Meeting Public Comments

John McWilliams []

I second the comments of Ms. Sims! A school librarian does so much more than story circle with the little ones and book checkout. Part of a school librarians job is to teach research skills, which makes it possible to synthesize information and determine if information is credible, including on the internet. Qualified school librarians at every school in Iowa will lead to a more educated population! The Iowa House needs to put every effort into removing obstacles for Iowas public schools. Lack of funding and bills like this do the opposite.Thank you,John McWilliams

Joan Bessman Taylor [Library educator, parent of 3 schoolage children]

I spent eight years in education for becoming a librarian and then the last 22 years educating others for the profession of librarianship. Prior to my work with libraries, I was a 612 language arts teacher in a rural district. I oppose the addition of the language presented as Division III lines 2728 stating that the position of a teacher librarian shall not require a master's degree. The masters degree is appropriate for the K12 endorsement and should remain an option for those wanting to be or employ a highlyqualified librarian. Currently there are multiple paths for becoming a teacher librarian in Iowa, and the masters degree is part of only one of those paths. Districts seeking highquality educators who serve as educational leaders should be permitted to require the education needed for that leadership. Teaching K12 does require additional specialized knowledge beyond that of teaching solely at the elementary or secondary level. Teacher librarians gain this additional competence through masters training: (1) teaching the full K12 grade span requires additional knowledge of content area curriculum in order to collaborate with teachers across levels, buildings and disciplines; (2) the K12 span also requires additional knowledge of childrens and adolescent development and the literature appropriate for those stages of development; and (3) the responsibility of teaching students throughout their k12 career requires additional knowledge of educational research in order to continuously improve the design and implementation of a comprehensive sequential School Library program as defined in Iowa Administrative Code 281 12.2 (256). In the same way that K12 Reading specialists and school counselors, other areas that are permitted to require a masters degree, serve across the school and across constituencies, K12 teacher librarians are leaders in their districts who serve on committees and perform duties beyond those required of their classroom peers. They deserve full preparation to deliver the program their students and families need. Libraryspecificcredentialing and the professionals who lead K12 library programs are vital to the success of schools in Iowa.

Allison Pease [School]

I took a few years off of teaching to be home with my kids. When I returned, I applied for the librarian position. I had my reading endorsement and a masters degree in educational technology. I figured I might have to take a class or two, but would otherwise have the credentials. I was not pleased to learn that I needed 30 hours of coursework to be certified. However, it was NEEDED! I didnt know what I didnt know. The work of a librarian is different than any other role in schools. My coursework was necessary for me to do my job well. Matter of fact, I wish there were more follow up classes I could take. Selecting materials, coteaching, guiding library paraprofessionals, and guidance teaching library classes are all part of the coursework. Im thankful the requirements were there. It prepared me to be able to do my job well. One of the hardest parts of our job is being the only one in our district doing what we do. Im thankful Im in a district that supports teacher librarians. There is one teacher librarian 512 and one for K4. Even so, our jobs are very different from each other.

Tonia Sandersfeld-Miller []

I oppose this bill. As a certified teacher librarian, I can assure you that I needed the courses taken to achieve my master's degree. I was a 7th grade ELA teacher for 11 years, and I especially needed the courses on research and databases to be able to do my job as a teacher librarian well. Teachers in my building rely on me to be the expert on research skills and to help coteach students about databases and research skills. Many of my master's classmates expressed during our research classes that they did not have this knowledge prior to taking this class. It is also especially important to have highly qualified and trained teacher librarians making book purchases for their schools. Finding books that are appropriate for students' reading levels and interests is a specialized skill that the UNI school library program taught me. I'm able to purchase materials specific to my students' needs, and not rely on subscription services who would send me books that might or might not fit my students' needs. I feel that every school would benefit from having a full time, highly qualified teacher librarian in their school. To remove this requirement would be removing an expert in research skills from our schools, to the detriment of our teachers and students.

Suzette Kragenbrink [Mount Vernon Community Schools]

I have been a Teacher Librarian for the past 28 years. A teacher librarian is not the job of stamping and shelving books or telling students to be quiet as they enter a space. One of our biggest issues my profession deals with is our identity in a school and the contribution a TL can offer to a school system. A TL in 2022 is not the individual you remember from your education. Even over the past 28 years I have adjusted to the needs of my district, teachers and students. I am the person that chose to add digital citizenship to the curriculum that I teach. Recognizing the challenges that phones and other technology have added to a student's life. I am the one that continues to research the information literacy skills that students should use in the classroom in seeking information and in their personal lives when simply listening/reading the news. I am the professional that models technology and helps teachers integrate technology into their instruction and student's projects. I am the professional that uses our district's selection policy (which I also updated) to purchase books and then weeds the collection to keep it relevant. As an education major, I wouldn't have had any experience/exposure during my undergrad education. I am all of these things because of my educational background a Masters from the University of Iowa in Library Science. There are many ways to attain a masters; virtual or in person learning. There are also far more locations than just the two brick and mortar systems in the state of Iowa. When I have talked to fellow teachers about considering getting a masters to be a Teacher Librarian their biggest concern is how often the legislature changes the guidelines that districts have to follow with regard to having a TL on staff. Their concern of taking a job and then the district being able to release them because they can share with a neighboring district and save money. We need to make these positions secure so a 20 something will get their masters and be the professional to provide all of the above. That security starts with proper state funding and keeping guidelines that clearly require a district to have a teacher librarian on staff.

Jocelyn Krueger []

As a parent of four kids, I want to make sure that those educators teaching and taking care of my children in school while I am at work are the most qualified to understand the topics and issues surrounding the education of my children and their classmates. That understanding comes from training in programs such as masters of library science. Lowering standards does not make Iowa schools the best in the country. Instead of eliminating a necessary requirement, help those honored members of our community who become librarians and teachers find training placement and help them to complete their degrees. Maybe let people work while they are earning their graduate degrees, but make enrollment a requirement. I oppose this proposed legislative change.

Katy Kauffman []

Im registering my opposition to this bill. I entered the field of school librarianship after 27 years as a high school English teacher, I thought the transition would be an easy one, and one where I was questioning why I should seek further education, let alone a masters. As I progressed throughout the Masters program and began working as a teacher librarian, I became painfully aware of how little I knew about the impact and the responsibilities a schoolteacher librarian has in the learning community. The teacher librarian wears so many hats: reading advocate, technology integrationist, techsupport, coteacher, instructor, manager of school resources, procurer of reading materials, and manager of an extensive library program. Furthermore, A review of the research indicates that one of the greatest successes for students in reading is having a certified teacher librarian in the building. Removing the current requirements for teacher librarianship will not only be detrimental to the school library program, but the entirety of the school as a whole. Please strike this portion of HSB 705.

Marta Ferguson [Writer, editor, book reviewer and patent of public-school senior]

I oppose the language being added to Division III. There are multiple paths to librarianship in Iowas schools and the path requiring a masters is just one of them and is for those working in the full k12 context. Removing the masters is the first step to doing away with libraryspecific credentialing all together. I believe every district deserves a fully trained librarian especially given the expanding world of information and need to teach digital citizenship.

Jan Smith []

At a time when books are being challenged and parents are upset about content, students and districts need a licensed professional to lead their libraries more than ever. Why would we want someone with less education to make book selections? Why would we want someone with less education to teach students research skills, digital citizenship skills, and the love of reading? A good teacher librarian teaches, administers a sizable library budget, collaborates with colleagues, and serves as the information specialist for the entire school community. The specialized knowledge learned in graduate school assures that these responsibilities are managed with the utmost respect and care. I am opposed to HSB 705. Please leave the Masters credential in place.

Jen Dovre []

I am opposed to the change in this bill that is aimed at reducing the credentials of teacher librarians. I agree with many others who have commented about the value of the coursework and the necessity for someone in the specialized position of teacher librarian to be equipped with the knowledge and resources for the job. It does not serve our students well to place underqualified people in this position, and I believe the proposed change in the language will lead to just that. Please spend time learning about the unique role of the teacher librarian (previous comments provide ample examples), so you might understand why the current requirements are necessary and should not be changed. Thank you.

Amanda Boody []

Bills like this are further deteriorating Iowa's hard won reputation of educational excellence. Instead of building on the tradition of excellence that Iowans want, bills like this gut those traditions. Selling the hard work of generations for a transient illusion of political gain. Every school in Iowa should have a fully trained librarian. It is such a basic and minimal expectation I can only assume that those who are working to degrade the standards don't understand what librarians actually do, what the standards are, or why prudent, thoughtful parents, teachers, librarians and lawmakers of the past understood the value and required them.What is the end game here? How is this building on the successes of the past? What is the road to every child in Iowa getting world class education? It is easy to destroy and hard to build. No one trying to build Iowa for the future would degrade requirements that are necessary as a baseline in today's school, let alone an education system that pretends to be more than minimal. Quit being lazy and destroying for political effect. It will not go well in the future. It will not attract new families to the state, or new businesses. Iowa will stagnate and bills like this are to blame.

Anne Coatar [Teacher Librarian]

Dear Legislators,My name is Anne Coatar and I am a Teacher Librarian in Iowa. The current school year is my 8th year as a teacher. I received my Masters degree in 2019 in School Library Studies from the University of Northern Iowa. I am opposed to HSB 705. The specialized training I received during my studies provided me with the skills necessary to best serve students as a Teacher Librarian. In my position as Teacher Librarian, I select books for the diverse collection we own and spend hours each day working with students to get the right book at the right time into their hands. My training prepared me to deliver skilled instruction in information literacy, technology skills, and literacy. I have a deep understanding of the curriculum and collaborate with teachers to plan and execute lessons to meet the Iowa Core Standards. My Masters degree separates me from my colleagues who chose to pursue the endorsement by only 3 semester hours of study. The only difference is that I completed a graduate thesis research project, and they did not. My graduate thesis explored student learning in a novel unit during the pandemic, all completed during remote learning. Nothing could have prepared me more for the challenges of the past two years than my Master's training at UNI. I do not support the Governors language in SSB 3080 to eliminate the requirement for the Masters Degree. In fact, loopholes already exist in the state to hire librarians without a Masters for positions that should require the degree. This leads me to believe the real intent of the bill is to gradually eliminate the position of Teacher Librarian in our Iowa public schools altogether. I believe the evidence supports me when I state the Governor would like to eliminate Teacher Librarians and replace us with paraeducators and secretaries. Paraeducators and secretaries play a crucial role in the school community, but they do not have the specialized training and experience of a librarian with or without a master's degree. I have deep admiration and respect for my colleagues with and without a Masters degree. We all have the specialized training necessary to carry out the four roles of librarianship. The training needed to get the right books at the right time into young scholars' hands. The problem solving, and communication skills to help families with tech support over the phone during the pandemic. The information literacy skills to teach critical thinking and reading to our students. The understanding of curriculum and how and when to supplement it for our students, and support our teachers. As well as equipt to make informed decisions about what books get into the hands of our young people. In closing, the elimination of a professional degree is an assault on our profession. It devalues librarianship and puts our students, and community at a great disadvantage. Please vote against HSB 705, and leave the language as it currently reads in the Iowa Code. HSB 705 will set a precedent to remove a highly skilled educator from our public schools. Anne Coatar

Abby Mussmann []

I simply cannot wrap my brain around the idea that a successful library program could possibly be led effectively by an under qualified individual. Studies show time and time again that robust library programs have amazing impacts on student learning, and yet we want our children to go without? As we approach troubling times in curriculum development and book challenges, how can a librarian stand for our underrepresented populations without the proper classes and training? Our children deserve more than what we are proposing for them.

Denise Rehmke []

I oppose the legislation proposed in HSB 705 removing the requirement for a Masters degree from the Teacher Librarian endorsement. Professional librarian preparation programs, such as those from the University of Iowa and UNI, each provide the coursework and supervised clinical experiences that are necessary to produce a fully trained, professional librarian, equipped to manage both the teaching/learning role as well as the library administration role inherent in the position. To presume that someone without this specialized education and training could successfully manage a school library program is shortsighted and indicates a narrow, misguided view of what highly qualified Teacher Librarians bring to the educational program of the school.

Katherine Bryden []

I am a parent of two school age children who attend public school in Iowa. I oppose HSB 705, which would decrease the educational standard for school librarians. The school librarian role requires training in K12 pedagogical standards, curriculum design, information technology, and research methods and database use, and the people who fill that job role do need specialized training to assist both students and teachers with accessing and utilizing library resources. We should maintain the requirement for extra Masters level training for the people who are employed in this very important role in the public school system.