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ERIC Number: EJ809946
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2008-Sep
Pages: 6
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0362-8930
EISSN: N/A
Three Spokane Moms Save Their School Libraries
Whelan, Debra Lau
School Library Journal, v54 n9 p36-41 Sep 2008
In this article, the author reports on how three women saved their school libraries and created an advocacy model for all. The dynamic trio: Lisa Layera Brunkan, the great researcher with exceptional people skills, Susan McBurney, the master organizer with a Ph.D. in linguistics, and Denette Hill, the numbers lady with fantastic business acumen, from Spokane, Washington, began their campaign for funding for school libraries and their fight against any further cuts to librarians by blasting emails to everyone they knew and launching an online petition. Although their efforts to fight against cuts to librarians were rejected by the school board, the three moms expanded their mission and assembled a diverse coalition called the Washington Coalition for School Libraries & Information Technology. They enlisted the help of the Washington Library Media Association to spread the word, posted on Craigslist.org community boards, and reached out to various media outlets. Soon after, they unveiled one of their most powerful tools: a comprehensive Web site (www.fundourfuturewashington.org), complete with a blog, research, testimonials, and ways to support the cause. What keeps them going is the motivation that stemmed from the discovery that this issue was actually a statewide problem: other school districts across Washington were slashing media specialists' positions and hours. The sense of battling unfairness was the glue that held them together, and a major reason why their campaign avoided the blame game.
Reed Business Information. 360 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10010. Tel: 646-746-6759; Fax: 646-746-6689; e-mail: slj@reedbusiness.com; Web site: http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Elementary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Washington
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A