13,000 Sign Petition to Save School Librarian Jobs

When children's author Kate Temple heard that 58 schools were cutting teacher-librarian positions, she launched a petition that captured something powerful: over 13,000 signatures in just six days.

Temple, who wrote the beloved Bin Chicken series, started the campaign after the Newcastle-Maitland Catholic diocese announced redundancies for its school librarians. The response revealed how deeply people value these educators who do far more than check out books.

"Teacher-librarians are vital to creating reading cultures in schools," Temple explained. They teach digital literacy, guide struggling readers, and help neurodivergent students find books that work for them.

The timing matters more than ever. Australian 15-year-olds' reading scores have dropped 37 points since 2000, with another seven-point decline in just the past three years. While Australia still scores above the international average, it's falling behind countries like New Zealand, Ireland, and Japan.

Famous children's authors Andy Griffiths, Terry Denton, and Matt Cosgrove have joined the Students Need School Libraries movement. They've seen firsthand how qualified librarians transform schools into communities that love reading.

The Ripple Effect

The petition is already creating waves beyond one diocese. In South Australia, less than 15 percent of schools currently have a dual-qualified teacher-librarian, down from 2011 when these positions were mandated and funded.

Hajnalka Molloy, president of the School Library Association of South Australia, says budget pressures force principals into difficult choices. Many don't realize the full impact these specialists have on learning outcomes, especially as AI technology enters classrooms and students need stronger information literacy skills.

Temple visits schools regularly as an author and watches these educators in action. She sees them guide ambitious readers toward their next challenge and help reluctant readers discover books they'll actually enjoy. "Schools that have well-staffed libraries with teacher-librarians have amazing reading cultures, and it doesn't matter what kind of school they are," she said.

The petition will be presented to state and federal education departments once complete. With signatures climbing and prominent authors speaking out, the movement shows how communities can rally around protecting positions that shape young readers' futures.

Sometimes the best response to bad news is 13,000 voices saying not on our watch.