The Demise of School Libraries

The Demise of the School Library...(music starts-dun dun dun...) sounds ominous (adjective)-giving the impression that something bad is going to happen-SCARY...at least to me and to all my fellow colleagues in the School Library Business. But in reality it not really scary, it is changing, evolving into a better School Library, a gathering place, a bookstore/cafe type area where students may comfortably work on homework, use computers, study and READ. A true community center. This begins with changes in the Library environment and it involves more than rearranging a few chairs and tables. In the article, The School Library Space is Changing by Laura Wernick, libraries "...are expanding their role as community wide help centers while continuing to be a place of reflection, sharing and learning." 

(https://login.ezproxy.palomar.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/loginaspx? direct=true&db=eric&AN=EJ935431&site=ehost-live&scope=site).

According to Wernick, "In academic environments, libraries are changing as well.This shift is a direct result of two academic realities: the slow demise of the traditionally published book as the primary source of information; and the increasing demand for more collaborative, social environments for academic study and production." Schools are using more "Learning Commons" main library areas that allow instruction by teachers and additionally offer "...communal study spaces that support collaborative learning and easy access.." This shift towards making the school library as more of a community center allows additional usage which may include student presentations, student club meetings and also allows the outside community to rent/borrow the library space for PTA meetings, Church Services etc... truly allowing the library to be a welcoming area for all. Additionally, Library's could adapt with reading rooms for individual and/or small group tutoring purposes. Wernick states "As library design evolves, teachers no longer will be constrained by the four walls of their classrooms" which will further strengthen and support school educational practices for today's youth.

Works Cited:

Wernick, Laura. "The School Library Space is Changing." American School & University,

vol.83, no.9, May 2011, pp. 24-28. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct

=true&db=eric&AN=EJ935431&site=ehost-live&scope=site. (Accessed 28 April 2020).

The Demise of School Libraries by BarneyMont

The Demise of School Libraries – Three Useful Articles

Hello! It's Carly writing on the demise of school libraries!

I have a daughter in 4^th grade here in San Diego and she only gets to see her school library twice a month for a few minutes. Everywhere, school districts are cutting school librarian positions and limiting library hours. This graph is from the Oregon Department of Information and shows the disappearing numbers of school librarians.

I decided to use my Palomar College access to look for useful articles relating to the demise of school libraries within the Library, Information Science, & Technology Abstracts (LISTA) database. There were three articles that immediately grabbed my attention and I thought I would share them with you.

Advocating for Change in School Library Perceptions by Elizabeth A. Burns.
 

o   Abstract: The article focuses on research that aims to examine the practices of school librarians to know their impact on stakeholder perceptions. It mentions that the research was guided by the question of the advocacy strategies that were effective in changing the perception of the school library program among stakeholders. A chart is presented depicting the characteristics of participants.

Fight for School Libraries: Student success depends on them by Jim Neal.
 

o   Abstract: The author presents his thoughts on what he considers the important role of school libraries in students' academic achievement. He discusses the focus of school libraries on active learning, innovative technology, and critical thinking. To increase support for school libraries, he calls for a meeting of school district representatives, students, and academic librarians.

Library Cuts Still Run Deep

·  

o     Abstract: Discusses the impact of budget cuts, layoffs, reduced hours and closures on school and public libraries in the U.S. Implication of the layoff of media specialists for students; Reason for the layoff of library positions at Detroit Public Schools in Michigan; Effect of the budget proposal of Mayor William Johnson for the Rochester Public Library and Monroe County Library System in New York State. Debra Lau Whelan is the author.

My main takeaway from these articles is that while the disappearance of school librarians is widespread, it is truly unfortunate and our students will be the ones that suffer for it. Libraries in schools help to level the playing field among different socioeconomic groups and offer opportunities to find new books to children whose parents work a lot or do not have as much time to invest in their children's educations. I am heartened to see that many of these types of articles include actions that can and have been taken, such as calling for the meeting of school representatives, students, politicians, teachers, and librarians.

It's unfortunate that funding seems so difficult to secure for so many school libraries. I don't think it's fair that budgets must constantly shrink or become eliminated for other things. I am hoping that with advocacy, we will see a shift and reversal of the dwindling school libraries.

Carly Janine Gutierrez 

4/26/20

Works Cited

Burns, E. A. (2018). Advocating for Change in School Library Perceptions. Teacher Librarian, 46(1), 8–14.

Neal, J. (2018). Fight for School Libraries: Student success depends on them. American Libraries, 49(3/4), 4.

Whelan, D. L. (2004). Library Cuts Still Run Deep. School Library Journal, 50(7), 15–16.