BY JODI KERR
The average published date of books in the
stacks at Sublimity elementary and middle school library is
1955.
Thanks to the Parent Teacher Club, that soon will change.
"We have a great PTC, and they have committed to spending the
funds on new books and giving our library a fresh, new look,"
said Andy Gardner, Sublimity principal.
Parent Teacher Club President Wendie Bradley said: "The past
few years, we have chosen a project and set a goal. Last year,
it was the computer labs, and this year we are excited to make
a big impact on the library; $20,000 will be split for new
tables, chairs, bookshelves and books."
The North Santiam School District hired a consultant to work
with the district and found that the library was out of date.
"It needs to be brought up to date and coincide with teacher
curriculum," Gardner said. "Our library needs to be aiding the
classroom, and right now it isn't. We want to create a book
collection that everyone can use and be excited about."
The question that is raising eyebrows is: How does a library
become so aged?
"The district makes choices on how to spend money," Bradley
said. "Obviously the library hasn't been a priority in years."
Parents wonder whether the problem would have been noticed
sooner if the average football uniform was more than 40 years
old or if the football team didn't have a coach.
"The district cuts funding to the library, and then I think
they just expect it to sustain itself," Bradley said.
By spring, the library will have new paint, bookshelves and
carpet and about 700 new books. The PTC has hired a consultant
from the Salem-Keizer School District who has helped weed
through books that have not been checked out in more than
seven years and helped make a suggested list of books for the
PTC to purchase.
"We feel like we can make a significant impact with this
money. We hope to bring the library into the 21st century,"
Bradley said.
Gardner said: "The kids and staff have really been involved in
this process. The kids got to pick from carpet and paint
samples. The staff has put quite a bit of input into what kind
of books they would like to see be available to them."
Literary works weren't the only things lagging in the slow
lane. The average publishing year of a nonfiction book was
1956. "We want to purchase an updated encyclopedia set and
make sure that we purchase books that make kids get excited
about reading," Bradley said.
The PTC toured several newer libraries in the Salem area and
collected ideas for what an up-to-date library can, and
should, look like.
"If you look at the library, you will see warped bookcases and
mismatched chairs," Bradley said. "It seems the leadership
somewhere got the idea that a library was not important."
The North Santiam School District has agreed to pay for the
new carpet and light fixtures, and Bradley and Gardner are
trying to locate alternative sources of funding for the
changes. |
|
Source:
States Man Journal |
