Librarians Reinstated in
Philadelphia High Schools
Thirteen Philadelphia high school librarians who lost their jobs in June due to budget cutbacks returned to their former positions the first week in September, thanks to central funding from the Philadelphia School District. Philadelphia Schools Chief Paul G. Vallas said the move was part of a plan to spend $2 million or more to upgrade school libraries and science labs, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported September 4.
High schools that lost librarians in 2001 or earlier are next on the list, and middle and elementary schools after that, Director of Library Programs and Services Crystal Patterson told American Libraries. “Another high school that has never had a librarian is now going to have one,” she added. “We are trying to follow through on Mr. Vallas’s objective that every high school with a library has a librarian.”
Patterson said that it was her goal to move toward central funding for both library staff and materials, although it’s currently unclear how that will be set up. Until now, individual schools have been entirely responsible for budget allocations each spring, and media centers are often the first to get cut. The trend accelerated after the 1994–95 school year, when the Pennsylvania Department of Education dropped a requirement that high school libraries be staffed by certified librarians.
“Paul Vallas is very supportive of school libraries,” Patterson told AL, “and he believes in the power of what a good school library can do for a school and student achievement.” Vallas came to Philadelphia in July after six years as chief executive officer for Chicago Public Schools.
Posted September 9, 2002.
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