Concerned About Cuts in the Library

My name is Barb Everett and I have a daughter who attends Shaffer Elementary.  I am concerned about the most recent proposed budget cuts towards the Libraries in the school district.  I understand these cuts may or may not happen.  My hope is to express concern and bring to light just how valuable our Library education is for our children.

Without TL’s at all Levels, Our Kids Fall Behind

My understanding is some schools were able to keep their Librarians this year (2011/2012) because of student numbers.  We were very lucky at Shaffer because we had more than 400 students at our school.  Therefore we maintained our library curriculum this year.  I am very thankful for that!  I understand that (2012/2013) school year may be very different.  I am concerned about the library curriculum for the (2012/2013) school year and the years to follow.  My daughter will be in 5th grade next year.  Just about the right age for really learning what the library has to offer.  If we lose our librarians to two days a week, that education moves from a trained certified librarian to a para or volunteer.  That person will not be as experienced in teaching the curriculum of the library.   My child then loses out on a very valuable skill of research just in one year.  Now lets move to grades 6 through 8 where there will be no librarian.  How is my child going to learn the valuable skills of web searching, or research in general and how to use a library to its fullest extent?  We move into high school now and my child has not had that experienced trained professional in critical years of her education.  The expectation to do the research in high school is still there.  She is now at a disadvantage because she did not have that training.  She is now in high school with a part-time librarian again.  How is someone who is at the high school two days a week going to help 600 or more students?  How are they going to be able to maintain the library?

Please Rethink the Cuts

I request that you please rethink the budget cuts for Jefferson County Libraries.  Research is an important skill our students need for higher levels of education.  By taking certified trained librarians out of our libraries we restrict our children’s learning and put them at a disadvantage for college. Look at the private school and the charter schools who have trained certified librarians.  These students will far surpass our students who have not had this training in research.