Carl Harvey, an elementary school librarian from Indiana and president of American Association of School Librarians, has begun a White House petition asking that every child in America have an effective school library program. In order to meet the threshold that triggers a White House response, the petition must reach 25,000 signatures by February 4, 2012.
The petition webpage states, "Every child in America deserves access to an effective school library program. We ask that the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) provide dedicated funding to help support effective school library programs. Such action will ensure more students have access to the resources and tools that constitute a 21st century learning environment. Reductions in school library programs are creating an ‘access gap’ between schools in wealthier communities versus those where there are high levels of poverty. All students should have an equal opportunity to acquire the skills necessary to learn, to participate, and to compete in today’s world."
Click here to view the petition webpage.