Inequality of DCPS Libraries

[Anonymous]

In reference to the WaPo article about the unequal shelves in DCPS libraries:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/unequal-shelves-in-dc-school-libraries-benefit-wealthier-students/2015/03/09/f548db96-bd1f-11e4-8668-4e7ba8439ca6_story.html

What are some creative ideas (without snark) to correct this and create more equal libraries at every DCPS?

[Anonymous]

Has anyone done a local book drive? Parents could donate any books their children have outgrown or no longer need, and then someone could go through and pick out the books that are in library-appropriate condition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone done a local book drive? Parents could donate any books their children have outgrown or no longer need, and then someone could go through and pick out the books that are in library-appropriate condition.

Wouldn't that just increase the inequality? My guess is that families in high-SES neighborhoods would be able to donate more books in better condition, while families in low-SES neighborhoods would be limited in their ability to donate.

Unless you mean a citywide system, where the donated books are redistributed to the schools with the greatest need?

[Anonymous]

I don't live in DC proper, but this story made me very sad for the students in schools with so few books.
"Lafayette Elementary School, in upper Northwest Washington, has one of the largest library collections in the District’s public school system, with more than 28,000 books filling stacks on two floors. Drew Elementary, 12 miles away and east of the Anacostia River, has one of the city’s smallest inventories: 300 catalogued books lining shelves along two of the library’s walls." And folks wonder why children of these schools do so poorly.

[Anonymous]

I am happy to see a post about this, because I would love help with any sort of effort to help DCPS libraries. I think a book drive could work (with the understanding that it would have to be city-wide, so that the books go to the schools that need them). Encouraging the school librarians to create Amazon wishlists of specific titles that they need - or Donor's Choose projects to increase their collection would be good too. I know I would contribute. The Central Office staff that oversees school libraries can be found here: http://dcps.dc.gov/DCPS/Beyond+the+Classroom/Educational+Technology+&+Library+Services, I'm wondering if reaching out to the Director of Library Programs would be the best way to figure out what would help the most.

[Anonymous]

we need a CITY wide collection and then one entity to manage the distribution to create a more equal system. And the thing with Lafayette is that most of those kids probably have a ton of books at home already. I was just looking around my house last night. I have one kid a little over age two and I think I have probably close to 80-100 books for ages baby to 3. I buy a lot and my family give us a ton of books. We have books for easy access for my DD in all places around the house. Every kid should have great access to as many books as possible. I would gladly donate a lot of books to a needy school library.

[Anonymous]

It is a crime that a school library's collection should consist of 300 books. Unfortunately, I suspect part of the problem is the bureaucracy. Where are all the books intended for school libraries warehoused? How are they making their way to each school? And the idea of book donations, while a good one, is not as easy as just giving books. There are several processes involved in adding books to a library's collection involving cataloging, indexing, etc. as well as equipment to maintain the collection. Basically, it's going to take more coordination and more money. I think the call for people to reach out to the Director of Library Programs is a good one offered up by PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is a crime that a school library's collection should consist of 300 books. Unfortunately, I suspect part of the problem is the bureaucracy. Where are all the books intended for school libraries warehoused? How are they making their way to each school? And the idea of book donations, while a good one, is not as easy as just giving books. There are several processes involved in adding books to a library's collection involving cataloging, indexing, etc. as well as equipment to maintain the collection. Basically, it's going to take more coordination and more money. I think the call for people to reach out to the Director of Library Programs is a good one offered up by PP.

I'm the PP who suggested reaching out to the Central Office - a huge part of the problem it seems is that books ARE NOT warehoused anywhere and they ARE NOT making their ways to schools, because there the DCPS budget includes no specific line item for library materials. Each school is on their own, and they are relying heavily on donations or on school finding money in their budgets to purchase materials.

So another thing that we should all do, is write to our councilmembers and encourage them to include a line-item in the DCPS budget for library materials!

[Anonymous]

My child goes to a school with an extensive library and we are in the higher SES range - so she has a lot of books.

When we thin out our books from her personal library, we donate them to our IB school, which has a small and pathetic library.

Hopefully, now that more of you are aware of these issues in the city - you can choose to do the same. If you are expecting a change from the government level - you will have a long way. Take some initiative yourself.

[Anonymous]

Some kind of city-wide book drive/donation/$ to buy books a few time a year which could then be distributed based on need seems like a promising mission.
I can understand that there may be a lot of logistical pieces to this puzzle -- transportation of the actual books to each library, cataloguing the books (especially if there is no dedicated librarian at some schools), etc, but we should really make this work.
It seems like a no brainer.
I'd be interested in hearing from any school librarians out there on ideas they have to make this work.

[Anonymous]

As upsetting as this looks, and probably is, let's try to move away from "the more books on shelves the better". At universities, libraries are no longer measured by the number of books they count on their shelves but by the number of databases they offer to students. A library, at this point in time, in school or DCPL, shouldn't be measured in an antiquated fashion either. They should be(come) places of all kinds of knowledge and resources and held to those standards.

Let's say if a library has 300 books on shelves but offers all its children access to thousands of leveled volumes in each classroom offered in Kindles, Noooks, or laptops? Is that library so much worse of than one that has 3000 books sitting in shelves but no librarian or one whose main job is to teach technology? And what about those schools that don't have a central library but instead cultivate leveled classroom libraries, physical or otherwise? How do you count home and school access to RazKids in your "library sadness indicator"?

There truly is more to libraries than books at this juncture!

[Anonymous]

For one thing, as of 13/14 SY Lafayette had 689 students to Drew's 168 with one less grade level. Lafayette should need a bigger library and can also easily justify a full time librarian. Smaller schools are unfairly forced to make trade-offs with limited resources or unreasonably expected to raise the funds themselves. While having funds for material acquisitions is one component, an integrated role for school librarians is the most critical need.

Sue Bloom at Peabody is fantastic, as mentioned in the article. Barbara Ochmanek is equally fantastic at SWS. These schools don't view librarians as a luxury and their work is integral to the student learning environment.

[Anonymous]

partnership between the fantastic DC Library system and schools should be a no brainer. School libraries have their place but even the best school libraries are far more limited tha the larger municipal library system. DC Library is fFree to kids, items can be delivered from anywhere in the system to a local branch, and there are no fees on juvenile books. School librarians serve an important role in curation and recommending appropriate titles, but the general resource already exists.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As upsetting as this looks, and probably is, let's try to move away from "the more books on shelves the better". At universities, libraries are no longer measured by the number of books they count on their shelves but by the number of databases they offer to students. A library, at this point in time, in school or DCPL, shouldn't be measured in an antiquated fashion either. They should be(come) places of all kinds of knowledge and resources and held to those standards.

Let's say if a library has 300 books on shelves but offers all its children access to thousands of leveled volumes in each classroom offered in Kindles, Noooks, or laptops? Is that library so much worse of than one that has 3000 books sitting in shelves but no librarian or one whose main job is to teach technology? And what about those schools that don't have a central library but instead cultivate leveled classroom libraries, physical or otherwise? How do you count home and school access to RazKids in your "library sadness indicator"?

There truly is more to libraries than books at this juncture!

When was the last time you've been in one of these lower income libraries. I assure you - there are no Kindles, Nooks and very few laptops.

[Anonymous]

There are plenty of computers. Thank PARCC.