Amendment to Eliminate the Requirement for School Librarian

[Anonymous]

CALL TO ACTION: Protect Maryland School Libraries

The proposed amendments to COMAR 13A.05.04 would remove the requirement that every school have a full-time, certified Library Media Specialist. This change would give districts “flexibility” — but that flexibility could mean fewer certified librarians in schools, job losses, and reduced access for students.

Deadline to speak out: March 9, 2026
Email Dr. Chelsea Brewer at [e-mail]

The more comments the Maryland State Department of Education receives, the stronger the message that these changes require reconsideration.
Full-time certified school librarians are essential because we:
- Teach information & media literacy
- Support academic achievement
- Provide access to diverse resources
- Encourage critical thinking
- Bridge the digital divide
- Collaborate with teachers
- Promote intellectual freedom
- Support special education needs
- Build college & career readiness
Create safe, inclusive spaces for students

Reducing the requirement for certified librarians undermines the intent of the Freedom to Read Act by limiting student access to trained professionals who connect them with books, research skills, and diverse perspectives.

Additionally, proposed changes could increase the misuse of Library Media Specialists as classroom coverage — pulling them away from the very students and programs they are meant to serve.

Your voice matters.

Email Dr. Brewer

Forward this to fellow librarians

Share with educators, parents, and community supporters

Every student deserves a full-time certified librarian. Let’s make sure our voices are heard. More info can be found here: https://ow.ly/aCNG50Ypc3r

[Anonymous]

...oh my gosh!!!

[Anonymous]

There is a Change Dot Org petition. Go sign it if you care for reading and books

[Anonymous]

Controversial opinion: I actually think we should do away with school-based libraries and deepen the partnership between MCPS and Montgomery County Public Libraries.

MCPS libraries are archaic, horribly maintained, and not used as much as they used to be in the past.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Controversial opinion: I actually think we should do away with school-based libraries and deepen the partnership between MCPS and Montgomery County Public Libraries.

MCPS libraries are archaic, horribly maintained, and not used as much as they used to be in the past.

Our school barely has money for field trips. They certainly don't have time, budget or resource to hall kids to the library once a week. I think school libraries are important for students and teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Controversial opinion: I actually think we should do away with school-based libraries and deepen the partnership between MCPS and Montgomery County Public Libraries.

MCPS libraries are archaic, horribly maintained, and not used as much as they used to be in the past.

Our school barely has money for field trips. They certainly don't have time, budget or resource to hall kids to the library once a week. I think school libraries are important for students and teachers.

More than ever

[Anonymous]

Here’s an odd take, but I am an MCPS elementary media specialist and I would rather be divided across several schools just to run the libraries, rather than being at one school now where I teach classes all day on the specials schedule and never have time to run the library.

[Anonymous]

I asked my middle schooler how often she goes to the library and she said rarely and never. I also asked her how she would feel if the library in school went away, and she said she wouldn’t be upset if it went away.

I think the current library model in schools is outdated and needs to become integral and central if we’re going to justify its existence and the role of a dedicated librarian.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I asked my middle schooler how often she goes to the library and she said rarely and never. I also asked her how she would feel if the library in school went away, and she said she wouldn’t be upset if it went away.

I think the current library model in schools is outdated and needs to become integral and central if we’re going to justify its existence and the role of a dedicated librarian.

So the behavior of your middle schooler is what others should model? Not sure of your logic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I asked my middle schooler how often she goes to the library and she said rarely and never. I also asked her how she would feel if the library in school went away, and she said she wouldn’t be upset if it went away.

I think the current library model in schools is outdated and needs to become integral and central if we’re going to justify its existence and the role of a dedicated librarian.

So the behavior of your middle schooler is what others should model? Not sure of your logic.

It’s an anecdote and a qualitative data point on how central and essential the library is in the eyes of a current student. You know who students are, right? They’re the people the school system is supposed to be serving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I asked my middle schooler how often she goes to the library and she said rarely and never. I also asked her how she would feel if the library in school went away, and she said she wouldn’t be upset if it went away.

I think the current library model in schools is outdated and needs to become integral and central if we’re going to justify its existence and the role of a dedicated librarian.

Well I will fight your anecdote with my own anecdote. My middle schooler goes to the library every day before school and at lunch, and participates in twice-monthly book wars meetings run by the media specialist. The library has been essential to her middle-school experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:CALL TO ACTION: Protect Maryland School Libraries

The proposed amendments to COMAR 13A.05.04 would remove the requirement that every school have a full-time, certified Library Media Specialist. This change would give districts “flexibility” — but that flexibility could mean fewer certified librarians in schools, job losses, and reduced access for students.

Deadline to speak out: March 9, 2026
Email Dr. Chelsea Brewer at [e-mail]

The more comments the Maryland State Department of Education receives, the stronger the message that these changes require reconsideration.
Full-time certified school librarians are essential because we:
- Teach information & media literacy
- Support academic achievement
- Provide access to diverse resources
- Encourage critical thinking
- Bridge the digital divide
- Collaborate with teachers
- Promote intellectual freedom
- Support special education needs
- Build college & career readiness
Create safe, inclusive spaces for students

Reducing the requirement for certified librarians undermines the intent of the Freedom to Read Act by limiting student access to trained professionals who connect them with books, research skills, and diverse perspectives.

Additionally, proposed changes could increase the misuse of Library Media Specialists as classroom coverage — pulling them away from the very students and programs they are meant to serve.

Your voice matters.

Email Dr. Brewer

Forward this to fellow librarians

Share with educators, parents, and community supporters

Every student deserves a full-time certified librarian. Let’s make sure our voices are heard. More info can be found here: https://ow.ly/aCNG50Ypc3r

This link is not working for me - is it just open to MCPS accounts? https://ow.ly/aCNG50Ypc3r

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is a Change Dot Org petition. Go sign it if you care for reading and books

Can you please link to it? I will happily sign.

[Anonymous]

Very bad. Not only are public schools not assigning many classics anymore, but if they get rid of librarians too, then a whole fount of literary knowledge goes out of the school system. I understand that a lot of kids don't know whether their media center is, and don't read, but I refuse to accept that schools cannot have libraries with librarians in them, to get at least some kids into reading, and not only that, but to give context to what they're reading.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I asked my middle schooler how often she goes to the library and she said rarely and never. I also asked her how she would feel if the library in school went away, and she said she wouldn’t be upset if it went away.

I think the current library model in schools is outdated and needs to become integral and central if we’re going to justify its existence and the role of a dedicated librarian.

Well I will fight your anecdote with my own anecdote. My middle schooler goes to the library every day before school and at lunch, and participates in twice-monthly book wars meetings run by the media specialist. The library has been essential to her middle-school experience.

Maybe MCPS should do a systemwide survey of students and see who's experience represents the majority?