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L.A. Now Live: Discuss struggling L.A. Unified school libraries

Students raise their hands to answer a question after library aide Cindy Ramirez reads the book "Abe Lincoln's Hat" at San Pedro Elementary School in Los Angeles.
(Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times)
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Join Los Angeles Times staff writer Teresa Watanabe at 12:30 p.m. for a discussion on budget cuts at Los Angeles Unified that have resulted in the elimination of hundreds of library aides.

Roughly half of the school district’s libraries at middle and elementary schools are without librarians or aides, meaning tens of thousands of students are denied regular access to nearly $100 million in books.

The crisis at the school district’s libraries has exacerbated educational inequalities across the nation’s second-largest school system, as some campuses receive extra money for library services while others do not.

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There have been some efforts to infuse the libraries with new funding, and during the chat, Watanabe will answer questions and respond to readers’ comments about the possibilities ahead.

Readers can send questions or comments ahead of time or during the chat to @aribloomekatz. Questions and comments can also be submitted during the chat on the L.A. Times homepage.

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