School librarians across Connecticut are warning that recent budget cuts are stripping away a vital component of student learning. According to the nonprofit Read to Grow, the state now has roughly 670 school librarians – about 7% fewer than four years ago – a loss of roughly 80 positions.
Urban districts feel the impact first
The reductions have hit urban districts hardest. Hartford Public Schools, for example, eliminated all librarian positions at its high schools earlier this year, leaving students without dedicated professionals to guide them through research projects and media literacy instruction.
Educators stress the role of librarians
Valerie DiLorenzo, president of the Connecticut Association of School Librarians, said the cuts are driven by tight school budgets but warned they jeopardize a core educational resource. “Why would you be cutting the people who have the expertise, the passion to improve literacy in your district?” she asked.
DiLorenzo noted that every licensed school librarian is also a trained media specialist, helping students navigate technology, evaluate information and develop media literacy skills. “We focus on helping students learn those really essential tech skills, media literacy skills, how to figure out what is good, reliable, credible information,” she said.
Voices from the classroom
At Sedgwick Middle School in West Hartford, librarian Shannon McNeice has spent two decades fostering a love of reading and collaborating with teachers to enrich classroom instruction. “I get to spend time walking around with kids and getting them books that are exactly right to help them become readers,” McNeice said.
Beyond book selection, McNeice works with teachers across subjects to embed research, technology and creative projects into the curriculum. “Social studies comes in, we do big research projects. English language arts, we do podcasting,” she explained.
She also teaches students how to conduct research and evaluate sources – skills she calls essential for academic success. “How to find reliable sources, how to judge sources, how to use those sources, how to cite those sources. All those basic inquiry skills,” McNeice said.
Potential long‑term effects
School librarians argue that their work directly improves literacy rates and creates a stronger learning environment. “You’re going to get increased literacy, a culture of learning and you’re going to get a technology leader in your building,” McNeice said.
As districts prepare budgets for the upcoming school year, McNeice hopes decision‑makers will recognize the value librarians bring. “Certified library media specialists are the best investment you can make,” she added.
What’s at stake for Connecticut families
If cuts continue, students may lose critical guidance in evaluating the flood of information they encounter online, a skill increasingly important for both academic achievement and responsible citizenship. Parents and community members are urged to voice their support for preserving these positions at upcoming school board meetings and budget hearings.
Original reporting: NBC Connecticut (Hartford) — read the source article.
