D.C. School Librarians SAVED!!
We've been working to support the students of D.C. Public Schools by helping to fight for their right to access to their school libraries for nearly two years. I'm so happy to report that two years of advocacy work has paid off.
We've been working to support the students of D.C. Public Schools by helping to fight for their right to access to their school libraries for nearly two years.
I'm so happy to report that two years of advocacy work has paid off.
On Tuesday the City Council voted on a budget amendment that will ensure a school librarian in every school this school year!
This is a huge victory for all the students in D.C. Public Schools who will now have access to their school libraries.
Thanks so hundreds of local school library advocates and shareholders who have been campaigning tirelessly since before COVID.
A monthly donation of just $5-$10 a month helps us continue to support school library campaigns like these.
I want to thank so many of you for being an active partner in the campaign alongside the school librarians. Your outreach to the Chancellor's office, the Mayor, and the City Council affirmed to these officials what the school librarians, Washington Teachers Union, and the State Board of Education have been saying since the start: that school librarians are essential and should not be cut. This budget amendment means that it's time to hire more school librarians - not fire them.
EveryLibrary was able to respond when school library leaders reached out back in January 2020 (in the depths of that first crisis) and we could stay with them as a partner through Tuesday's vote because of our donors. While our petitions activated thousands of supporters they cost real money to put out in the field. In addition, we helped sponsor the Rally in June, the "I Love My School Library" essay contest last spring, and do numerous direct engagements with stakeholders and policymakers over the last 18 months. All of this work is done for free and pro-boo for the school library stakeholders. If you'd like to help us help other school library groups overcome these challenges and thrive I'd invite you to be a donor today.
Every $10 we raise helps us reach 1,000 more people like you with petitions and actions to support libraries.
I want to personally thank and acknowledge a few key leaders in the campaign. First off, KC Boyd is an amazing school library leader who helped bring together her professional community and hold city leadership accountable to the mission to serve their students. The impact that the Washington Teachers Union had in focusing on school librarians cannot be understated. Christopher Stewart, Joe Weedon, and the late Elizabeth Davis were powerful union advocates. Allister Chang and his colleagues on the State Board of Education provided moral clarity and a policy framework rooted in the community. It was a pleasure to listen to their leadership and show up to support their work. Finally, thanks to our partners at Follett who made funding for the SaveSchoolLibrarians.org platform possible.
As wonderful as it is to share about their success in DC, we need to look ahead. to the challenges that are sure to come for school library jobs and school library budgets in districts around the country. EveryLibrary is only ready to provide digital campaign support during a crisis and able to be a long-term partner because of our donors. I'm grateful to the donor network and to you especially today.
John Chrastka
Executive Director
EveryLibrary is a registered