Arizona Republic Letter: 2008 September 6
Regarding "After budget cuts, aides running school libraries (Valley & State, Tuesday):
The decision to replace certified teacher-librarians with aides is detrimental to the students of Mesa Public Schools and all of Arizona.
A certified teacher-librarian does much more than check out materials or order resources. These professionals are first and foremost teachers who instruct students in navigating the vast resources that are available since the explosion of electronic communication and the Internet.
Contrary to popular belief, librarians are still needed to teach students how to effectively find and use information. These skills are vital to the success of our students in the 21st century.
Providing scripted lessons taught by aides in lieu of instruction by a certified teacher-librarian is not beneficial to students. Every student in Arizona should have a full-time, certified teacher-librarian at school so that they are prepared for learning and living in the 21st century.
I am the spokesperson for Fund Our Future Arizona and a librarian at Arizona State University. - Ann Dutton Ewbank, Phoenix
