School libraries: How important are they to learning and critical thinking?

There are stark regional differences in library staffing across Ontario. (Canadian Press)

By CBC News

Staffing at school libraries across the province is declining, a trend that could affect children's ability to think critically about information, according to a report released by an education advocacy group.

The report by the group People for Education found 56 per cent of elementary schools in the province in 2010 have at least one full- or part-time teacher-librarian, an accredited teacher who has library training. That's down from 80 per cent in 1997/1998, according to the report, which was released Monday morning.

Meanwhile, 66 per cent of secondary schools across the province have at least one teacher-librarian, down from 78 per cent in 2001.

Teacher-librarians play an important role in helping children find information, evaluate and thinking critically about it and then applying it, said Annie Kidder, the executive director of the group in an interview.

In Windsor, Ont., students and parents are contending with the issues raised in the report first hand, and are currently fighting the Catholic school board's plan to close libraries and lay off librarians.
 
Outraged parents in the Windsor-Essex Catholic school district are attending school board meetings to protest the decision to close libraries, as well as contacting their local provincial and federal politicians.

Read more.

Should school boards cut other programs before they close libraries and layoff librarians? Why or why not? How important are school libraries to learning and developing critical thinking? Let us know in the comments below.

(This survey is not scientific. It is based on readers' responses.)