Little Joy in Big Apple
Book money won't help school libraries
Staff -- School Library Journal, 2/1/2001
Despite New York City's pledge of $31.5 million to create classroom libraries in each of its 21,000 public school classrooms, librarians in the nation's largest city were far from overjoyed. One local library leader, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, was dismayed that the city would choose to create classroom libraries rather than upgrade its poorly funded centralized school libraries. New York City's public school libraries, which serve approximately 700,000 students, receive just $6 per pupil. The early-January announcement came as part of New York Mayor Rudolph W. Guiliani's State of the City address. The funding, which was requested by Schools Chancellor Harold O. Levy, will come from this year's city budget and be used to purchase 300 books for each kindergarten through eighth grade classroom. The books will be selected by the Board of Education. A spokesperson for the board was unable to provide information on the city's rationale for establishing classroom libraries. It is also not known whether school librarians will play a role in choosing the books. Still, Big Apple media specialists may soon have reason to smile: the New York Times reported last month that the mayor has allocated $5 million to a school-library project spearheaded by the Robin Hood Foundation, a philanthropic group. The money will be used to improve the city's ailing school libraries.--Rick Margolis
