e Texas
Association of School Librarians (TASL) resulted in the inclusion of a statement
on library standards in the final bill. SB 1 went into effect on May 30,
1995, and my journey was about to begin.
The 1,000-Mile Journey to School Library Standards:
A Step-by-Step Account
Jeanette Larson
"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." Little did I know how true this ancient adage would prove to be as I embarked on a project to develop new standards for school libraries in Texas.
The journey came as a surprise. As the manager of continuing education and
consulting services at the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC),
I was vaguely aware of legislation and issues concerning school librarians.
Since the Texas Education Agency (TEA) provided most of the state-level services
for school librarians, I had not closely monitored the issues. During the
74th Legislature, a major issue facing school librarians was the revision
of the Texas Education Code. At the Texas Library Association conference
in Dallas, I began to hear bits and pieces of information that indicated
something was happening with school libraries that might involve the Texas
State Library. The House and Senate were rewriting the Texas Education Code,
but neither version included any language regarding school library services.
Last minute efforts by TLA and
the Texas
Association of School Librarians (TASL) resulted in the inclusion of a statement
on library standards in the final bill. SB 1 went into effect on May 30,
1995, and my journey was about to begin.
Section 33.021 of SB 1 states "The Texas State Library and Archives Commission, in consultation with the State Board of Education, shall adopt standards for school library services. A school district shall consider the standards in developing, implementing, or expanding library services." Although the TSLAC had not actively sought this action, we took our responsibility very seriously and began planning how to fulfill our obligation to school librarians. Less than two weeks later, Edward Seidenberg, director of the Library Development Division, addressed the Texas Association of School Library Administrators (TASLA) who, of course, were very eager to know how we would handle the mandate.
Mr. Seidenberg explained that the legislation had to be interpreted and that Robert S. Martin, who would assume his new position as state librarian later in the month, would provide direction on how to proceed. Since the TSLAC did not receive any additional staff to carry out this new mandate, Dr. Martin asked me to head up the project to develop new standards. My work with youth services in public and school libraries offered some background for understanding of the issues and needs related to school library services.
TASL had already begun to form a committee to advise the Texas State Library. TLA President Barbara Gubbin, recognizing the importance of having the full association behind these standards, made the TASL group an ad hoc TLA committee. Headed by Mary Lankford, director of library services for Irving ISD, the committee’s charge was to represent the interests of school librarians in the development of standards. The group of 15 members, plus various liaisons and advisors, was also charged with researching standards in other states and other educational organizations.
Beginning on July 31, 1995, the TLA committee met as a group five times for day-long meetings. Subcommittees based on geographic proximity divided up the work and met on numerous other occasions. Standards from other states were examined and analyzed; relevant library research was read and studied prior to developing recommendations to the Texas State Library.
With the Texas Library Association ad hoc committee doing its work, Dr. Martin determined that the Texas State Library would also benefit from the input provided by an advisory committee that represented a broad base of stakeholders from the education community. School librarians were invited to recommend school administrators, classroom teachers, public librarians, community leaders, parents, and other interested persons they knew to be strong supporters of school library programs. The committee distributed an informational press release inviting comment and input. We received more than 50 nominations, including some from education organizations such as the Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE). As nominations were examined, attention was paid to geographic distribution and for balanced representation of schools and districts of various sizes. Seventeen people accepted invitations to serve on the committee, including Sharon Carr, library media coordinator, El Paso ISD, who would represent the Texas Library Association ad hoc committee. Dr. Martin invited Julie Todaro, head librarian, Austin Community College, Rio Grande Campus, to serve as committee chair.
Michael Medearis, representing parents, agreed to serve as vice-chair. Among the committee membership were Bill Moore, superintendent, Muleshoe ISD; Shari Emmons, first grade teacher in the Birdville ISD and president of ATPE; Thomas Petray, principal, Walzem Elementary School; and Chester Toothman, a former Eanes ISD School Board member. Gloria McClanahan served as TEA’s liaison, and Elizabeth Crabb monitored the committee’s work for the Texas Library Association.
While the TLA ad hoc committee continued to refine its recommendations for standards, the TSLAC advisory committee began meeting in February 1996. The group began its work with an overview of school library standards and the history of national standards presented by Keith Lance, director of Library Research Service at the Colorado Department of Education. The group also examined standards from other states recommended by the TLA committee and began to discuss their preferences as regarded content, format, and style. All agreed that the model preferred by the TLA ad hoc committee (based on a standards from the Kentucky Department of Education) offered a good structure for organizing input from the general community.
In March 1996, I began the first of 30 open meetings around the state soliciting input on standards and providing a forum for addressing concerns about the Texas State Library, school libraries, and the standards. We committed to hold at least one meeting in each of the 20 Education Service Center (ESC) regions but would add others where interest warranted. Local hosts, which included school districts, local campuses, ESCs, universities, and public libraries, determined the best dates, times, and locations for their area. Between March 5 and June 10, 1996, more than 1,000 people, including teachers, parents, school administrators, library aides, and librarians attended these meetings. The meetings took me on a journey of several thousand miles criss-crossing Texas several times by automobile and airplane. While most of the meetings were in larger cities such as Fort Worth and Richardson, many were in smaller communities such as Seymour, Victoria, and Kilgore. At each meeting, participants received copies of the legislation, our timeline, the TLA committee’s paradigm and recommended changes, and a form for comment. Comments from each meeting were recorded and transcribed and copies distributed to the committee. Although speakers were not required to identify themselves, they were asked to indicate the size and general characteristics of their school or district. Meetings were advertised on Internet listservs, through direct mailings to district superintendents, and via flyers sent to school library administrators and ESCs. Thousands of flyers blanketed the state in hopes of reaching the widest possible audience and encouraging maximum input and participation. At each meeting, additional copies of the forms for submitting input were provided for colleagues and others who could not attend the meeting. Listservs and TSLAC and Texas Library Association publications were also used to solicit input.
Comments, suggestions, and concerns received through the input process were used to refine, revise, and rework the recommendations made by the Texas Library Association ad hoc committee. Several major trends emerged from the comments, along with a vast array of less frequently mentioned concerns. The standards had to support the need for appropriate staffing, both professional and para-professional; funds had to be adequate to cover increasing costs of books and traditional materials, technology, and the added demands of special programs; more resources were necessary to support increased information needs; and library instruction and use of resources had to be tied to the curriculum and planned in partnership with classroom teachers.
A first draft was developed and distributed for a 60-day comment period in August 1996. In the input phase, interested persons were asked to offer suggestions and concerns. Now they were able to respond to how well their thoughts had been incorporated into standards. Everyone who requested a copy at the open meetings was sent either a paper or electronic copy. Copies were also made available through the Texas State Library and Archives Commission web site and at district meetings and other events.
Information and copies of the standards were even distributed at state and regional conferences for school boards, elementary and secondary principals, superintendents, and educators. Based upon comments and reaction, a work team then refined the draft, and the final steps for adoption began.
On February 6, 1997, Dr. Martin and I presented the standards to the Texas State Board of Education’s (SBOE) Committee on Instruction. The presentation served as part of the agency mandate to set standards in consultation with the SBOE. Although no action was required on the part of the SBOE, the standards were favorably received by the committee. On April 1, 1997, the standards were published in the Texas Register and a 30-day period for official comment began. Following this final comment period, the standards were formally adopted by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission at their May 19 meeting and became part of the Texas Administrative Code.
In a way, adoption by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission is the final step in my journey; but in other ways it is only the halfway point. The standards will be sent to the SBOE with a request for positive action supporting them. Commissioner of Education Mike Moses has agreed to send a copy of the standards to every superintendent with a memo encouraging implementation. The TSLAC will continue to work, with the aid of organizations such as TASL and TASLA, to develop supporting materials to assist schools in evaluating their programs, help librarians plan for library improvements and growth, and advocate needed changes. Legislation was introduced this session that would have appropriated funds for school library materials. Although it did not pass, the Texas Library Association will continue to monitor the need for other legislation to support libraries. One process ends, while others are just beginning.
Questions have been raised throughout this process about the effectiveness of standards that have not been mandated. Will districts and campuses consider the standards in developing, implementing, or expanding their library services if they are not forced to comply? Regardless of our own thoughts on this, we have to play with the rules the Legislature gave us. We saw standards for Texas as an overlay for local districts and schools to determine what would work best for their students. As such, much more responsibility rests with local citizens, parents, teachers, administrators, and librarians to shape the level of library service they desire and can fund. Few district administrators truly strive to have poor library service; however, many may not recognize the components of quality library service and may not understand the principles, capabilities, and jargon of modern library science. Many administrators and board members view libraries under the old paradigm. School librarians, with assistance from Texas State Library and Archives Commission and TEA, must proselytize, educate, and advocate for libraries that will meet the needs of students in the 21st Century. Several librarians have reported success, especially when parents were involved in the long-range planning process, in setting timelines for funding updated collections, adding necessary staff, and changing library use patterns that are no longer relevant to today’s students.
Will changes come easily? Probably not. But faced with a choice between no standards (as might have occurred but for a few dedicated people) or flexible standards that challenge schools to examine their library’s services, I believe that the path taken continues to lead us to many dedicated people and exciting places. I hope you will join me as the journey continues!
(See Also, The School Library Standards)