Public School Libraries in Danger?

[Insoluble]

Just came across this article:

School Libraries: A Dispppearing Act - Metropolis

I not surprised to read about this but find it deeply concerning. The Charter school I taught at did not have a library and decided to spend the money and resources allocated for the library on expanding the athletics program instead.

[n4100]

Libraries have been shuttered or unstaffed for years in the District. New reading programs, new math programs, and escalating administration costs are all more important than a library. That and the fact that there aren't enough qualified librarians willing to take the job. Principals would rather have another math teacher or than a librarian.

[macdaire]

Looking forward I think schools need to be thinking more in the lines of media centers. i think the days where large amounts of quare footage are used for shelves of books is past.
Do not get me wrong I am a book lover but our students are more tech savvy and laptops, kindles etc. decrease the need for space and allow students to still access the written word.
Of course that does not decrease the need for more money to supply items and spaces

[knwmn]

Say what you want about libraries, think what you want about libraries, but do the research and you'll see that schools with libraries do better on standardized tests than schools without libraries.
Think about it: We want to kids to read, but then don't allow them the opportunity to read what interests them.

[macdaire]

I do not think that anyone is saying do not provide students with the opportunity to read. However, if you spend any amount of time with students today you will realize that we need to reach the in a variety of different ways. Stacks and stacks of books is not the only approach.

[knwmn]

agreed
Kids love to read how to books in regards to computer games. Music magazines are big, but all these things can be found in a library.

Library's today help people develop resume's and our kids don't even know what a resume' is.