No more pencils, no more books: Are school librarians becoming obsolete?

No more pencils, no more books: Are school librarians becoming obsolete?

Once the staple of nearly every school, the school librarian and media specialist is feeling a bit under-appreciated — if not under siege — these days.

Over the past five years, the number of certified library/media specialists in New Jersey’s public schools has dropped by almost 15 percent, according to the statewide association, and its own membership has been cut almost in half.

There were 1,580 certified specialists statewide last year, down from 1,850 in 2007-2008, serving roughly 2,500 schools.

The biggest contributor to the drop was the state’s budget crisis two years ago. Library positions were some of the first to be cut by districts looking to trim staff, association officers and local officials said. (Mooney, NJ Spotlight)

https://www.njspotlight.com/stories/12/09/25/are-school-librarians-becoming-obsolete/