In parents' book, library cuts go too far

The Spokane parents "gave people around the state an opportunity to say, 'Yes, this is important,' " Priest said. "That is special -- not unique, but it's unusual, because here's a couple of concerned parents who are doing more than writing or e-mailing. They're expressing views clearly and forcefully and providing a website so that others who agree can express their views as well."

Nationally, statistics on school library staffing are elusive, said Nicolle Steffen, director of Library Research Service, a Denver-based agency that collects research about libraries. However, she said unequivocally that schools across the country struggle with library funding.

In Colorado, educators are trying to demonstrate a connection between student achievement and librarians in schools. One achievement test score there notes whether the school has a librarian, Steffen said.

"It seems pretty clear to us that librarians matter," she said. "Having a library with somebody in it is important. When you have a trained librarian who works with teachers, that's when you make a huge difference."

The National Commission on Libraries and Information Science urged Congress this year to support certified school librarians under the No Child Left Behind Act. School library media programs and student achievement are critically linked, the commission said.

The number of school library media specialists varies widely from state to state and district to district, said Julie A. Walker, executive director of American Assn. of School Librarians. School library funding tends to track overall education funding, she said. South Carolina and Arkansas have the highest percentage of librarians in schools, nearly one per school, because of statewide legislative mandates, and California has the lowest because of the lingering impact of Proposition 13, Walker said.

Despite budget pressures, some schools have maintained and expanded their libraries.

At Auburn Riverside High School in a growing suburb about 25 miles south of Seattle, Lisa Gallinatti manages a collection of 21,000 books and runs a computer lab with about 50 workstations.

She teaches students about the research process, helping students determine the best sources of information. She teaches students the difference between a search engine and a database.

("When you search the Web, you don't always find quality," she said. "Databases are more accurate." Internet searches church out results based on popularity or paid placement.)