Is a school library necessary in public schools?

Question

My mother is doing a report for her grad. classes in library science and wants to know what people think about the importance of libraries in schools. They were not in place until about the 1960's. Does that mean that they were an important introduction or an unnecessary waste of money? Please give me your opinion.

Thanks for all your answers, there has been a lot of opposition to putting libraries in schools, some don't even have them yet. Some are very advanced but some have hardly anything at all.

Answer 1

Numerous studies link student achievement and school libraries. Most recently, a study titled "Canadian School Libraries and Achievement Linked" in the journal "American Libraries", May 2006, Vol. 37 Issue 5, p25-26, revealed that "grade 3 and 6 students in schools with teacher-librarians are more likely to report that they enjoy reading, while schools without trained library staff tend to have lower achievement on the grade 3 and 6 reading tests."

Another study titled "Impact of School Library Media Centers on Academic Achievement" in "SLMQ" Volume 22, Number 3, Spring 1994 has as one of its conclusions that "students at schools with better-funded Library media centers tend to achieve higher average reading scores, whether their schools and communities are rich or poor and whether adults in their community are well or poorly educated." This is an exciting conclusions because student achievement is often equated with socio-economic factors in the community. This study seems to indicate that a good school library can help equalize student achievement for rich and poor communities.

Answer 2

Personally, I used the library at my elementary school and the library at my junior high school, but when I got to high school, I found the school's library came in a poor second to the local public library. Are school libraries necessary? Not necessarily, but that assumes the student has access to the public library. Access to a library is very necessary. Access to a library with a caring adult who can show you the joy of books and how the find those books is extremely necessary.
When I was in high school, the library doubled as the study hall. For some of my lesser peers that may be as close as they got to a book that was not a textbook during their high school years.

Answer 3

Yes, school libraries are necessary. Many students do not have access to reading materials outside of schools. The school library gives that student the opportunity to explore the world of words outside of English class. Also, when doing research projects, students need to have access to documents other than those that they can get off the Internet. The school library should have Internet access as a supplement to the books available, not as its main source of information.

Answer 4

I believe that it is very important to have a library in schools, not just public, but all kinds. it is easier for the students to get the information that they need, some children don't have access to the Internet or to a library at home, so they are at school Monday through Friday, this gives them plenty of time to get the information that they need. not only for studying but also some children also love to read and this gives them the chance to, and they only have to walk to the schools library to return the book.

Answer 5

I work as a teacher in the public school system. I believe, without a doubt, that libraries are necessary in public schools. I have met kids who had never read a book until they picked one out of their high school library. It is of crucial importance for young people to read and we must make literature available to them because they may not receive this opportunity at home.

Answer 6

I sympathize with you, but you do need documentation of your education, as that is how the world judges people. From what I've seen. I believe the quality of public school education here in the US has dropped about 50% compared to public school in the 1950s. I've seen a lot of wrong answers on this website, answers to simple questions. People unfamiliar with basic history, giving answers according to what movie they saw. So many kids and grown ups asking questions, when it takes 2 minutes to find the answer using a search-engine. So, you do need to attend formal classes, supplement those with what you can learn outside of public school. ......By the way, there was a post on here 2 days ago. A 15 yr old girl, 80% deaf, now attending college in California.

Answer 7

Libraries are very important! Reading is very important! This is especially true with the new curriculum in the schools. Children need to have access to books to become better readers. Libraries are the key to their success.

Answer 8

i think they are very useful...

at my school its open b4 the first bell and after school also, this is where the kids that dont have computers go to get their work done. Also, if you type an assignment at home and dont have a printer, take it to the school library in the morning and get it printed for class. Teachers also assign days for their class to go and do research and stuff. Plus thats where the teachers get most of their videos. I think a school library is very helpful.

Answer 9

Wow.... i also in library sc but we called it as INFORMATION MANAGEMENT. 1960's? I'm not born yet. but it is for people that didnot have enough money to buy some books / novel. And from what i watch on TV, it is more the process of telling something about religion

but today library not just for books but also for internet... but the most thing that people like do in library now is dating! huhuhu... it is true!

Answer 10

Less and less important as people move toward the internet for information. A book is outdated the moment it is published. The internet is dynamic.

But there are children that don't have access to the internet at home, don't have transportation to a public library on their own so they are VERY necessary.