Written from the Shirley Igo Collaboration Award
application originally written by Susan
Harmon (Librarian at Barbara Fasken Elementary School, Midland ISD), Lina
Baiza (Principal Barbara Fasken Elementary), Kaci
McDaniel (President, Barbara Fasken Elementary School PTA).
Sara
Stilwell (PTA), Kaci McDaniel (PTA President),
Lina Baiza (Principal), Susan Harmon (Librarian)
The Shirley Igo Award is sponsored jointly by the
Texas PTA and the Texas Library Association; the award recognizes an outstanding
collaboration between a PTA organization and school library media center during
the school year. Projects and efforts at both the local campus and district
levels are eligible. The award
honors the memory of Shirley Igo of Plainview, a past president of the Texas
and National PTA and a longtime champion of libraries, education, and literacy. Further
details here: http://txla.org/groups/TASL-awards
Many libraries
benefit from the support of their PTA at activities like Book Fairs. If your
PTA goes above and beyond for your library or you have a unique PTA/School
Library Collaboration, start gathering information now to apply for this award.
What better way to thank your PTA for all they do for your library than
nominating them for statewide recognition?
2016 Award Winning School Library/PTA Collaboration
PTA’s are traditionally known for providing tools or making
programs and activities possible that may otherwise not be feasible. What makes the Barbara Fasken Elementary PTA
so special is their commitment to ensuring the best opportunities for learning
were provided and recognizing how much a school library can make a
difference.
Barbara Fasken Elementary School in Midland ISD is fortunate
to be on land donated by the deceased namesake’s oil company, Fasken Oil and
Ranch Ltd. The school is in sight of current company facilities, making it easy
for company employees to remain interested and invested in the school’s
successes. Many of their employees joined the PTA and began advocating on the
school’s behalf.
The PTA met with the oil company early on to decide the most
pressing needs for the new school. While
many things would have been beneficial, they decided to ask for funding to fill
the library after they realized the gap between the only 1800 books Midland ISD
could provide to open the library and the Texas state standards recommending
12,000 books. The community knew how important having sufficient books in the
library would be to strengthening the literacy program.
Because of the hard work of the PTA and PTA President who
collaborated with their Partner in Education, Fasken Oil & Ranch, the
library was able to purchase an additional 8,000 books this year! The company
raised funds through many avenues-asking for donations, having drawings for
various items, having a silent auction at their Christmas party-to raise
$110,000. The PTA was with them every
step of the way by depositing this money and thanking the oil company through
many acts of kindness. They then paid
all the bills for books ordered for the library and kept in constant contact
with librarian Susan Harmon.
Volunteers from the PTA also helped with book
processing. A job that could have taken
more than a decade to achieve has been accomplished in one. The PTA has built the
library to almost 10,000 books in one remarkable year. And they participate in the school’s ongoing
“Partners in Reading” program where they work one-on-one with reluctant readers
at least once a week.
Additionally, Barbara Fasken Elementary PTA has two active
committees that are directly involved in the library. The first committee is the Library
Committee. This committee is responsible
for staffing the library one morning a week as the librarian works on other
campuses. Currently, Midland ISD has
four campuses without librarians so Susan Harmon, the only certified librarian
has to close her Fasken Library each week to travel to two other campuses. The
second committee is the Book Fair Committee.
This committee organizes, sets up and runs the book fairs, two each year. 100% of the proceeds from the book fair are
given back to the library to purchase additional books and resources for
students.
The Barbara Fasken Elementary PTA has been an invaluable
partner with the school to promote improved literacy development and create
opportunities for learning. The PTA, in
concert with the librarian continue to foster a community committed to literacy
through the development and use of Fasken’s library and students have truly
benefitted from their hard work. The PTA has provided over 400 hours of
volunteer work related to the library.
In addition to volunteer hours, the PTA was also able to provide over
$135,000 to date, in order to purchase books and resources for the
library. The school is thankful for
librarian Susan Harmon for her dedication to making sure that every child at
our school develops a love of reading! They
are also thankful to the many library volunteers, teachers, staff and most
importantly their friends at Fasken Oil and Ranch. Fasken students have an amazing library,
because of the teamwork of so many people!
TASL President Becky Calzada with Fasken PTA officers.
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