In Winchester (MA), after a budget cut override failed, one loss was library resource managers for the 2004-2005 school year.
At Vinson-Owen Elementary School, the parents stepped in at the end of the 2003-2004 school year while the elementary librarians were still employed.
School librarian Lynn Bailey (who was laid off) said there were “great debates” throughout the early summer months, discussing if they would step in and open the libraries at all. She said the parents were sensitive to the fact that they were not trying to replace the librarians in any way. “The students will be coming in much less frequently now then they did when there was a librarian,” said Bailey. “We simply don’t have the volunteer power.”
Story from Town On-line .
In Winchester (MA), after a budget cut override failed, one loss was library resource managers for the 2004-2005 school year.
At Vinson-Owen Elementary School, the parents stepped in at the end of the 2003-2004 school year while the elementary librarians were still employed.
School librarian Lynn Bailey (who was laid off) said there were “great debates” throughout the early summer months, discussing if they would step in and open the libraries at all. She said the parents were sensitive to the fact that they were not trying to replace the librarians in any way. “The students will be coming in much less frequently now then they did when there was a librarian,” said Bailey. “We simply don’t have the volunteer power.”
Story from Town On-line .Dr. Guido Sabelli, the school’s principal, said they were “very fortunate” to have these volunteers who have contributed a lot of effort and time. “It’s great and it will get us through this year, but it can’t last forever,” he said.
Since the loss of librarians for the 2004-2005 year, elementary libraries would not be able to continue to participate in the Mass. Children’s Book Award programs and they will not be able to continue “Authorfest.” Also, no schools will be adding to their collection of books, and there will not be any organized teaching of library skills. Schools will decide individually if they can hold a Scholastic Book Fair.
Fortunate to have volunteers?
This has been commented on before (with disdain at the typical “librarian continues work as volunteer after retirement” stories)… Getting and therefore relying on bake sale-type funding and volunteers sets a dangerous precedent for further and permanent budget cuts.
Just like military families shouldn’t have to take collections to buy body armor and teachers shouldn’t have to pay their own money for school supplies, libraries need to be properly funded in their own right.
Re:Fortunate to have volunteers?
Agreed…but what’s the principal going to say, “You volunteers aren’t wanted”? As we all know, in an unfortunate situation such as this unpaid parent volunteers are better than nothing/no one at all…