Fighting Job Cuts: One Librarian’s Advice

Unfortunately, school budgets around the country are being cut. And that means that librarians are being let go, and funding for school libraries is being slashed in many school district. But, as she Elissa Malespina discusses in her interview with UpFront, it is possible to push back against these kinds of cuts.

Malesipina is a teacher librarian at Somerville (NJ) Middle School and president of the International Society for Technology in Education Librarians Network. In February, 2016 the South Orange-Maplewood, NJ board of education suggested cutting three librarian position in the district, as well as all library funding. But Malespina spoke up and, after two years of campaigning, managed to secure the funding and all three librarian positions.

Here are her suggestions for school librarians who may be facing similar cuts:

Before cuts are considered…

Advocate for yourself. While self-promotion may not come naturally to many librarians, Malespina says it’s an essential part of the job. Letting others know about the value of your work – through social media, local media, and in-person – means you’re building a network of advocates, as well as demonstrating to decision makers the importance of the work you do.

Pay attention. Be aware of what’s going on in your district. There may be signs that budgetary changes are on the way. Seeing the signs early on gives you more time to rally public support.

Become a budget expert. As Malespina says, “You have to understand the money, so you can question it.” Position and funding cuts are often explained as budget issues. But are they really necessary? You have to have a clear understanding of your district’s budgetary demands to be able to answer that.

When cuts are proposed…

Contact EveryLibrary. EveryLibrary is a non-profit organization that helps school libraries with funding, legislation, referenda, and fighting cuts. Malespina teamed with them to oppose the cuts in her district and claims their help was instrumental to her success.

Communicate effectively. Figure out how people in your community connect and communicate, and make the most of that. Are there local Facebook groups you can join? What about community centers or local media? Whatever the most popular methods of connecting are in your area, make the most of them.

Find a spokesperson or two. Find someone who knows the issues well and can convey them in a way that resonates with those you’re trying to reach. This doesn’t mean you don’t speak up yourself at all. But, as Malespina explains, she would sometimes allow others to take the spotlight “because they could do it in a way that I couldn’t.”

Start with the facts. Have the relevant numbers and statistics ready to go. The facts alone may not be enough to sway opinions, but they’re a necessary part of a persuasive argument. The American Library Association has research and resources that you can take advantage of to find this information.

Find your allies.  Administrators, parents, and educators can all be allies and help you argue for your cause. But perhaps more unexpectedly, some members of the board of education may become allies, as well. Talk with them individually and find out who might be most likely to support your cause.

Apply the pressure. Members of the board of education are politicians, and are accountable to the community. As such, it’s your responsibility to ask them to answer difficult questions about how the community will be impacted by their decisions.

When cuts happen…

Understand the situation and be honest. While many cuts may be unnecessary, some are in fact for the best. Perhaps an employee is underperforming, for example. Make sure you’re fully aware of all sides of the story so that you can accurately determine whether a particular cut is one you want to fight.

Continue to monitor the budget closely. Don’t accept budgetary changes without question. As Malespina explains, “I became very good at questioning consultants,” Malespina says. “I was seeing them come in for $100,000 and $75,000 and I was like, ‘If you have $100,000, why don’t you have a librarian?’”

Focus on long-term solutions. When something notable happens, like a librarian being cut, local parent -teacher organizations and members of the community often step up. But it’s easy to lose momentum once the community moves on from a particular event. Sending out emails, scheduling discussions, and taking additional steps to keep the community engaged in order to reinforce the importance of library funding is critical to long-term success.

Develop a thick skin. As Malespina says, the situation can become tense, and “people will start saying things to try to discredit you.” It’s important not to take it personally, and to be able to reaffirm in your own mind the significance and validity of what you’re doing.

Stay vigilant.  Just as you don’t want the community to lose steam, you don’t want your own momentum to wane, either. Continue putting pressure on the board and administrators. Be aware of every issue that comes up as it arises. Making real progress is the result of a sustained effort.

Use your resources. Remember that schools and libraries around the country are facing similar issues, and there are resources you can utilize. Some of these include:

·         American Association of School Librarians

·         EveryLibrary

·         I Love Libraries

·         Save School Libraries

·         State AASL Affiliates

·         The free webserie “From Advocacy to Activism”

Resources: “It’s Not Futile: Fighting Job Cuts,” by Kara Yorio. UpFront, April 2018.