Worcester Public Schools (WPS) has opened seven new library rooms in elementary schools across the city, using available classroom space to create dedicated reading areas. While the physical rooms are ready, many of the shelves are still empty because the district has yet to acquire enough new titles to fill them.

Funding and community effort

The district allocated $25,000 for new books, a modest sum that community volunteers hope will grow. A parent‑led group called the Worcester Elementary School Library Coalition is spearheading the effort. “We’re in the middle of a literacy crisis, and kids need access to books, and parents can’t always take them to the public library,” said Erika Schmitt Boyle, a teacher at Belmont Community School and a parent.

Why shelves are bare

WPS recently conducted an audit of existing collections, removing outdated or unsuitable titles. The weeding process left many gaps, and the district’s limited budget has slowed the replacement of those books. “They started a few years ago, doing an audit of what was on the shelves, and we started weeding some of the books, and looking at some of the books that might not work for 2026,” Schmitt Boyle explained.

Goals for the future

The coalition’s founding member, Andrew Keefe, a parent of two Belmont students, says the aim is a 10:1 book‑to‑student ratio, which would require roughly 5,000 to 6,000 volumes across the seven schools. “Space, teachers, actual licensed librarians are hard to find,” Schmitt Boyle added. “The district has worked with us and opened up the libraries that have the space, and hopefully, it’ll slowly start to trickle into all of the elementary schools.”

Looking ahead

The long‑term plan is to have every Worcester public school library fully stocked with a complete range of new books by 2030. In the meantime, parents and volunteers are organizing book drives and seeking additional funding to bridge the current shortfall.

How families can help

Community members are encouraged to donate gently used children’s books, volunteer for shelving days, or contribute financially to the coalition’s fundraising campaigns. By working together, the city hopes to turn the empty shelves into vibrant hubs of learning and imagination for Worcester’s youngest readers.

Original reporting: NBC10 Boston — read the source article.