School Library 911: The Disappearing Urban School Library
Published on Jul 24, 2016
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Library 911:
The Disappearing Urban School Library
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In a 1962 Twilight Zone episode entitled “The Obsolete Man,” a librarian named Mr. Wordsworth is tried by his state, found obsolete, and sentenced to death. While thankfully this isn’t actually happening, the question of whether or not books and libraries are obsolete has been debated for some time now. And unfortunately, under a combination of austerity budgeting, a lack of regulations, and a belief by some that libraries are no longer essential, in many urban school districts library programs are rapidly disappearing and are in danger of becoming obsolete.
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This is a tragic situation because a large body of recent research shows that well-funded, professionally staffed school library programs continue to have a positive impact on student learning.
I’ve observed this positive impact from both the classroom and the library. Before I became a school librarian at Brockton High School in 2004, I taught English there. I still remember the first time I brought my juniors to the Red library to get them started on a research paper. Mrs. Murphy had pulled a cart of books for us, and she showed the students how to find books on their topics in the catalog. She also gave them a lesson on some relevant research databases. Then she spent the rest of the period working with me and helping the students. I had never had this type of help with my classes before, and I thought it was amazing!
In 2004, I transferred to the library when Mrs. Murphy retired. At that time, our school had four full-time librarians for 4400 students. Across the district, there were another 10 certified librarians. However by 2015, only 7 of us were left because as more people retired, they were being replaced by paraprofessionals. Districts save a lot of money by replacing certified librarians with paraprofessionals, who typically earn less than half of what we do. While library paraprofessionals are usually hard-working, wonderful people who love books and children, school librarians are certified teachers with master's degrees. Without certified librarians, students are being denied significant learning opportunities.
Last year, Whitman, Malden, and Brockton cut all their librarians except for high school. Brockton also closed all its middle school libraries, and then this year in a shocking move the district eliminated the last two librarians.
Although deep cuts to school library programs occur across class lines, they’re especially rampant in urban low-income communities like Brockton and Malden. I believe these cuts reflect our nation’s growing income inequality as well as its institutional racism. Over 80% of the students in my district are low-income and almost 80% are students of color. These demographics are fairly typical, and this is happening all over the country.
I’ve observed this positive impact from both the classroom and the library. Before I became a school librarian at Brockton High School in 2004, I taught English there. I still remember the first time I brought my juniors to the Red library to get them started on a research paper. Mrs. Murphy had pulled a cart of books for us, and she showed the students how to find books on their topics in the catalog. She also gave them a lesson on some relevant research databases. Then she spent the rest of the period working with me and helping the students. I had never had this type of help with my classes before, and I thought it was amazing!
In 2004, I transferred to the library when Mrs. Murphy retired. At that time, our school had four full-time librarians for 4400 students. Across the district, there were another 10 certified librarians. However by 2015, only 7 of us were left because as more people retired, they were being replaced by paraprofessionals. Districts save a lot of money by replacing certified librarians with paraprofessionals, who typically earn less than half of what we do. While library paraprofessionals are usually hard-working, wonderful people who love books and children, school librarians are certified teachers with master's degrees. Without certified librarians, students are being denied significant learning opportunities.
Last year, Whitman, Malden, and Brockton cut all their librarians except for high school. Brockton also closed all its middle school libraries, and then this year in a shocking move the district eliminated the last two librarians.
Although deep cuts to school library programs occur across class lines, they’re especially rampant in urban low-income communities like Brockton and Malden. I believe these cuts reflect our nation’s growing income inequality as well as its institutional racism. Over 80% of the students in my district are low-income and almost 80% are students of color. These demographics are fairly typical, and this is happening all over the country.
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Philadelphia had 176 school librarians in 1991, but by 2015, there were just 10 librarians left for 218 schools. The poverty rate in Philadelphia is 85%.
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Between 2004 and 2014, NYC closed more than half of its school libraries.
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Chicago has cut more than two-thirds of its high school librarians since 2012 and has done so in a discriminatory way. In schools with a majority of white students, 45% still have librarians while in schools with a majority of black students, only 15% do. And in schools where over 90% of the students are black, only 7% have librarians.
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Next year, the two Boston Latin exam schools will each have two full-time librarians. 10 other high schools will each have one librarian, but many of the high schools serving predominantly low-income students of color in Boston will have no librarians at all.
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So when districts eliminate certified librarians and defund library programs, what are students actually losing?
First, they lose an expert in children’s and young adult literature who can help them to develop a love of reading and more advanced literacy skills.
Much research supports the value of school library programs, especially for low-income students. As we know, many of these students don’t have access to books at home. A 2011 study found that with full-time certified librarians and access to more books, low income students were two times as likely to score advanced on reading and writing tests.
ELL students benefit as well. Dr. Stephen Krashen, an expert on second language learning, has compiled much evidence that well-funded school library programs not only counteract the effects of poverty on students’ literacy development but also accelerate second language acquisition.
First, they lose an expert in children’s and young adult literature who can help them to develop a love of reading and more advanced literacy skills.
Much research supports the value of school library programs, especially for low-income students. As we know, many of these students don’t have access to books at home. A 2011 study found that with full-time certified librarians and access to more books, low income students were two times as likely to score advanced on reading and writing tests.
ELL students benefit as well. Dr. Stephen Krashen, an expert on second language learning, has compiled much evidence that well-funded school library programs not only counteract the effects of poverty on students’ literacy development but also accelerate second language acquisition.
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Students have told me that just being surrounded by so many books has a power over them that makes them want to read, and that they read more often when they come to the library on a regular basis. When reading is fun and students have choices and guidance, they will read, and read better as a result.
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Second, when we eliminate librarians, students lose an information specialist and teacher who’s devoted to developing their information and digital literacy skills. School librarians teach students how to use a wide variety of information resources that prepare them for college and life such as online research databases .
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Students in high poverty districts also have less access to technology outside of school, and we teach students how to use all sorts of technology for assignments and projects.
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Third, students lose an instructional partner for their teachers. School librarians collaborate with teachers on assignments and often encourage them to try something new, and then we help them with it.
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We also provide professional development opportunities so teachers and other educators can learn about new resources available for students.
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Fourth, students lose a program leader who creates a safe and welcoming space where they can freely explore their interests and where connections are made to the wider world.
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School librarians often provide opportunities for students to do things such as perform in poetry slams, connect with authors, and participate in community events.
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Finally, in Massachusetts, when schools eliminate high school librarians, they risk losing NEASC accreditation, which could hurt students as they apply to college.
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So what can you do to try to save urban and other school library programs from obsolescence?
You could begin by visiting your school’s library, if you have one and you haven’t been there! Learn what’s available there to help you and your students.
You could also investigate what’s happening with the school libraries in your own district and in your community. Do they have libraries? How well are they funded? Are there certified librarians?
Advocate for school library programs. If you hear of cuts in your school or community, talk to an administrator, speak at a school committee meeting, start a petition, or write a letter to the editor
Finally, the Massachusetts School Library Association is working with a legislative commission to study equity in school library programs across the state, They’ll be be making recommendations to about school library programs to DESE at the end of the study. You can help advocate for those recommendations.
You could begin by visiting your school’s library, if you have one and you haven’t been there! Learn what’s available there to help you and your students.
You could also investigate what’s happening with the school libraries in your own district and in your community. Do they have libraries? How well are they funded? Are there certified librarians?
Advocate for school library programs. If you hear of cuts in your school or community, talk to an administrator, speak at a school committee meeting, start a petition, or write a letter to the editor
Finally, the Massachusetts School Library Association is working with a legislative commission to study equity in school library programs across the state, They’ll be be making recommendations to about school library programs to DESE at the end of the study. You can help advocate for those recommendations.
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In closing, next year I will be back teaching English, and I worry about what the loss of librarians in our district will mean for my students because I know that school library programs are not becoming obsolete for more privileged students.
At Thayer Academy in Braintree, incoming freshmen this fall will have individual appointments with librarians to learn about the resources available to them. But freshmen in my school and others like it will be coming to high school from middle schools with no libraries, and now there will no longer be a Mrs. Murphy there to provide a library orientation for them, or to help with all the other things school librarians do.
At Thayer Academy in Braintree, incoming freshmen this fall will have individual appointments with librarians to learn about the resources available to them. But freshmen in my school and others like it will be coming to high school from middle schools with no libraries, and now there will no longer be a Mrs. Murphy there to provide a library orientation for them, or to help with all the other things school librarians do.
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As young adult author Patrick Ness said, we really need to “Shout for libraries. Shout for the young readers who use them.” We need to shout for all of them, before it’s too late. Thank you.
Works Cited
- Slide 4: Kachel, Debra. “The Calamity of the Disappearing School Libraries.” The Conversation. Ed. Maria Balinska. Conversation US, 13 July 2015. Web. 29 July 2016.
- Slide 5: Morrison, Oliver. “Number of Libraries Dwindles in N.Y.C. Schools.” Education Week. Ed. Virginia B. Edwards. Editorial Projects in Education, 17 Mar. 2015. Web. 29 July 2016.
- Slide 6: CTU Communications. “Just two certified librarians left at virtually all African-American CPS high schools.” Chicago Teachers Union. Chicago Teachers Union, 15 Dec. 2015. Web. 29 July 2016.
- Slide 7: O’Toole, Maura. “BPS Library Staffing.” Message to the author. 27 July 2016. E-mail.
- Slide 19: “Patrick Ness Slams Library Cuts.” theguardian. Guardian News and Media, n.d. Web. 29 July 2016.
- Slide 8: Kachel, Debra. "The Calamity of the Disappearing School Libraries." The
Conversation. Ed. Maria Balinska. Conversation US, 13 July 2015. Web.
29 July 2016.
- Slide 8: Krashen, Stephen. "Why Invest in Libraries." Books and Articles by Stephen D.
- Slide 18: "Libraries on Campus." Thayer Academy. Thayer Academy, n.d. Web. 30 July 2016.
- Slide 19: “Patrick Ness Slams Library Cuts.” theguardian. Guardian News and Media, n.d. Web. 29 July 2016.
Image Credits
- Slide 1: Cass Technical High School library today with a photo from an early 1990’s yearbook. Detroiturbex.com. Detroiturbex.com, n.d. Web. 29 July 2016.
- Slide 2: Photo of Burgess Meredith as Romney Wordsworth from the television program The Twilight Zone. The episode is “The Obsolete Man. 12 May 1961. CBS Television. Wikipedia. Web. 29 July 2016.
- Slide 3: Meade, Rita. “Rita Meade Supports School Libraries.” Urban Librarians Unite. Urban Librarians Unite, 1 Dec. 2015. Web. 29 July 2016.
- Slides 4-7: Doherty, Sue. “Inequities in Urban Library Programs.” Infographic. Picktochart. Picktochart, n.d. Web. 29 July 2016.
- Slide 8: Collage of multicultural children’s book covers. CSMCL. Center for the Study of Multicultural Children’s Literature, n.d. Web. 29 July 2016.
- Slide 9: Two girls reading at a table. Personal photograph by author. 10 June 2015. Digital file.
- Slide 10: “MLS Gale database resources for Brockton High School.” Gale Cenage Learning, 2016. Author’s screenshot.
- Slide 11: Students working on a technology project for engineering. Personal photograph by author. 22 May 2016.
- Slide 12: Teacher in the library working with her students. Personal photograph by author. 4 Mar. 2016.
- Slide 13: Doherty, Sue. Introduction to the Commonwealth eBooks Collections PD title slide. PDF file.
- Slide 14: Two girls sitting on the floor in the library. Personal photograph by author. 17 Dec. 2014.
- Slide 15: High school student reading to children. Personal photograph by author. 29 Oct. 2014.
- Slide 16: “NEASC Accreditation Logo.” New England Association of Schools and Colleges, 2016. Author’s screenshot.
- Slide 17: “Save Our Librarians” signs, Washington, DC. CHPSPO. Capitol Hill Public Schools Parent Organization, 19 Sept. 2012. Web. 29 July 2016.
- Slide 18: Thayer Academy library. Eck MacNeely Architects inc. Eck MacNeely Architects inc., n.d. Web. 29 July 2016.
- Slide 19: Brockton High Book Club, 2012. Personal photograph by author. 12 Apr. 2012.
