Thursday, March 26, 2009
Giving more voice to our concerns about cuts to library staff
With the advent of the internet some think that libraries are a thing of the past, but that couldn't be further from the truth. Our high school library is pretty busy on most days with 300-400 students dropping in to do research or check out books. Working in libraries at both the primary and secondary levels, it's such a joy to see students of all ages walk into the library excited about getting a book to take home and read. I'd hate to see that come to an end. Some might say that schools don't need libraries because students can access the public library, but will busy families really make time to take their children to the library on a regular basis? I think not. The school library may be the only library that some children (dare I say most children) will ever have the privilege to use. As a working mom, when my children were in school, I was so grateful that they had a well-stocked and well-manned library that they could use, because I didn't have the time to run to the public library. I hope our district will keep fully staffed school libraries.
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Reducing school library staff seriously impairs our students' ability to learn. Our students must be able to quickly and easily access the knowledge, both print and digital, that they must have to be competitive learners in our global community.
ReplyDeleteThe library staff must process new books, periodicals and other materials and ensure an efficient and reliable check-out and return system. And they must provide technological services and resources.
However, this is the least of their work, for their greatest service - which cannot be duplicated by any other means and which must not be cut - is their day-in, day-out, one-on-one interaction with individual students. Students who:
*Need help finding resources for their Culminating Project Research Paper (a graduation requirment)
*Need advice on selecting a book to read for a Literature Circle or Socratic Seminar or other English class assignment
*Need encouragement to begin reading a book or writing an essay or creating a presentation
These, of course, are just three of the thousands of needs our students request from our Library staff every day.
The question is: how can one librarian and one .5 assistant per high school fulfill all these needs? The answer, of course, is they cannot.
Think of the consequences to our students' learning if these needs go unfulfilled.
Please keep our libraries fully staffed to ensure that all our students' needs are met.
Rosemary Twohey
English Teacher
Mountain View High School
Hello I am a student at Mountain View High School.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy how our library can get a book for us when we, the students, ask for it. Even if the library doesn't have it, the are able to get it within a week or so so that we are able to read the book. There are many books still out there that some student wants to read but they don't have enough money to buy it themselves.
If the funds for the library are taken away, us students won't be able to be exposed to new boks out there. Because of my library's "New Book" cart, I found my new favorite series and am recommending it to all of my firends. Without the "New Book" cart, I:
1) might not have found that book in the first place, and
2) am able to see what books our library has newly aquired and can be exposed to many differet themes, topics, and other material that I never expected myself to read.
I learn alot of things from my library and I am so glad we have such a great staff. Please don't let our library's funds come to a stop, or else how else will we students learn about new, and recent, information.
Thank You for your time.
Student
Mountain View High School