<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">
<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)">
<!--[if !mso]><style>v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style><![endif]--><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#0563C1;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#954F72;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
span.EmailStyle18
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:#1F497D;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:10.0pt;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
</head>
<body lang="EN-US" link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72">
<div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal">Hello,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Michigan Library Cooperative Directors Association has approved the following statement in support of school libraries and librarians. Please do not hesitate to share the statement with your library board; library staff; state and
U.S. legislators; school superintendents; school administrators; school librarians; and school board members. Thank you.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><img width="288" height="337" id="Picture_x0020_4" src="cid:image002.jpg@01D05A65.77C2DB80" alt="cid:image001.jpg@01D05A64.A4A3C4D0"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Michigan Library Cooperative Directors Association<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Statement on School Libraries and Librarians<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">The Michigan Cooperative Directors Association fully endorses the Michigan Department of Education and the Library of Michigan’s support for school library media centers. School media centers are an integral
part of the K-12 education for the students in Michigan and provide a thirteen year foundation in teaching and learning.
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">In addition, the MCDA supports the employment of fully certified school librarians/media specialists in every public and private school in the state. Studies show that schools who have librarians working
with teachers on curriculum needs and students who receive instruction in library research are not only higher achievers, but are also prepared for higher education and career pursuits.
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Information and digital literacy skill development are the foundation of excellent school library programs and are vitally important to successfully meeting Michigan’s Common Core Standards. Each student
should be able to experience a school media center environment where research and exploration are enhanced by a dedicated school media specialist.
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Furthermore, the MCDA supports the belief that the ‘birth to elder’ continuum includes all types of libraries – school, public, academic, and special - in order to develop and maintain a fully informed
community of individuals in our state. Cooperatives recognize that each type of library contributes to educational excellence in Michigan. School libraries and librarians are equal partners in that equation.
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Adopted February 20, 2015<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Michigan Library Cooperative Directors Association<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Detroit Library Cooperative ▪ Lakeland Library Cooperative ▪ Mid-Michigan Library League ▪ Mideastern Michigan Library Cooperative ▪ Northland Library Cooperative ▪ Southwest Library Cooperative ▪ Suburban
Library Cooperative ▪ Superiorland Cooperative ▪ The Library Network ▪ White Pine Library Cooperative ▪ Woodlands Library Cooperative</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Denise Hooks<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Director, Mideastern Michigan Library Cooperative<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">President, Michigan Library Cooperative Directors Association<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">(810) 232-7119<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>