SCHOOL LIBRARIES

I did send off my grant request for the Library of America Classics--after all, one can’t really pass up $30 books for $8. But it will be the rare student who is attracted to these heavy blocks of thin-paged culture. Cheryl Hurley says “principals and the state superintendent . . . were very aware that something had to be done.” So what have they done? State superintendent Bill Honig issued a report, and my principal cut my budget 20%. With all the fuss over literacy, California still doesn’t have libraries in its elementary schools. And the hypocrisy is commonplace as educators praise reading and deny the children books. Look at us!

Slowly now. Libraries. With librarians. In every grade. Just like every other state has. Access to all books, not just the classics saved for the last four years of school when the battle has been lost.

RICHARD K. MOORE

LIBRARIAN

TORRANCE UNIFIED

SCHOOL DISTRICT