Why did a U.S. secondary school district retain teacher-librarians in a time of economic crisis?

A case study

Abstract

The number of U.S. teacher-librarians has greatly diminished despite advocacy efforts by stakeholders. This case study investigated the factors that led governing board members in a mid-sized urban high school district to retain certified teacher-librarian positions despite a major economic crisis. Themes constructed through the analysis were: stakeholder involvement; transparency in communication; trust between district leadership and the governing board; a commitment to the district’s core values; and the value placed on the school library program by the district’s stakeholders. Future research should investigate school districts’ decision-making processes in the retention of teacher-librarian positions during economic crises.