School Libraries

I am a school librarian represented by the teachers’ union. What should my union leaders know to advocate for me?

It is hard to be a union rep. Teachers and other educators have a wide variety of regulations they must abide by. What is important to remember is that within those parameters, school libraries have even more requirements and limits.

Here are the important things for an attorney or union rep negotiating or advocating for a school librarian to know:

I am a school librarian, and just found out my school district is using student-device monitoring software. The software uses AI to check for searches and content that could indicate consideration of self-harm. I am concerned the software will monitor access to school library content and violate student privacy. What can I do?

This is a very serious concern.

Use of such monitoring software (such as GoGuardian’s Beacon, Google’s Gaggle, and others) is growing rapidly.[1]

We are reviewing our copyright policies and procedures at our BOCES. We are specifically reviewing student work. We understand, recognize, and respect that students hold the copyright to works they create. Our student community includes, but is not limited to, students with exceptional learning needs, behavior concerns, and our Career and Technical Education High School.

Thank you for your kind words. We’re going to address this question in three chunks:

My school district public library system just reviewed a new (April 25th, 2024) NY Education Department Decision by the Commissioner, addressing the proper procedure for evaluating school library books. What does this decision mean for school libraries and school library systems?

The member is referring to NYSED Commissioner Decision #18,402, which resolved an appeal related to books in a school library.

We are a small, urban, very diverse school district with a large English Language Learner (ELL) population and a high poverty rate. Our school library spaces are small and do not have adjoining meeting rooms. There is no dedicated prayer/meditation space in our schools either.

In the United States, public schools that accept federal funding are barred from restricting student access to generally available space on the basis of “religious, political, philosophical…” beliefs.[1]

Within the context of recent regional school book challenges, much of the attention has been focused on print collections. However, librarians and school districts have started to look at digital content, too.

The answer is "Yes."

Of course, behind that answer is layer after layer of complexity.

For an Interlibrary Loan Electronic Transmission (whether printed out and included with the item(s) or sent via electronic means) in a K-12 setting, can a student's name (the one ultimately borrowing the item) be used in the "receipt" or notification slip? Should a student's School ID number be used? Can both be used at the same time?

This question comes at us from a school district public library and supporting Board of Cooperative Educational Services ("BOCES").

NOTE: On 5/13/22, Erie 1 BOCES hosted a program[1] regarding school library materials management.  That same week, the Erie County Bar Association hosted a CLE on the same topic[2].

DO ensure your school district library system, school district, or school has a robust and well-thought-out "school library materials policy"[1] ("Policy") governing selection, procurement, cataloging, lending, concerns, re-evaluation, and removal of library materials.

If a teacher teaches a novel in school, can they show the DVD of the movie under fair use?

This question was submitted by a system serving elementary and secondary schools.

The answer for those schools (and for higher education, too) is: if the viewing of the DVD is tied to the reading of the book and the content is part of the class/curriculum, then YES, it can be viewed in class.

I am asking this on behalf of the Elementary School in my district. (I work in the library of our district's high school). The Elementary School participates every year in a program called PARP. (Parents As Reading Partners). The teachers and principal always make some sort of video to kick this off this event since pandemic times.

The short answer to this question is: IF the video is only going to include the YouTube animal clips, and IF it is only going to be used in the school for instructional purposes, the proposed use is fine, since copyright section 110(1)[1] allows schools to play videos in class if the topic is related to a class, and YouTube doesn't limit use of its s