Teacher-Librarian Division

The SKILLs Act:

* Requires school districts, to the extent feasible, to ensure that every school within the district employs at least one state-certified school library media specialist in each school library;
* Defines state-certified school library media specialists as those who have a bachelor's degree and have obtained full state certification as a school library media specialist or passed the state teacher licensing examination, with state certification in library media in such state;
* Establishes as a state goal that there be at least one highly qualified school library media specialist in every public school no later than the beginning of the 2010-2011 school year;
* Broadens the focus of training, professional development, and recruitment activities to include school library media specialists;
* Ensures that funds will serve elementary, middle, and high school students; and
* Requires books and materials to be appropriate for and engage the interest of students in all grade levels and students with special learning needs, including English language learners.

These bills are part of the revision of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001.

TLD is organizing an advocacy campaign to make phone calls and write letters to urge senators to co-sponsor S. 1699 and representatives to co-sponsor H.R. 2864. (Note: It is important to ask your representatives not only to support this legislation but to go the extra step and to show their support by signing onto these bills.) In addition to contacting your own family, friends, colleagues, parents, and students, you can volunteer to organize your professional group of teacher-librarians in order to maximize your impact!

Here are some important links:

Direct Link to S. 1699: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:SN01699

Direct Link to H.R. 2864: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:HR02864

Information from ALA about the SKILLs Act:
http://www.ala.org/ala/aasl/aaslissues/SKILLS_Act.cfm

SKILLs Act Talking Points:
http://www.ala.org/ala/aasl/aaslissues/SKILLs_Act_TP.cfm

To find your representatives:
http://www.house.gov

To find your senators:
http://www.senate.gov

In order to help your advocates, we have provided these sample letters that they can adapt and use as phone call scripts, letters, or emails. In addition, we have provided you with a sample letter to the editor and an op-ed piece. All of these are downloadable Word documents.

Letter from Student

Letter from Parent or Grandparent

Letter from a Classroom Teacher

Letter from a Principal or Other School Administrator

Letter from a School Board Member

Letter from a Public Librarian

Letter from an Academic Librarian

Letter from a Book Publisher or Library Resource Provider

Letter to the Editor

Op-Ed Piece (coming soon)