BiblioTech: Keeping Hope for Libraries Alive in the Digital Age June 7, 2015 – Posted in: Libraries, Of Interest: Featured Books / Reviews, public libraries, public school libraries, Special Collections

John Palfrey’s lucid, passionate account of the state of American libraries reminds us both how important public libraries are to a healthy democracy and how close they are to going the way of the dodo bird. We are in the midst of a tectonic societal shift from print to digital and without a concerted effort to transform the library into its 21st century equivalent we just might lose these hubs of democracy for good. The…

Books Build Children May 28, 2015 – Posted in: public school libraries, Reading / Literacy

Created earlier this year by Dentsu Tokyo for the Yokohama City Board of Education, the “Books to build children” ad campaign hopes to recruit librarians to work in elementary school libraries. Funny how we have to fight tooth and nail to keep our elementary school libraries open while other countries are actually in need of, and desire, real-life school librarians to help spread the joy of reading. Previously on Book Patrol: Latest study confirms that…

Latest study confirms that school libraries positively impact student test scores May 15, 2015 – Posted in: Content, infographics, public school libraries, Reading / Literacy

Well what do you know – another study, this this time from the South Carolina Association of School Librarians, confirms once again that schools with vibrant libraries and librarians make a difference. A big difference. Test scores and reading levels are higher and the chance of long-term academic success is greatly improved when a school boasts a healthy library. The evidence continues to mount yet schools all over this land are still struggling to even have a library. It wasn’t…

After helping the Ferguson Public Library we need to go to Philadelphia December 4, 2014 – Posted in: public school libraries, Reading / Literacy

Principal Marjorie Neff sits in her school’s closed library, which was closed last year due to budget cuts. TOM GRALISH / Staff In one week we have helped raise over $300,000 for the Ferguson Public Library. The outpouring of support has been epic and a wounded community has been guaranteed a safe place to turn to in its time of need. Now we must turn our attention to the public school libraries of West and Southwest Philadelphia. Here in its…

The Horror, The Horror! Books Left for Dead in Abandoned Schools September 20, 2014 – Posted in: Banned / Censored / Destroyed, Content, Photography, public school libraries

Community at Work by Stephanie. Philadelphia, 2011. In an era when most schools and kids have glaring book needs it is an utter tragedy to witness these images. All taken within the last five years and all depicting complete neglect. The breakdown of communication somewhere along the line that allows these books to go to an early death without being utilized somewhere is unconscionable. Granted some of the books might be outdated but they still could be of some use to…