Library Association (WLA), maintain legislative information that affects libraries in Washington State at http://www.wla.org/legislation/.

Washington State Legislature Home Page

The Washington State Legislature home page - http://www1.leg.wa.gov/legislature/- includes information about state agencies, bills, documents & reports.

House members and committees - http://www1.leg.wa.gov/house/
Senate members and committees - http://www1.leg.wa.gov/senate/
Legislative district map - http://apps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/statewide.aspx
Legislative district lookup by address - http://apps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/Default.aspx

United States Congress Home Page

http://thomas.loc.gov/ is a good source of legislative information on the Internet. Legislation, Congressional record, Committee information, bills, etc.

U.S. House of Representatives
U.S. Senate

ALA Washington Office
The ALA Washington Office watches political events affecting libraries and supplies information and assistance to government agencies and Congress. The office makes official comment on proposed federal regulations concerning libraries and librarians, supports legislation benefitting libraries and library service, and works for meaningful appropriations levels for federal library-related programs.