As a result of the budget crisis, our school libraries have been hard-hit. Five percent of the Phase 1 budget cuts are from the libraries alone, and 16 percent of the total budget cuts (Phase 1 and 2) come from school libraries. Effects are greatest at the elementary level where library support services have been severely curtailed (Phase 1) or totally eliminated (Phase 2). Studies show that significant gains in student achievement are directly related to staffing, stocking and funding school libraries. Twenty percent of the total library budget in Lawrence has been cut. School libraries will return to warehousing materials. Gone is the concept of librarians as teachers (two elementary librarians were designated as Lawrence’s Master Teachers in the last seven years) and the concept of libraries as centers of learning for all students.

Our advice to the kids of Lawrence  enjoy your library during this quarter of school. It will be a different place next fall.

Jane Imber and Janet Reeder,

Lawrence elementary librarians