Library Workers in Danger of Losing Jobs

Rockford, Illinois- Pat Webner has been a full time library paraprofessional in the Rockford School District for 26 years. She believes nothing is more important than a students ability to read and develop a lifelong love of books. Webner is angry that library doors might be locked half of every week because of budget cuts. "It is very, very important that we keep our school libraries open full time," says Webner. "Because if we don`t, these kids are going to check out a book maybe once every other week, and that`s not enough." She says library workers do much more than just read to students. "Teachers don`t have libraries in their room," says Webner. "We have the resources here for the kids to check their books out, to take them home, have mom and dad read with them." Members of the local union representing the library workers picketed Tuesday afternoon outside the Rockford School District Administration Building to protest the cuts. School board officials say the staff cuts at the districts 36 elementary schools, a total of 25 full-time jobs, are necessary because of a $4.7 million decrease in federal funding this year. But library workers say the school board is leaving children behind. "Many children don`t have the opportunity to go to a public library," says Kathy Swanson, AFSCME Local 692 President. "A lot of children won`t be picking up books, they`ll go back to TV and videos." "We can still accomplish what the principals think are key things," says Dr. Dennis Thompson, superintendent of Rockford Public Schools, "which are having access to books, trying to do a minimal help of research, but it certainly won`t be the full package." "You know you want them to learn how to read, but you`re not giving them books to read with," says Webner. "To me, that`s almost saying reading isn`t important. That`s the message they`re sending." The Rockford School Board will vote on the library job cuts at the April 24th meeting.