Lowell — Librarian Christine Beachler was recently appointed to the 15-member Governor’s Educator Advisory Council, on which she will provide recommendations and counsel to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
The council reviews and makes recommendations regarding legislation relevant to Michigan’s public education system. Beachler’s term began Feb. 15 and goes through May 9, 2027.
Beachler said she received notice in December that she was recommended for the council. She has worked as a librarian in Lowell Area Schools for 23 years. She supervises eight media assistants in the districts’ six schools. She is also president-elect of the Michigan Association of School Librarians.
She said it’s an honor to represent certified library media specialists on the council.
“I’m very excited to represent the Michigan Association of School Librarians as president elect,” said. “Michigan has been in a very unfortunate trend of eliminating school librarians.”
During the 2020-21 school year, three out of ten public schools nationwide had neither a full-time nor a part-time school librarian, according to a report from SLIDE: The School Librarian Investigation — Decline or Evolution? Michigan was one of five states with the highest percentages of schools without librarians, at 49.9 percent.
Input from librarians at a state level is crucial right now, she said.
“With many states adding information/media literacy graduation requirements, the huge focus on intellectual freedom/the right to read and the need for more school librarians all being points of discussion at the legislative level in Michigan shows that input representing school librarians is pivotal.”
Added Superintendent Nate Fowler, “It is important that policy-makers in Lansing hear from professionals who work directly with students to support literacy. Christine is a great choice to be a thoughtful and fair advocate for our students.”
Read more from Lowell:
• Board member, librarian awarded for advocacy of school libraries
• Curator, gardener, defender of the freedom to read
