Can we afford not to have librarians?

To the editor:

Our students face many challenges — large class sizes, the seven-period day — and it may get worse next year with more predicted cuts, including a civics class requirement for freshmen and closure of some of our school libraries. Many libraries currently only operate with half-time staff or less.

These libraries are losing books at an alarming rate as patrons “borrow” books when the library is not staffed. Libraries are staffed with no training or support, and teachers are unable to even run overdue book lists so no one is held accountable for returning borrowed library materials.

In recent years, almost all middle and high school libraries have begun checking out textbooks to save time and money. So what happens when students checkout textbooks but are not held responsible for returning them? At $60 a textbook and seven classes a day, that adds up to a lot of lost books the district will need to replace.

To allow such mismanagement of curriculum resources paid for with our tax dollars in these tight times is inexcusable. Google cannot replace librarians; it has made them crucial, as our students are flooded with an information-rich and complicated world. Many students use library computers, Internet and books because they do not have access to these at home. Having a certified librarian to help them often means the difference between passing and failing a class.

So I ask you, can the district or our students afford the cost of not having certified and trained librarians in fully staffed libraries?

Janelle Maki

Big Lake