What is ALA doing about classification of library media specialists?
At the 2006 Midwinter meeting, the ALA Council unanimously passed a resolution regarding the instructional classification of school librarians. The resolution calls for a “coordinated national effort to classify school librarians as instructional staff and to recognize the impact of state-certified school librarians on student achievement.” The resolution specifically calls for the ALA leadership to send letters to governors, congresspersons, and chief state education officers urging them to consider instructional support services in their definition of “in the classroom” spending. NCES and U. S. Education Secretary Margaret Spellings will also receive letters from ALA President Michael Gorman that stress the important relationship between staff classification and funding. Finally, the lobbying arm of ALA will request that NCES issue an interpretation that recognizes the teaching role of school librarians and includes librarian salaries and library resources as essential additional com
