Proposed changes could lead to end of librarians in Nebraska schools, advocates say

Courtney Pentland calls school librarians a bargain.

In one position, you have a reading instructor, technology coach and parent advocate, Pentland said, as well as a certified teacher who can find online resources and reading material for students.

"You have all of that in this one person," said Pentland, a board member with the Nebraska School Librarians Association.

The versatility of school librarians and the key role they serve for students is why Pentland, a librarian at Lincoln North Star High School, and others are concerned about proposed changes to the Nebraska Department of Education's accreditation rules that could mean the end to librarians in public schools.

Under the state's draft accreditation rule released in April, school systems would be required to employ only one half-time certified school librarian per district, with an adult or paraprofessional required to supervise each school library.

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