Michigan Association for Media in Education
1407 Rensen St
Lansing, MI 48910
May 26, 2020
Ypsilanti Community Schools
1885 PACKARD RD
YPSILANTI, MI 481971846
Dear Superintendent of Ypsilanti Community Schools,
As you begin to put together your plans for next year, please consider including your library media specialist (school librarian) in your planning process. The Michigan Association for Media in Education (MAME) was part of the Michigan Department of Education’s Learning at a Distance Task Force and we remain ready to support student learning in our state. The below infographic illustrates the multiple ways that library media specialists can help you to support your school community as we move forward.
Based on a survey of Michigan Association for Media in Education members, here are some of the ways library media specialists have kept students connected and learning in recent months:
- Delivering instruction through a variety of platforms to reach all students
- Promoting reading in multiple ways to keep students engaged and learning
- Providing digital citizenship lessons and tips for students and families (aligned with the MITECS)Meeting with library clubs virtually to stay connected with students
- Holding ‘office hours’ to support both staff and students
- Curating and providing access to eBook collections and other learning resources
- Providing resources, lessons, and activities to support student and community well-being and social-emotional learning
- Collaborating with public libraries to expand access for students
- Leading and supporting integration of innovative technologies
- Providing professional development to teachers on distance learning technology tools
- Assisting administrators, curriculum specialists, teachers, and others with specific resources as needed Updating their library websites to provide information and resources to their communities
- Answering copyright questions and providing copyright guidance
- Advocating for taking into account equity and privacy issues in their schools and communities
- And more!
Your library media specialist is a valuable member of your educational team, and their expertise in varying learning needs and support to teachers and students alike make them an exceptional addition to your committees that are planning for next year. If you do not have a library media specialist in your district, reach out to MAME for support on resources or, if possible, consider making it a priority to hire a library media specialist. The Michigan Department of Education Effective School Library Toolkit for Administrators has information that will support you: bit.ly/slibtoolkit and the American Association of School Librarians provides a job description and interview question matrix
In addition, based on the information provided in the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) document on Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Funds, some of the ESSER funds may be used toward the purchase of school library resources such as additional eBooks, audiobooks, or other library digital services or tools to support students and your school community; for replacement of library books lost during COVID-19; or for maintaining school library staff during 2020-2021.
Finally, we would also like to share this video created by the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) that highlights administrators' view of the importance of their school libraries: bit.ly/AASLadminvid.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Cat Kerns, MAME President, Library Media Specialist - Saginaw Township Community Schools ckerns@mimame.org
Kathy Lester, MAME Advocacy Chair, Library Media Specialist - Plymouth Canton Community Schools kathyL@mimame.org
Link to pdf version of this infographic: bit.ly/MIslroadmap
Kathy Lester, MLIS, MA
Advocacy Chair, Past-President 2014
Michigan Association for Media in Education (MAME)
Region 3 Director
American Association of School Librarians (AASL)
School Library Media Specialist / Technology Coach
SL21 Model Library, 2017-2018
SL21 Exemplary Ranking - Michigan School Libraries for the 21st Century 2019-2022
East Middle School, Plymouth-Canton Schools
ISTE Making IT Happen Award Winner
2017 MAME Michigan School Library Program of the Year
2012 State Librarian's Excellence Award Winner
kathyL@mimame.org
twitter: @LibraryL
810.333.5873
