Students, employees plead for local school librarian jobs during tough times
Heather Chappell is surrounded by love — literally.
On the walls of Creekside Elementary School where she is the librarian, students have decorated red and pink paper hearts by finishing the sentence, "I love my library because ..."
On the walls of Creekside Elementary School where she is the librarian, students have decorated red and pink paper hearts by finishing the sentence, "I love my library because ..."
"I learn words," wrote one third-grader.
A fifth-grader wrote, "It has awesome books and you can learn from books."
"It's some place I can relax. That's why I love my library," according to a sixth-grader.
A fifth-grader wrote, "It has awesome books and you can learn from books."
"It's some place I can relax. That's why I love my library," according to a sixth-grader.
Budget cuts have once again cast librarians into the spotlight, asking whether their positions are necessary. Last month, the Lodi Unified School District board approved eliminating more than two dozen library
"We've hung these bears all over the library and hundreds are on display," teacher-librarian Carol Grenko said, adding that she can hardly keep up with the demand for cut-outs.
"It has been very insightful to gain the students' perspective. It feels so good to know that the students truly appreciate their library and the opportunities that go with it: great place to research with their classes, work on projects, read, gather and just feel at home, especially before and after school and at lunch."
She plans to present the bears to Superintendent Cathy Nichols-Washer at a future school board meeting.
"One wouldn't think that a generation hooked to their cell phones and iPods would care so much about the fate of their library," Grenko said. "Because of this campaign, I've discovered hundreds of reasons why they do care, and I couldn't be more proud to be their librarian."
A similar campaign is underway at both the McNair and Tokay high school libraries.
She said the effort was started when she learned that Sacramento City Unified School District, too, is facing a $30 million dollar budget reduction. However, Superintendent Jonathan Raymond has publicly said there will be no reductions in libraries, according to Grenko.
"He urged all to 'Pass the word.' Well, we are certainly passing on his message here at BCHS as are other schools in LUSD," she said.
— Jennifer Bonnett
Campaign to save libraries
Bear Creek High School students have been writing — on recycled paper shaped like the Bruin mascot — reasons why the library is important to them."We've hung these bears all over the library and hundreds are on display," teacher-librarian Carol Grenko said, adding that she can hardly keep up with the demand for cut-outs.
"It has been very insightful to gain the students' perspective. It feels so good to know that the students truly appreciate their library and the opportunities that go with it: great place to research with their classes, work on projects, read, gather and just feel at home, especially before and after school and at lunch."
She plans to present the bears to Superintendent Cathy Nichols-Washer at a future school board meeting.
"One wouldn't think that a generation hooked to their cell phones and iPods would care so much about the fate of their library," Grenko said. "Because of this campaign, I've discovered hundreds of reasons why they do care, and I couldn't be more proud to be their librarian."
A similar campaign is underway at both the McNair and Tokay high school libraries.
She said the effort was started when she learned that Sacramento City Unified School District, too, is facing a $30 million dollar budget reduction. However, Superintendent Jonathan Raymond has publicly said there will be no reductions in libraries, according to Grenko.
"He urged all to 'Pass the word.' Well, we are certainly passing on his message here at BCHS as are other schools in LUSD," she said.
— Jennifer Bonnett