History of School Library Programs in Massachusetts

Kathy Lowe is the Executive Director of MSLA
​and a 2018 recipient of the Peggy Hallisey Lifetime Achievement award.

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My association with our professional organization goes back to my early years as a school library media specialist in the 1980s, when I joined MAEM* for the same reason that colleagues join MSLA today – to connect with others doing the same job for ideas, support, and professional growth. Many things have changed in our profession since then and continue to do so at an ever-increasing rate, but this is one of the things that has remained constant since the inception of this organization – whatever its name over the years and whatever we’ve called ourselves at the time. And our core belief – that all students deserve equal access to a strong school library program overseen by a professional school librarian – continues to be the foundation of our mission and vision for school library programs in Massachusetts. As we start this important year of advocacy for our students and their libraries, I thought it might be helpful to share the history of our organization. 

ASSOCIATION NAMES

• 1960s:  MSLA - Massachusetts School Library Association (Exact date of inception is unknown)

• 1975:  MAECT - Massachusetts Association for Educational Communications and Technology
• 1983:  *MAEM - Massachusetts Association for Educational Media
• 1992:  MSLMA – Massachusetts School Library Media Association
• 2006:   MSLA – Massachusetts School Library Association

1960s

​OVERSIGHT

• Department of Education, Division of Curriculum and Instruction
• Bureau of Library Extension represents public and school libraries

FUNDING

• Local school budget
• 1960 National Defense Act, federal money administered by the state
• Some funds targeted for libraries to improve literacy

TITLE/CERTIFICATION

• School Librarian with emphasis on print, cataloging, facility management, reading enjoyment
• School administrators often transfer teachers, who are not school library certified, from the classroom to the library.

TRENDS

• Collection development focuses on print resources
• Librarian teaches library skills in isolation from the curriculum

1970s

OVERSIGHT

• Board of Library Commissioners leaves the Department of Education. Bureau of Library Extension is phased out.
• School libraries remain under the Department of Education but lose any significant representation.
• Bureau of Library Extension staff moves to MBLC or to MET (Massachusetts Educational Television, a new Bureau created by the Department of Education).
• MET staff trains librarians and audiovisual directors in the use of technology and establishes the educational television network in the state.
• State and federal funding to school libraries is administered by the MBLC.
• Massachusetts School Library Association becomes the state voice for school libraries.
• Massachusetts Audio-Visual Association becomes the state voice for educational technologies.

FUNDING

• Local school budget
• ESEA TITLE II federal funds are for school libraries and distributed on a per pupil formula. Monies are used to purchase print and non-print materials or equipment.

TITLE/CERTIFICATION

• School Librarian with either elementary or high school level certification
• Technology and non-print materials become a part of the certification process
• Audio-Visual Specialist focuses on technology. (Many classroom teachers assume this position.)

TRENDS

• Collection includes non-print materials, technology, and educational television
• Roles of librarian and audio-visual specialist often conflict.
• Traditional role of librarian begins to change with the introduction of educational technologies in the library media program.

1980s

OVERSIGHT

• Department. of Education with no representation
• State associations merge in late 1970s and form MAEM (Massachusetts Association of Educational Media)

FUNDING

• Proposition 2 ½ in 1981 drastically reduces local school budgets and greatly reduces or eliminates budgets and staff, especially at the elementary level.
• EEO (Equal Educational Opportunity) and Chapter II Block Grants, state funds, can be used for and by libraries.

TITLE/CERTIFICATION

• Unified Library Media Specialist focusing on print, nonprint, educational technologies, curriculum development.
• Separate library and audiovisual positions still exist due to tenure and seniority.
• Focus on library media specialist as a teacher, instructional consultant, program manager, information specialist.

TRENDS

• ​Quality of collections deteriorate and many elementary libraries close or share staff.
• ​School libraries become library media centers.
• A library media center is necessary for high school accreditation by NEASC.
• The library media program integrates research/information skills into the curriculum.
• Technology is used as a tool to improve instruction, enhance the curriculum, and teach students lifelong learning skills.
• Library catalogues are automated and telecommunications are incorporated into programs.
• MAEM develops Massachusetts State Library Media Standards.

1990s

OVERSIGHT

• Secretary of Education vs. Department of Education.
• MAEM changes its name to Massachusetts School Library Media Association (MSLMA) to be consistent with state changes in certification, national trends and for name recognition.

FUNDING

• In some districts, budget overrides restore library programs, funding and staff.
• Budget problems continue, more libraries close and/or lose funding and staff.

TITLE/CERTIFICATION

• School Library Media Specialist
• Teacher and library certification are both required

TRENDS

• National Educational Goals VISION 2000
• INFORMATION POWER/Long Distance Learning/Internet/Technologies.
• White House Conference/Omnibus Bill
• MBLC King Study and MSLMA Survey shed light on status of school libraries in Massachusetts
• Communication and cooperation between MLA and MSLA
• MBLC Strategic Planning Committee offers hope for the future of all libraries in Massachusetts, requires certified school librarian for membership in library regions
• 1993 Massachusetts Education Reform Act does not mention school libraries

2000s

OVERSIGHT

• Department of Education with no representation
• MSLMA changes its name to Massachusetts School Library Association (MSLA) to be consistent with national trends and for name recognition.
• Doris Smith becomes MSLA’s first Executive Director in 2003. Kathy Lowe takes over that position in 2007.

FUNDING

• Local school budget. Budget problems continue, school librarians replaced by technology specialists or paraprofessionals, especially at the elementary level as many professionals reach retirement age

TITLE/CERTIFICATION

• Library Teacher, Teacher Librarian, School Librarian, Library Media Specialist
• Master’s degree. Requirement dropped for additional certification as a classroom teacher.

TRENDS

• Partnership for 21st Century Skills
• No Child Left Behind
• MCAS testing
• School Libraries Work! (Scholastic Study linking student achievement to strong school library programs)
• MSLA Standards for School Library Media programs and Model School Library Rubrics (2003)
• Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks (information literacy skills integrated with ELA Framework)
• AASL Standards for the 21st Century Learner and Empowering Learners: Guidelines for School Library Media programs (2007, 2009)
• MSLA Recommended PreK-12 Information Literacy Standards (aligned with AASL Standards and Massachusetts Technology Standards) (2009)
• AASL adopts School Librarian as official job title
• Increased MSLA collaboration with MLA and MBLC especially concerning legislative efforts
• MSLA emphasis on advocacy

2010s

OVERSIGHT

• Department of Elementary & Secondary Education with no representation

FUNDING

• Local school budget. Cuts in funding and positions decline slightly, professionals begin to be rehired in some schools.

TITLE/CERTIFICATION

• Library Teacher, Teacher Librarian, School Librarian, Library Media Specialist
• Master’s degree

TRENDS

• Race to the Top
• Common Core State Standards
• Six Massachusetts library regions consolidated into one Massachusetts Library System which provides professional development, statewide database access (with MBLC), and other resource sharing
• MSLA Information Literacy Standards (aligned with AASL Standards and Massachusetts Technology Standards)
• School libraries become Learning Commons
• Shortage of certified school librarians becomes apparent as districts note a lack of qualified candidates

20-teens
​
OVERSIGHT

• Department of Elementary & Secondary Education with no representation

FUNDING

• Local school budget

TITLE/CERTIFICATION

• Library Teacher, Teacher Librarian, School Librarian, Library Media Specialist, Library/Technology Specialist.
• Master’s degree

TRENDS

• eBooks
• EdCamps/Unconferences
• Future Ready
• School libraries incorporate MakerSpaces
• Digital Learning
• Social Media
• MSLA Forum goes digital (2013)
• MSLA bill passed to form Special Legislative Committee on School Library Services in Massachusetts (2014)
• MSLA authors Implementation Support for School Librarians – a resource to support DESE model evaluation rubric system
• Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
• Media Literacy (“Fake News”)
• Diversity/Equity
• MSLA and MassCUE team up for Better Together workshops that highlight collaboration between school librarians, technology specialists and classroom teachers
• National School Library Standards for Learners, School Librarians, and School Libraries (AASL 2018)
• The Massachusetts School Library Study: Equity and Access for Students in the Commonwealth, published March 2018, highlights the lack of equity in access to good school library programs across the state.
• Shortage of credentialed school librarians becomes more apparent as districts begin to restore professionals in their school libraries.
• School librarians begin to be recognized for their expertise in teaching students and teachers to safely and intelligently us new technologies, online resources and social media.
• MSLA focuses its energy and resources on the implementation of recommendations from the Massachusetts School Library Study and hires Gregory Pronevitz as Communications Specialist to guide the implementation initiative.​

In her introduction to the 2012 version of this report, incoming president Judi Paradis noted trends since the organization’s inception that still hold true today:

• “From an early date, school library programs have encompassed both print and nonprint resources – we have always been about information access and delivery and we’ve always been at the forefront of using current technology in education.
• Library programs often are without a champion. As local, state and federal budgets and governance of schools and libraries have changed over time, we’ve often been hit hard. Librarians have had to fight for our programs for decades, and we’re still here!
• Data is on our side as we’ve proven consistently over the past 15 [now 20+] years that what we do matters to student learning and achievement. The amount of data we’ve collected is impressive and difficult to refute.
• AASL, MSLA and the Massachusetts Library System have been leaders in setting standards for student learning in libraries as new initiatives come along.”

LEADERSHIP

Presidents
Carrie Tucker: 2017-present
Anita Cellucci: 2015-17
Judi Paradis: 2013-15
Valerie Diggs: 2011-13
Gerri Fegan: 2009-11
Sandy Kelly: 2007-09
Kathy Lowe: 2005-07
Ann Perham: 2003-05
Dorothy McQuillan: 2001-03
Joan Gallagher: 1999-01
Doris Smith: 1998-99
Joe Angelo: 1997-98
Peggy Hallisey: 1996-97
Rick Paula: 1995-96
Barbara Selvitella: 1992-93
Donna Guerin: 1986
Executive Directors:
Kathy Lowe: 2007-present
Doris Smith: 2003-2007

Communications Specialist:
Gregory Pronevitz: 2018-

It has been a pleasure to observe the evolution and achievements of this organization and the blossoming of new generations of leaders through my nearly 30 years of involvement in MSLA (and MAEM and MSLMA). It is gratifying to know that MSLA will continue its tradition of informed and innovative leadership and will persevere in its advocacy efforts until all students in Massachusetts have equal access to strong school library programs.

Updated in 2018 by MSLA Executive Director Kathy Lowe
​from information compiled by past-presidents Donna Guerin in 1992 and Ann Perham in 2012.