As a passionate community member and an ardent believer in the power of information and democracy, I witness the impact of libraries every day. Libraries, staffed by certified librarians, serve as the heartbeat of literacy and education in our societies. Their role goes beyond just providing books; they instill media literacy, nurture critical thinking, and foster academic success among students. Our locally recognized LITEs (Library Instructional Technology Educators) in Judson ISD have devoted their professional lives to guiding our youth, yet their jobs face insecurity in the name of “budgeting.”

Research has consistently proven the positive influence of libraries on student achievement. According to the American Library Association, students in schools with professional librarians show better performance in reading, writing, and academics in general. 

Today, we need to guarantee the future of our librarians and, by extension, the success of our students in Judson ISD. We call upon the Judson ISD school board to protect the roles of certified librarians, our invaluable LITEs. Let us ensure our students continue to benefit from these vital resources and human connections made possible by our librarians.

Let us not quash their potential as change-makers for our future generations. Let us stand together as a community and sign this petition to secure the jobs of certified librarians in Judson ISD.