Episode 31 (March 2024): Ack! School Libraries Under Attack!

Beth Patin, Dave Lankes & Mike Eisenberg

Description

Ack! School Libraries Under Attack!

What could be less controversial than school libraries? School libraries – dedicated to children and American values. School libraries- keeping school information collections & technology up-to-date and secure. School librarians – seeking to promoting literacy and ensuring that students gain essential information & technology skills. Mom, apple pie, and school libraries, right?

Wrong. School libraries are being challenged across the country with politically-motivated, organized book bans in the thousands along with efforts to demonize libraries and librarians (including the American Library Association). At the same time, we see significant declines in the number of schools that have professional school librarians and libraries. But, school librarians are one of the the only group of educators directly charged with addressing the serious information & technology issues facing children and their parents and teachers; issues like social media use, mis/dis-information, information access & use, AI, and critical information & technology skills. What gives? As Scooby would say, “Ruh roh!!”

In this episode we take a look at the current and future situation of school library programs and school librarians. Beth and Mike both come from a school library background, and Dave has been involved with K-12 education for much of his professional career. Listen in as we seek to better understand what’s going on, why, and what can be done about it.

This episode includes:

• Wazzup?
• AI Watch
• Main Topic
• Awesome Library Thingy

References & Resources

Wazzup?

Computers in Libraries Conference (2024). Information Today https://computersinlibraries.infotoday.com/2024/Default.aspx

Phish (June 12, 2019), “Run Like an Antelope,” Phish musical group performance https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETBSTYHmVUI

“Show at Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis, MO.”

Linhorst, Stan (Jul. 27, 2021). “Al Schnier of moe. on leadership: Build a culture of teamwork with empathy, balance, and value,”  Syracuse.com  https://www.syracuse.com/news/2021/07/al-schnier-of-moe-on-leadership-build-a-culture-of-teamwork-with-empathy-balance-and-values.html

Underground Railroad in New York (accessed 2024) https://www.iloveny.com/things-to-do/path-through-history/underground-railroad/

Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center (2024) https://www.niagarafallsundergroundrailroad.org/

AI Watch:

Seckinger High School, Buford Georgia (accessed 2024) “AI Student Advocacy and Accountability Council, “ https://schools.gcpsk12.org/SeckingerHS

“Seckinger High School “proudly opened its doors on August 3, 2022, distinguishing itself as the nation’s first AI-themed educational institution, committed to cultivating the next generation of technology pioneers and innovators, ensuring students graduate with the skills and knowledge to thrive in a rapidly evolving future.”

Lankes, David (March 14, 2024). “What’s in Store for Libraries with AI? State Libraries Initiative,” Computers in Libraries Conference 2024 https://davidlankes.org/whats-in-store-for-libraries-with-ai-state-libraries-initiative/

Sanders, Nathan; Schneier, Bruce; and Eisen, Norman (March 4, 2024). “How public AI can strengthen democracy,” Brookings Institute, https://www.brookings.edu/articles/how-public-ai-can-strengthen-democracy/

Massachusetts’s Library System (2024) “Chat GPT and Generative Artificial Intelligence.” https://guides.masslibsystem.org/ai/schools
“Curated resources for school librarians, teachers, and administrators to get started with thinking, talking about, and incorporating the technology.”

Kentz, Mike (Feb 9, 2024). “How a Holden Caulfield Chatbot Helped My Students Develop a Literacy,” EdSurge.  https://www.edsurge.com/news/2024-02-09-how-a-holden-caulfield-chatbot-helped-my-students-develop-ai-literacy

Harris, Christopher (February 15, 2023) “Chat GPT and Generative AI for School Librarians,” Genesee Valley BOCES, School Library System, https://guides.masslibsystem.org/ld.php?content_id=71600682

Young, Jeffrey R. (Oct 10, 2023). “How to Help Students Avoid Getting Duped Online—And By AI Chatbots,” EdSurge, https://www.edsurge.com/news/2023-10-10-how-to-help-students-avoid-getting-duped-online-and-by-ai-chatbots

Main Topic: School Libraries Under Attack

Walsh, Dominic Anthony (Aug 2, 2023) “Houston’s plan to convert some school libraries into discipline centers is criticized,” National Public Radio, Morning Edition, KUHF, https://www.npr.org/2023/08/02/1191519700/houstons-plan-to-convert-some-school-libraries

New York City School Library System (2024). The LIBguide for the New York City School Library System, NYC Schools.  https://nycdoe.libguides.com/home

New York State Education Department (2024) “New York State School Library Services,” https://www.nysed.gov/curriculum-instruction/school-library-services

McGhee Marla W and Jansen, Barbara A (2010). The Principal’s Guide to a Powerful Library Media Program: A School Library for the 21st Century, 2nd Edition, ABC-CLIO https://books.google.com/books?id=IFxGJJv3tO0C&printsec=copyright

Abbott Elementary, Season 3, Episode 7: The Librarian https://www.vulture.com/article/abbott-elementary-recap-season-3-episode-7.html

Kletter, Melanie (Jul 23, 2021). “Study Finds Fewer School Librarians in Districts that Need Them the Most,” School Library Journal, https://www.slj.com/story/SLIDE-study-fewer-school-librarians-in-districts-that-need-them-most

American Library Association (March 19, 2020).”School Libraries & Education”, American Library Association, http://www.ala.org/advocacy/school-libraries

Lance, K. C., & Kachel, D. E. (2018). “Why school librarians matter: What years of research tell us,” Phi Delta Kappan, 99(7), 15-20. https://doi.org/10.1177/0031721718767854

PEN America (2023) “PEN America’s Index of School Book Bans (July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023),” spreadsheet. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1a6v7R7pidO7TIwRZTIh9T6c0–QNNVufcUUrDcz2GJM/edit?usp=sharimpathy  

Awesome Library Thingy

“Future of libraries; wildest dreams video,” (March 2024)  Computers in Libraries Conference 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaPw9VDrjwU

“Lidewij Edelkoort,  Trend forecaster, publisher, humanitarian, design educator and exhibition curator; Charlotte Grün. Ontwerper (design) researcher en Creatief Strateeg Studio; Gene Tan, Chief Librarian & Chief Innovation Officer, National Library Board, Singapore; Sandra Hirsh, Associate Dean, Academics College of Professional and Global Education, San Jose State University; Jane Cowell, President Australian Library and Information Association; Nick Poole, Chief Executive of CILIP, UK, David Lankes, Virginia & Charles Bowden Professor of Librarianship, University of Texas at Austin, School of Information

Information School, University of Washington (2024) “Master of Library and Information Science Program,” https://ischool.uw.edu/programs/mlis

Information School, University of Washington (2024) iNative Research Group. https://inative.ischool.uw.edu/ 

Information School, University of Washington (2024). Strategic Initiative: NATIVE NORTH AMERICAN INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE, https://ischool.uw.edu/about/ischool-2018/native-north-american-indigenous-knowledge

Wikipedia contributors. (2024, March 12). “The ABCs of Book Banning.” In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 14:53, March 29, 2024, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_ABCs_of_Book_Banning&oldid=1213303893

KC Boyd (2024). Boss Librarian  http://www.kcboyd.com/about-kc.html

K.C. Boyd (2024). Clubhouse: http://www.kcboyd.com/the-clubhouse.html

Filed under: Dr. Beth Patin, Dr. Dave Lankes, Dr. Mike Eisenberg, Season 4