LISNews: Librarian News

After finding \"suspicious particles\" in a box of interloaned books, the Taunton High School Library (MA) was evacuated. A Hazardous Materials Emergency Response team collected and tested the material and discovered that it was nothing more than birdseed. According to the article, \"Only two librarians were in the library at the time and for precautionary reasons they were sent to the nurse\'s office to have their hands washed. Students were told of the incident at the school and urged not to panic or be alarmed.\" more... from The Taunton Gazette.

Award-winning children\'s book author and National Children\'s Book and Literacy Alliance founder Mary Brigid Barrett will make the case for improving school libraries this Saturday at the National Book Festival in Washington:

Libraries and librarians are in the forefront of literacy outreach, Barrett says. While organizations that give children books are providing a valuable service, they can never replace libraries. \'\'Giving a child one or two books is like giving him one free breakfast when he\'s starving,\'\' she said. School libraries are particularly needed today, because most children cannot walk to their public libraries. Libraries in urban areas may present a safety threat, and in rural areas, the distances are often too great.

Barrett says that her work with senators Jack Reed, a Rhode Island Democrat, and Thad Cochran, a Mississippi Republican, on legislation to increase funding for school libraries has revealed some disturbing information . . .

More from the Boston Globe.

For The Tribune Chronicle, John Booth writes...

\"By next fall, students in Trumbull County, OH will have a card catalog at their fingertips that stretches from Bloomfield to Hubbard, from Kinsman to Newton Falls. The final pieces of the puzzle are ready to fall into place, thanks to grant money enabling 16 school libraries in four districts to automate their card catalogs and link their computers to a countywide network. Federal Library Services and Technology Act funds awarded through the State Library of Ohio will provide more than $156,000 for the projects. In order to earn the grant, the schools had to agree to spend one-quarter of the funding - just more than $52,000.\" more...

Tanya writes \"I found this story
while catching up on the news from my former
stomping grounds. The Jeff Parish School System, of
which I\'m a product, is considering cutting librarian
positions in the elementary schools due to budget
problems. Supposedly the culprit is rising health care
costs. Also on the cutting block are athletic programs
and custodial and clerical positions. Just as in Salt
Lake a few weeks ago, the librarians will be moved to
teaching positions. The article contains some great
quotes from people who oppose the move such as this
one:

\"Of all the proposals, Roberts said he is most opposed
to cutting librarians
because of their influence on academics.\"

And this one:

\"Losing the librarians and sports would have the most
negative impact on
children, said Sally Falcone...\"

Read the story HERE
\"