I was asked to do some research and write an article showing one of many obstacles school librarians face in trying to provide literacy to their students.

I do hear from schools in our state that receive zero budget or have funds allotted to them taken away from the library and put into the rest of the school, showing the value placed on libraries and the value attached to school librarians in a given school. I followed a post asked to school librarians all over the U.S., and this is what I heard:

This goes Elementary librarians – what’s your budget like for next year?

Kellie

7500 books, 2000 supplies (including makerspace supplies) 750 periodicals

Ariana jealous

Amanda wow!!!! That’s huge!

Jill Our district is funding all of the school libraries this year to get us all at exemplary status. Our average age will be 2013 or better and around 15 books per student

Andrea We get $25 per student for books and supplies which is down from the past.

Trina For years we got only $2 per student, but now we get $10 per student.

Wow. How do you run a library with $0?

No idea! I won’t find out until the fall.

Rebekah Whatever I can make at 2 book fairs

Stephanie In the school I just left – probably less than $2000 and not book fair fundraiser. Looking for that new school so not sure yet for me. But any amount would be better than what I was given last year. Not to mention they tell you until you ask a jillion times.

Jodi Whatever my PTA gives me. $2000 at one school, $0 at the other

Lisa $0 for books or anything specific to the library. I did ask for 6 rolls of packing tape & index cards for next year and got those!

Kim I get absolutely nothing except for what I make through fundraising.

Erin Same as always $2,452.

April We typically get $20 per student but we were told it’s been cut. Not sure how deep the cuts are yet though!

Amanda The last few years has been $1000 cut from $5000. No idea about this coming year.

Christine I’m moving to a new campus and I believe the overall budget is $5,000.

Stephanie What I make a two book fairs and a budget based on enrollment to buy books.

Amanda Not sure about this coming year because it’s Principal decision and we have a new principal but last year was $3000 for books & $1000 for supplies.

Leslie We used to get $10 per student, then for 10 years we got $0. This is our 3rd year of getting $5 per student with minimum of $3000. I only have 500 students.

Becky We typically get a book budget, a tech budget, and a small general/supplies budget. It’s based on school enrollment and all comes from bond $$.

Siobhán I never get told my budget, nor am I involved in making it

Carianne Campus of 340-ish 1st and 2nd graders.

In the past, I had $2,250 for books, $900 for supplies, and $1,000 for conference/travel. This year, I think it was $2,000 for books, $700 for supplies, and I have no idea what my travel was, but I loved the conference I attended in April!! 

I didn’t get word of my budget amounts until I went and asked in late April — the day before I was to have it all spent.  I got it done, but the amounts surprised me a bit.

Ann $16 per student. So $8000.

Kevin 1440 for library/books. 1000 periodicals that can also transfer for books if needed

Kendra $0.00

Kate $0

Laurie 0

Jennifer 0

Sarah About $3,000. We have 485 students. $400 for supplies

Here is your opportunity – as a parent, teacher, faculty, community member, business owner, PLEASE ask this question of your local school director – What part of the school budget is set aside for our librarian, library, and new resources found in the library.

This will be the best possible gift to help support literacy in stemming from your library to the rest of any institution.