ISSUES & ADVOCACY
MEA Member Librarians Concerned About Decimated Profession When MEA member Kathy Lester reads the latest news headlines, she sees problems where librarians should be. From students’ low reading performance on standardized tests, to community conflicts over what books should be allowed in school, and burned-out educators talking of leaving the profession—librarians can play a vital role in helping to address big problems. But in Michigan over the past 15years, the number of certified school librarians—also known as media specialists—has been decimated. In the latest figures, our state ranks 48th in the nation, measured by the ratio of certified librarians to students, at 1:3,110. That compares to a national average of 1:1,425. State data from last year show more than half of school buildings in Michigan had no school library staff— certified or uncertified—and 74% of buildings had no certified media specialist employed. For Lester, a certified school librarian at East Middle School in Plymouth-Canton, the losses represent an equity issue. A recent national study showed schools in areas with higher poverty and more minority students and English language learners have the least access to properly staffed libraries. “If you compare what resources and what educational experiences a student with a highly-qualified school librarian is getting compared to a student in a school district without that, the differences are stark,” Lester said. A modern school library is a bustling in-person and digital learning 20 APR–MAY 2022
commons where project-based learning takes place and print and digital resources are part of a student’s routine, Lester highlighted in a recent informational flyer she produced. A longtime advocate for the profession through numerous roles she’s played in the Michigan Association for Media in Education, Lester is taking her efforts to the national level. One year ago she won election as president-elect of the American Association of School Librarians. Lester will serve in the volunteer role for one year, beginning in July, while continuing her full-time job in Plymouth-Canton. She takes over at a precarious time for the profession across the country.
Kathy Lester media specialist
The number of school librarians has declined nationally, according to data released last July in a study funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, which found from 2010 to 2019 nearly 20% of school librarian full-time equivalent (FTE) positions were eliminated.
our state to a bottom-of-the-barrel 48th place in the national rankings of percentage change in school librarians in that decade.
The study found more than 4.4 million students in high-poverty districts had no librarians, and smaller and rural districts were more likely to have no librarians than larger suburban districts.
The research is clear that in schools with certified librarians, students’ reading comprehension is higher and the most vulnerable students—who are least likely to have a home library of reading materials—benefit the most.
“The studies all show that students who benefit the most from school librarians are kids from high-poverty areas, and those are the areas where we’re losing the most ground,” Lester said.
Multiple studies have demonstrated that school libraries staffed by a certified librarian have a positive effect on literacy achievement and graduation rates.
Michigan was one of 10 states pointed out in the study for having “extraordinarily high” losses of school librarians over that decade at a staggering 49.5%—which took
Plymouth-Canton
“Every student deserves to have access to an effective school library led by a certified school librarian,” Lester said. Media specialists serve in a variety of roles that support learning, she
