School libraries seek alternative funding

Alabama’s education budget shortfall continues to make its mark on public schools.

One area hardest hit is school libraries. In the first year of proration, school libraries received $8.5 million to buy books and other supplies. In the current budget year, after proration was declared, the budget for school libraries was cut to zero.

Matthews Elementary School fifth-graders are getting some extra time in the library, reading some of their favorite books. Some of them are new thanks to a University of Alabama sorority.

Matthews Elementary Librarian Nancy Carson said, “And we’re very lucky here because the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority at the University of Alabama raised money.“

They raised $2,500 dollars in a joint project with Books-a-Million. More than 400 books were purchased with the donation here at Matthews Elementary. Many libraries are turning to outside sources to restock their shelves.

Carson said, “In the state of Alabama, all schools, all school libraries had funding eliminated, proration just zeroed out the funding for school libraries.“

So school libraries like this one are seeking donations from corporations, civic groups and accepting money from sororities to keep their libraries up to date. Carson is hopeful school libraries will get their funding back.

Carson said, “If you miss one year of funding, it’s painful, and you’ll notice it a long time. But as long as we get funding in the future, the librarians continue to serve the students and to be a part of the school.“

Until funding returns for school libraries, they will have to continue to be creative to purchase books for their patrons.

Matthews’ librarian purchased both nonfiction and fiction with the donation that included cookbooks, joke books and the latest book from the popular “Wimpy Kids” series.