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Parents and librarians urge Sunnybrook SD 171 to staff renovated libraries with full‑time certified librarians
Summary
Public commenters, including a resident teacher and an advocacy rep for Illinois school librarians, urged the board to place licensed full‑time librarians in each building and noted a public-records request seeking staffing and circulation data for Nathan Hill and Heritage library services.
During the visitor‑comment portion of the Sunnybrook School District 171 meeting, community members urged the board to staff the renovated library with full‑time certified librarians.
"Not having a full-time certified librarian in the newly renovated library is not what's best for kids and not maximizing student achievement," said Tim Sullivan, a Sunnybrook resident and high‑school teacher, who asked the board to consider hiring a full‑time librarian for the upcoming school year.
Gail Meyer, who identified herself as the advocacy representative for the Illinois State Association of School Librarians and a librarian at TSL, urged the board the same night to place a licensed librarian in each building. She said students are not learning the state databases provided by Illinois and offered to speak with board members or demonstrate services at TSL. In the meeting she cited "the state recommendation for a school of your size is one librarian in 188 in each building," (transcript wording) and said Memorial and other nearby schools have that staffing level.
Board administrators also noted on the record a records request (referenced earlier in the meeting) from Gail Meyer that seeks name certifications, employment titles and employment levels (full‑time, part‑time, contractual) for library employees at Nathan Hill and Heritage for school years 2021–22 through 2025–26, and totals of books checked out each year; a separate request asked for vendor procurement and purchasing records from 2022 to present.
The board did not take formal action on staffing during the meeting; commenters urged the board to follow up. The district's public records request and the offer from a local librarian provide avenues for staff to supply additional information and for the board to consider staffing decisions before the next school year.
