Librarians, Put on Your Boxing Gloves: Some Things Are Worth Fighting For

Abstract

During a time when library budgets are being cut, it is very possible for librarians to give up the fight and focus their attention on acquiring only the “necessary” items. Some Indiana library media specialists (LMS) might determine non-fiction books to support research and enough Young Hoosier titles to participate in the Indiana Library Federation’s recreational reading program as necessities. While at the same time, other LMS in our state are fighting in a larger boxing ring: one where the match is on an even more personal level. They are trying to convince administrators not to make them a part of the special teaching rotation because of the impact of flexible scheduling, or worse, librarians are trying to convince administrators that library media centers (LMC) do not reach their greatest achievement when librarian positions are axed and paraprofessionals administer the library.