After writing about the good news from Massachusetts and Washington a few weeks ago, I'm very sad to find news of library closures in Los Angeles. According to this article from the L.A. Times, about half of the 600 elementary and middle school libraries are without a librarian or even a library aide. The district cites funding as the problem, with many schools having to choose between school nurses, counselors, and librarians.
According to these letters from concerned citizens and librarians, the district has made several questionable decisions in light of these budget cuts, including a $1 Billion technology purchase.
As a big fan of both educational technology and libraries, I'm a little torn on the issue of potentially mismanaged funds. I do, of course, wholeheartedly believe that school libraries are essential for 21st Century learning. To say I'm disappointed about the closing of school libraries would be a major understatement.
On that note, I was thrilled to see this blog post about how elementary library closures are hurting kids. I feel that someone else out there gets it.
Let me hear from you - what do you think about this situation? I'd especially love to hear from people in the Los Angeles area. Share your thoughts in the comments! If you're in the area and you'd like to post anonymously, contact me and I'll post for you!
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