Michelle Glatt, Chiddix and Evans Junior High Schools
Statement of Concern
The mission of the Illinois Library Association is “Leadership, advocacy, partnership, and learning for the benefit of Illinois libraries.” In turn, Illinois libraries provide a wide range of community, literacy, and educational benefits to the residents of Illinois. School libraries are an important piece of the puzzle in providing access to information, reading materials, and instruction to our youngest state residents. In fact, there are many children whose main (or even sole) point of library access is their school library. However, there are also children who lack access to either a school library, a certified school librarian, or both.
Decades of research by Keith Curry Lance and others has found that the presence of a school librarian impacts academic achievement and contributes to social emotional learning and growth. Inspired by Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop’s concept of windows, mirrors, and sliding glass doors, school librarians develop of diverse collections that allow students to see themselves and each other in books and help them develop empathy and feel belonging and a sense of place in the world. Unfortunately, the recent School Library Advocacy Through Education (SLATE) project from RAILS has indicated that Illinois public schools are falling short in providing library services to children. The SLATE data dashboard illuminates the state of our school libraries in terms of budgeting per student and the staffing of certified school librarians and paraprofessionals in comparison with ISBE’s evidence-based funding formula. To sum up, we have amazing school librarians and librarians providing essential services to some, but not all of the children in Illinois. As a school librarian for over 25 years, I have experienced first-hand the negative effects that the reduction of budget and personnel has on students, staff, and the library program, and I am currently advocating for the restoration of two certified positions in my school district.
The time is now for taking school library advocacy to the next level. Current Illinois leaders Governor J.B. Pritzker and Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias have already helped to enact the Illinois Comprehensive Literacy Plan (Public Act 103-0402), to amend the Illinois Library Systems Act to protect the freedom to read (HB2789), to allocate funding for long-needed and overdue statewide databases, and more. On the horizon is the call for school libraries staffed with certified school librarians in every public school in Illinois.
A school librarian for every school is a lofty goal, but one that I think can be achieved with ILA’s leadership, state-level advocacy, and partnership with AISLE, RAILS, IHLS, CPL, ISBE, Illinois universities, and other stakeholders. As I approach my 30th year as a school librarian, I am eager to join the ILA Board to work toward making this dream a reality.
Experience
Evans Junior High School, McLean County Unit 5
IMC Specialist/School Librarian, 2014 – present
Chiddix Junior High School, McLean County Unit 5
IMC Specialist/School Librarian, 1996 – present
Oak Lawn Public Library
Youth Services Librarian, 1993 - 1996
Education
MSLIS, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1993
BA in English Education, Illinois State University, 1992
Professional Memberships and Activities
Illinois Library Association, Member
Illinois Youth Services Institute presenter, 2019
Association of Illinois School Library Educators (AISLE), formerly ISLMA
Illinois School Librarian of the Year Award, 2016
Executive Board Treasurer, 2020 - 2022
Rebecca Caudill Liaison to AISLE Board, 2017 – present
Conference Publicity Committee: 2024, 2022, 2019
MILE Chapter Secretary/Treasurer
Chapters Task Force
New Name Task Force
Rebecca Caudill Young Readers’ Book Award
President, Board of Directors, 2017 – present
Steering Committee, 2014 - 2017
Evaluators Committee, 2009 - 2013
Illinois Reading Council
MID-State Reading Council Board, Member, 2017 – present
Rebecca Caudill Liaison, 2014 - 2022
Library Book Selection Service
Consultant, 2000 - 2005
iREAD Summer Reading Programs
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