The demise of School Libraries

“School libraries can be the heart of the every school,”  this opening line of the Why School Libraries Matter video and it is music to my ears.   In this video the narrators mentions that the library can be a “safe haven for students” and “provide access to resources” and my response?  Yes!  So true, yet so often overlooked.  Unfortunately, school libraries have faced and are facing budget concerns that affect the hours of the school Librarian or Library Technician and affect the availability of reading material made available to students, either for school research projects or for pleasure reading.  In my own experience, the middle school library where I work, I don’t have a budget.  If I want to buy books for students, I better start raising money.  And I do, through book fairs and community fundraisers, such as partnering with a local restaurant for the school to receive a portion of the day’s sales.  Through these fundraisers I’m able to purchase non-fiction books that support the new Common Core Standards and books by the latest popular author that the student’s want to read—which encourages reading and students who read perform better all-around academically (a known fact).  My school library also just got new and faster computers (the students are very happy) for students to do research and to type their papers—not all students have computers at home.  But cut-backs to affect the school library—does this mean our demise is just around the corner?  Libraries, public and school, are often forced to remind their community of how important their role is in the community and how we support individuals in their quest for information and resources.  

If you want to view the video I mention above here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gU7x-25NXdE