Below is the information given to the School Committee...Please show your support....

Date:  April 27, 2010

To:  Mr. Belson, Superintendent for Medford Public Schools; Mayor McGlynn, Chairperson, School Committee; Paulette Vanderkloot, Vice Chairperson, School Committee; Ann Marie Cugno, Secretary, School Committee; John Falco, School Committee; Sharon Guzik, School Committee; Bill O’Keefe, School Committee; & George Scarpelli, School Committee

From:  Medford Parents in Support of School Libraries -  Karen Roust, Heather Meeker Green, Allison Andrews, Beth Flood, Hope Green, Emily Graves & Kathy Aluia***

RE:  Request for libraries fully staffed with Certified Library Teachers/Media Specialists.

Dear Mr. Belson, Mayor McGlynn & Members of Our School Committee,

As parents of children attending the Medford Public Schools, we would like to bring your attention to the current state of our school libraries and to stress the importance of having fully functional school libraries in a city with a wide range of primary language and socio-economic demographics.

The library is the nucleus of resources in our schools for both books, materials, information, media and technology.  In early childhood, our children’s first literacy experience is listening to and reading books and it is imperative to continue this experience through the elementary years as there are direct correlations between literacy and a child’s exposure to books.  In addition, our school libraries may be the only access point for books that some of our children have in this city.  As our children enter the upper elementary and middle school years, a library facilitates the development of a child’s research skills which is a 21st Century competency.

We are seeking a change to the budget that support elementary, middle and high school libraries that are…

• -Open five (5) days a week through the entire school day.
• -Fully staffed with certified “Library Teachers/Media Specialists”.

We ask that you…

o       Review the current state of all our school libraries to include:  staffing levels, availability for teacher and student usage, and borrowing access.

o       Do everything you can to bring the staffing levels of our school libraries back up to the appropriate levels so that we can provide the resources necessary for our children to be engaged in learning and literacy and become skilled and productive citizens.

o       Schedule a “Committee of the Whole” meeting to gain more information from the school administration and library personnel, allow more informal discussion among the school committee membership, and consider the future of our school libraries.

o       Consider the library as an integral part of Medford’s newly formed “Literacy Plan” team.

We have provided our current information related to current staff and staffing levels within the Elementary and Middle School libraries.

Current Staff:

K-8 Library Team:

Holly Lannen, Librarian:  Scheduled 3 days/week (Previously full-time; Part-time for the past 2 years)

Maria D’Orsi, Librarian:  Scheduled full-time

Amy Fowke, Library Assistant:  Scheduled 4 days/week

(Note:  Medford’s High School Library is managed separately from the K-8 libraries.  It consists of one full-time Librarian and a Library Assistant.)

Staffing Per School:

Andrews Middle School:  Total = 2 days per week

Library Assistant – 1 days per week

Librarian – 1 day per week

Note:  A new server was installed in December 2009 and restored the library automation.

Brooks Elementary:  Total = 2.5 days per week

Librarian – 2.5 days every other week alternating with Library Assistant

Library Assistant – 2.5 days every other week

Note:  Full program for elementary.  Library is open 5 days per week and is staffed with parent volunteers during periods librarian is at alternate school.

Columbus Elementary:  Total = 2.5 days per week

Librarian – 2.5 days every other week alternating with Library Assistant

Library Assistant – 2.5 days every other week

Note:  Library committee has formed and recruited parent volunteers to provide support since November 2009.

McGlynn Elementary & Middle School:  Total = 3 days per week

Librarian – 3 days per week

Note:  The McGlynn Elementary & Middle School shares a library.  There are 1200 students total.  Also, there is a special program designed for 6th graders.  Obtained 6-8 parents from recent solicitation for volunteers.  Does not currently have a library committee.

Roberts Elementary:  Total = 2 days per week

Librarian – 1 day per week

Library Assistant – 1 day per week

Note:  Currently, volunteers are not used at the Roberts.

Thank you for your time and consideration.  We look forward to further review of this important school function.

*** A list of supporters will be presented at the School Committee meeting on Monday, May 3.

CC:  Rich Trotta, Maria D’Orsi, Holly Lannen, Amy Fowke, Dianne Caldwell, Beverly Nelson