Submitted by Ginny Frank, Chair

October 2005

Activities and Accomplishments:

 

November 11, 2004 - WVLA Fall Conference at Stonewall Resort   The School Library Division hosted an information session for the Content Standards and Objectives currently being drafted by the Division.  Deborah Harki of the West Virginia Department of Education partnered with the CSO Taskforce members to update an estimated thirty interested School Library Media Specialists on the status of the project.

 

January 15, 2005 - Division meeting - Braxton Co. High School -Flatwoods.  Discussion of legislative actions and future events.

 

March 15, 2005 - Library Legislative Day - The school division hosted an informational booth manned by Ginny Frank and Pat Ramsburg.

 

April 8, 2005 - Division Meeting - during Spring Fling - discussion of legislative issues, new statewide listserv, and CSO's.

 

April- The WV State Legislature passed HCR 63 Requesting the Department of Education to create a position in the Department to coordinate, oversee and advocate for public school libraries.

 

July - The WVDE appoints Julia Benincosa, WVDE Office of Technology, to become the library media contact, along with all of her other duties.

 

July 20, 2005 - The third annual Summer Refresher Workshop for School Library Media Specialists was held at Mineral Wells Elementary School.  Approximately 35 school library media specialists attended.

 

Other Activities:

 

1.      State-wide listserv for School Library Media Specialists

The WVDE developed a state-wide listserv for all school library media specialists.  It currently has approximately 357 members.

 

2.      Library Media CSO's

The 9 member committee, developing Library Media Content Standards and Objectives (CSO's) for WV schools, met approximately 6 times from November, 2004 through June, 2005.  The final draft is scheduled to be presented to the WV State Board of Education at their October 12 meeting in Charleston.  The committee worked under the direction of Debbie Harki, WVDE Coordinator - Foreign Language.

 

Recommendations:

 

1. The Division pursues the progress made with the Legislature by encouraging the legislature to fund a separate position in the WVDE to coordinate school library media programs and specialists.
2. The Division designates a new host server for the Division's web page and continues to promote issues and activities specifically related to School Libraries through it, our newsletter, and our listserv. 
3. The Division continues recruitment to WVLA's School Division, as well as to our national level affiliate, the American Association of School Librarians, so as to strengthen our voice concerning school library issues at both state and national levels.