Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Library Staffing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
District librarian asks board to add certified librarian FTE, cites service to 1,300 students
Summary
Jennifer McKenzie, the district’s certified teacher‑librarian, told the board the libraries serve about 1,300 students and requested at least one additional certified FTE to expand instruction and maintain program gains; she highlighted increased circulation and a state recognition for database usage.
Jennifer McKenzie, Siuslaw School District’s certified teacher‑librarian, presented a district library update Dec. 11 and asked the board to add certified staff to support instruction and program expansion. McKenzie said the district currently has one licensed teacher‑librarian and three library assistants serving roughly 1,300 students and described a five-goal strategic plan that includes increasing librarian instruction, boosting circulation of books and Chromebooks, revitalizing spaces for maker and media work, and training library staff.
“We say every year, we always keep an eye on our book circulation. The pulse is strong right now in terms of circulation,” McKenzie said, and added that elementary nonfiction circulation nearly doubled in the first months of this school year after space and shelving changes. She also noted statewide context: “Oregon ranks almost last in the country in terms of budgeting and staffing and resources. We rank 47 out of 51,” and contrasted that with Siuslaw’s local investments. McKenzie told the board the district still lacks at least two FTE certified teacher‑librarians compared with recommended staffing and asked for hiring consideration.
McKenzie highlighted program activity — makerspaces, a podcasting studio that served more than 650 students last year, and a robot‑dog coding demonstration — and described a statewide virtual book club invitation for administrators and staff. Superintendent Chris Goyak and board members commended the library team’s work and said they would take McKenzie’s staffing request into budget discussions.
Why it matters: McKenzie tied library staffing to instructional outcomes and equity, noting research that fully staffed libraries correlate with higher reading and graduation metrics. The board acknowledged the request and will consider staffing during upcoming budget calendar discussions.
