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Elementary library staff urge board to fix workloads and pay amid cuts
Summary
Multiple elementary library media assistants told the Salem-Keizer board they are overburdened with Chromebook support, supervision and library tasks after staff reductions and asked for reclassification, protected maintenance time and higher pay.
At least four library media assistants and advocates addressed the board during public comment, describing sustained workload increases and calling for immediate policy and compensation changes.
Jillian Taraza, who identified herself as working in an elementary school library, said librarians formerly ran robust programs with fairs, read‑alouds and multicultural events but that this year “we don’t have time to talk about other cultures” because library staff are supervising large student groups and managing Chromebooks. She urged the district to “make fixing this problem of overworked LMAs a priority.”
Linda Woodworth recounted starting the work in 2008 and said her hours fluctuated; she described performing Chromebook troubleshooting, repair and inventory in addition to library duties and said fewer than a full complement of Chromebook carts are operational. “We need dedicated hours with no extra duties and a pay level increase,” she said.
Brenda Winberg, who runs Myers Elementary’s library, described the job as a hybrid role that now encompasses technology support and classroom coverage after layoffs of licensed teacher-librarians. She said the LMA pay scale starts near $27,700 for a seven-hour position and “maxes out around $35,000,” arguing there is no financial incentive to retain or advance LMAs.
Sarah Young, speaking on behalf of a former LMA, described a position that was effectively cut from full-time to three-quarters time and said the reassigned duties left core library responsibilities undone. Multiple commenters asked the board to re-evaluate job descriptions, preserve library maintenance time and reconsider classification and pay.
Board members acknowledged the comments, and one director offered to visit a library to observe the work firsthand.
No board action was taken at this meeting; speakers asked the board to make LMA workload and compensation a priority in upcoming budget and contract discussions.
