[Publib] School agreement

[James Casey]

Tricia:  

 

You certainly have the right idea!  The schools should not be able to
simply assume that public libraries will gladly undertake their
obligation to provide library service to support the curriculum.  There
should be some recognition public library services cost money.

 

Getting the public schools to pony up some money to pay for services
that they have already been receiving without charge may be difficult.
Nor will they be likely to consider providing library services to
support their own curriculum (a school library) when I would guess that
money and space are already scarce within that facility (with kids
eating lunch in the hallways).  They will probably tell you "thanks, but
no thanks" and insist that you continue acting as their school library
without a red cent of compensation.  

 

It could even be more hazardous than you think if your board is not
behind you 100%.  In Ohio back in the 1970s-90s our Pickaway County
District Public Library gave free bookmobile service to all of the k-6
schools within the County (four districts).  Circulation was high, of
course, but the school districts promptly cut back on funding their
school libraries under the pretext that the public library was doing the
job.  In 1979, a director of that public library wanted the Board to
insist that the schools either pay for this service or the stops would
be cut back.  The schools refused.  The director lost her job.  Four of
the seven incumbent library board members were former or current
teachers with those districts.  When I began at that public library in
1984, it was made clear to me from the outset that the schools would
continue to get bookmobile service without charge.  

 

Tread carefully.

 

James B. Casey --- My own views.

Director - Oak Lawn Public Library

ALA Council Member

 

 

 

From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Patricia Gould
Sent: Monday, November 19, 2007 1:21 PM
To: publib at webjunction.org
Subject: [Publib] School agreement

 

We're a small public library in Florida. We've been hosting visits from
a school that's nearby for the past few years. This school is a general
school for 1st-8th grade. It's a sort of magnet school for students
interested in ballet and dance. While this school gets funding support
and other support from the county school district, it has no library and
no bus service. It began as a charter school about 5 years ago, but has
since developed beyond that status.

 

Because the classes can walk to us, we have become their library. We've
had 15 scheduled visits from them since school began in late August.
They are permitted to check out books, use the computers, etc. We also
provide research assistance, library instruction, story times, etc.
Because the visits are limited to about once per month per class, they
get an extended checkout period. This takes our items out of circulation
to our regular patrons. Also, a good number of these students' families
live and pay taxes outside of our county. The school has already
outgrown its space so a library is probably not a possibility unless
they move. The children already eat their lunches in the hallway. The
administrator is part-time at the school and part-time in the district
office.

 

We're considering addressing the school board on the facts that: a. the
children don't have a library onsite and b. the public library's
resources are being used by the school to support the curriculum at no
cost to the school district. Our materials budget is simply not adequate
to support the school and our walk-in patrons.

 

Does anyone out there work with a school on a contract basis to provide
library service? Or, is there any other kind of formal or informal
arrangements that can be made to compensate the library's budget for use
by a school with no library? 

 

Tricia Gould                    

Director

Fort Walton Beach Public Library

850-833-9594, Ext. 222

Fax: 850-833-9659

Please Note: Florida has a very broad public records law. Most written
communications to or from City of Fort Walton Beach officials are public
records available to the public and media upon request. Your e-mail
address and communications may therefore be subject to public
disclosure.

 

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