Healthy school libraries are vital to our children

For many children, school libraries may be their only exposure to library collections and services. We owe it to our students as future citizens of this state to provide quality school libraries — anything less would be a disservice.

Unfortunately, a nationwide misconception that school libraries are dispensable has reached Washington state. Like many school districts across the country, the Federal Way School District voted to cut some 20 librarian positions to save money.

Why? Many believe that in the digital age, libraries are unnecessary.

Just recently in New Orleans, the American Association of School Librarians hosted a national town-hall meeting on the importance of school libraries. This is critical to rebuilding the communities in the devastated Gulf Coast, where schools were destroyed after deadly hurricanes swept the area.

In Nashua, N.H., administrators recently recommended decreasing the number of librarians in elementary schools as part of a plan to absorb $4.2 million in cuts.

School districts around the country are hoping to relieve the strain of shrinking budgets and rising costs by sacrificing librarian positions that fulfill key services.

The decision to mothball school libraries and severely cut back libraries throughout the country is disturbing. It jeopardizes student literacy, comprehension and development.

Healthy school libraries are vital to Washington's children. There is a direct correlation between excellent school libraries and high student achievement.

Thanks to the technological revolution, a common argument is that the need for libraries is fast becoming obsolete. Today, the Internet offers everything at your fingertips in the convenience of your own home. Why pay for expensive storage space and librarians when a computer will suffice?

In short, it won't — using other electronic sources is risky because the accuracy of information on the Internet is questionable.

Go to Google and type in a search for "cancer" and you will find more than 588 million sites on the subject. What information is factual? Where does a researcher begin?

In the past 30 years, more information has been produced than the previous 5,000. These librarians teach 21st-century learners how to sort through the overwhelming amount of information available to them in both print and electronic formats.

Cutting librarian positions leaves schools without advocates who work to design, develop and implement programs that encourage reading for enjoyment and information. It leaves schools without partners in the achievement of learning goals and qualified instructors to teach students how to research.

After surviving budget cuts and Gov. Gary Locke's two proposals to close the Washington State Library, I appreciate the difficult financial and programmatic decisions school districts are being forced to make.

Today, the state library sits on more solid ground. The battle has been exhausting, but I will continue to fight for this extraordinary, tremendous institution that provides such valuable services. I urge you to join me in the fight to save our state's school libraries.

Sam Reed is Washington secretary of state. The secretary of state's office assumed oversight of the Washington State Library in 2002.