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LAUSD libraries

Raising their hands, Alexa Martinez, 7, back row, left; Jennifer Hernandez, 6; Helen Hernandez, 7; and Noe Ortiz, 6, are eager to answer a question from library aide Cindy Ramirez after reading the book "Abe Lincoln's Hat" at San Pedro Elementary School in Los Angeles.

Raising their hands, Alexa Martinez, 7, back row, left; Jennifer Hernandez, 6; Helen Hernandez, 7; and Noe Ortiz, 6, are eager to answer a question from library aide Cindy Ramirez after reading the book “Abe Lincoln’s Hat” at San Pedro Elementary School in Los Angeles.  (Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times)

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About half of the 600 elementary and middle school libraries in L.A. Unified are without librarians or aides due to budget cuts, denying tens of thousands of students regular access to nearly $100 million worth of books, according to district data.

Ready to read

Leyda Penaloza, 7, reads her book while waiting for story time with her class at San Pedro Elementary School.   (Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times)

Book cart

Children peruse a book cart filled with books in the library at San Pedro Elementary. For many low-income students throughout L.A. Unified, school is their main source for books and reading.  (Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times)

Reading

A second grader looks through her book while waiting in line to go to their next class at San Pedro Elementary. Many students are without an open library at school due to district-wide budget cuts.  (Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times)

Library book

After spending time with her class in the school library, second-grader Jessica Solis, left, reads her book while waiting in line to switch classes at San Pedro Elementary.  (Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times)

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