Does the public school nearest to you have a library??

Unfortunately, there are quite a few public schools in America that have underwhelming or non-existent libraries. A recent conversation lead to this post including various programs, organizations, resources and outlets related to literacy and it's correlation to access to libraries.
Please feel free to add comments including other resources that may not be listed.


Projects and Organizations Dedicated to building/re-opening libraries:

West Philadelphia Alliance for Children (WePAC)

WePAC's mission is to promote childhood literacy by engaging volunteers in Philadelphia public schools through re-opening and staffing libraries, academic mentoring, and after-school enrichment. In our vision, every Philadelphia student will be empowered with the literacy skills vital to the success of the child and the prosperity of our community.

Room to Read

Room to Read works in collaboration with governments, organizations and communities to develop literacy skills in developing countries.


Library Build

Founded in December 2009 by Callie Hammond, Library Build is a new nonprofit organization dedicated to ending educational inequities in Philadelphia, PA and in other American cities.

Excerpt from an article written about Library Build in the Philadelphia Social Innovations Journal:

The glaring lack of library resources, and the resulting potential effects on children’s academic achievement, resonated with Hammond. The idea for Library Build was conceived in November 2009. Since then, Hammond, Library Build’s founder and CEO, along with her husband, Jeff, who has signed on as co-founder and COO, have worked quickly and tirelessly to bring her idea to fruition.

Library Build’s mission is to bring books, computers, and librarians into Philadelphia’s public schools. According to Hammond, the inclusion of librarians is critical, as they play a pivotal role in acclimating students to computers and other media, teaching the basics of research, and engendering a holistic approach to reading and learning. She says, “Students need librarians to teach them not only how to use the library, but also how to enjoy it.” Hammond says that the organization will use the Teach for America model, recruiting college graduates with master’s degrees in Library Science to commit to two years of service as full-time librarians in city schools.

Library Build defines a library as providing 12-15 books per student. In addition, Hammond makes the point that it’s important to provide the kinds of books that students are interested in.

Library Build’s model incorporates space renovation and relies on input from students and teachers about the books, computers, and other resources they need. Hammond hopes Library Build will become a national model. The goal in Philadelphia is to start at the elementary school level, targeting those schools that have no library at all.

Complete PSIJ Article

Related Blogs/Publications:

A Librarian’s Guide to Etiquette

Academic Librarian

American Libraries Magazine

Awful Library Books

Bright Ideas

Disruptive Library Technology Jester

Everybody's Libraries

Handheld Librarian

Library Garden

Library Grants

Never Ending Search

Social Networking in Libraries

The Association for Library Service to Children Blog

The Best Of PubLib

The Daring Librarian

The Library History Buff

The 'M' Word - Marketing Libraries

The Merry Librarian

Walt at Random

What I Learned Today

Associations:

American Library Association/Association for Library Service to Children

Public Library Association

Urban Libraries Council

American Association of School Librarians

Librarians for Fairness

International Association of School Librarianship

Government Data:

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Academic library data

HE:EDtweet: What would it take to end us-versus-them? #charter #public

After reading many tweets, updates, posts, and articles about the us-versus-them climate of traditional public school districts and charter schools (around the country) it seemed odd to find an article highlighting the fact that at least nine (9) districts in larger cities have signed agreements with intent to work with local charter schools.

It would seem logical for traditional public school districts and public charter schools to work together but every other comment you read displays one bashing the crap out of the other.

Is it impossible to believe traditional public school districts and public charter schools can work together?

What are some of the barriers keeping collaboration from happening?

Is there nothing to be gained from collaboration?

What happens to the status/quality of education if traditional public school districts and public charter schools (that do not currently work together) cannot learn to partner?

HE:ED Highlight : Define High Quality Teacher.

Parents want to make sure the food they feed their children will nourish and strengthen their bodies. Mothers and Fathers want the clothes their kids wear to fit well and keep their children warm. But what about the lessons they learn?

Are parents as aware about the contents of the education their children receive as they are with the food they eat and the clothes they wear? Parents make everyone that comes into contact with their little ones aware that allergies can cause a huge issue if their child mistakenly eats a peanut or wears clothes washed in a harsh detergent. But, do parents take that same level of care with the "highly qualified teachers" in their children's lives daily?

Parents,
Are the teachers instructing your children in core subjects like math and reading even certified? And if they're not certified, does that mean they're not qualified?

That's a question that Congress has been wrestling with since 2004. However many parents still don't know that some teachers (which may be the ones teaching their children core subjects) are not actually certified and therefore are not actually "highly qualified teachers".

An allowance has been made for uncertified candidates in worthwhile alternative programs (like Teach for America) to teach for up to three years while pursuing certification. Does that make all uncertified teachers unfit to instruct your children?

No.

But, it makes you wonder where the uncertified teachers are teaching...

HE:ED highlight: Teachers say "it's the parents"...but, is it?

After seeing Whitney Tilson's presentation 'A Right Denied' or Davis Guggenheim's documentary 'Waiting for Superman' its easy to become angry and/or depressed about the state of public education in America.

In fact, it seems to be that no matter how you look at public education in america, it's a fail. American students are not competitive internationally (and while other countries show growth american acheivement is stagnant).

Many students are still learning to read when should they should be reading to learn in or after the 4th grade. And these same students don't catch up to "where they should be" by graduation.

Now, teachers will say that it's not the schools that are the problem, "it's the parents". And since parents play a large part in a successful education, that may be partly true.

But, just a thought, if we ask ourselves what American children are actually learning in public school systems, can we say that active, involved parents would make all the difference? Are public school curricula addressing all the needs of american children in large cities?

And for argument's sake, if "it's the parents" than why isn't our President (an active, informed parent himself) sending his children to public school?