Idle library’s books are packed up and given away

More than four years have gone by without the school having a librarian. Lack of proper staffing has lead to hundreds of books going unread. Unenjoyed. Some books have been replaced by dust, while others await to be put in a storage room.

However now, rather than being tucked away behind paper, the books have been passed out and are in the process of being packed up.

Mini libraries have been established in some English classes in an attempt to salvage what’s left of some of the novels in the library.

“Students need access to literature,” said English teacher Alice Henderson.

She was one of the few teachers who followed up on the invitation to grab books before they were put into boxes and stored in a room.

“It’s silly to have those books in boxes,” she said. “It’s better to have them in classrooms so that the students can check them out and actually use them.”

Henderson said students were “enthusiastic” about the opportunity to have books to take home and read. In fact, even students who aren’t in her class came to check books out from her mini-library.

It is the teacher’s responsibility to keep track of the checking in and out of their own mini-library books.

The books that weren’t selected are going to be packed, according to Principal Andre Phillips.

“They are labeled,” he said, “so any time the teachers want to grab more or exchange, they are free to do so.”

English Department Chair Ty Pafford sees the value in having a fully functional library. “I love books and they’re so valuable,” he said.

On the other hand, Pafford understands that the library can only be up and running “in a perfect world.”

Phillips has a new idea to create that “perfect world.” However, it won’t be the traditional checking out of books as in a traditional library.

The books that remain will be of a select few, ones needed for student research papers and reference. Phillips wants to take advantage of as much of the library space as he can.

With the possibility of new couches, opening during school hours, possibly becoming testing and meeting center, the library is looking to be more than just a room with empty bookshelves. It will be functional, but it won’t be a fully functional library.

Junior Autumn Saldana feels the room will merely be a “hangout center” if the new renovations take place.

“It’ll just be somewhere students can chill and socialize,” she said.

The students would be monitored by Campus Security Monitors at all times and the books would never leave the library. Students would only be allowed to use them while inside, according to Phillips.

Bibliophile Monica Kunz is often scolded for reading in class when she should be paying attention. “If I could, I’d sit in class with my books and read all day,” the sophomore said.

She said that Phillips is doing the best he can considering the circumstances. “It’s a good thing students can now check out books through their teachers,” Kunz said. “I just wish we could have our library.”

“If students want to read outside of the realm of what’s assigned,” Phillips said, “they can check out books through their teachers.”