VALUE OF GO BONDS FOR SCHOOL LIBRARIES
Quotations from New Mexico School Librarians
(Collected at a workshop for school librarians sponsored by APS, November, 2007)
“* I could purchase titles that support and align with academic standards in all content areas.
“*I also purchased titles that encourage at-risk students to begin to read as recreational activity and develop intellectual curiosity.” –A.B.
“The funds from these sources have enabled the purchase of new materials for time sensitive areas: social sciences, sciences, technology. These purchases have helped bring the library collection to the 70% coverage level.” –MN
“Highland High School students benefit directly from the [GO bond] and [School Libraries Materials Fund] funding by permitting us to purchase current materials that appeal to students, support curriculum and promote reading. The impact is real and direct as evidenced by the many testimonials that I’ve heard from students who approach me and say, ‘Wow, Mr. [M.], this a great book!’ or ‘This the first book that I’ve ever actually read completely.’ Thanks.” –T.M.
“These monies have greatly helped in updating our school’s collection. It was quite antique before I came here!” –F.M.
“1. [GO bond] has allowed for the purchase of books that are directly linked to curriculum (animated alphabet program and six trait writing.
“2. The [School Libraries Materials Fund] has allowed for the purchase of cassette players and books on tape to create a Listening Library to support emergent and beginning readers.” –S.B.
“[GO bond] and [School Libraries Materials Fund] funds have helped replace out of date, old materials and to purchase current materials. [They] are also used to purchase more Spanish and bilingual books and multicultural literature for our diverse population.” –L.B.
“[The GO bonds provide] access to the materials/resources which our children don’t have at home [and is] promoting students’ literary development.” –J.F.
“These funds have helped to maintain a current collection in my library, providing materials to which our students ordinarily would not have access.” –S.V.
“Teachers are relying lesson the Public Library for materials. They see what we have at school first, before they bother going to the Public Library. The teachers have mentioned that we have so many new titles that meet their teaching needs.” –J.M.
“1. The funding has made a significant difference in the currency of the collection.
“2. The library collection reflects to a greater degree the curriculum. Students and staff are able to find materials that support instruction.” –A.A.
“Since we are a new school, these funds have allowed us to bring our library up to standards. [They] have also allowed us to focus on “need” areas relevant to our particular community.” –C.W.
“[The GO bonds] have made it possible to replace books with copyright dates from 20 years ago or older with new and current materials for students to use.” –C.C.
“I’ve been able to purchase sets of books written at several different levels on subjects such as countries of the world, U.S. states, U.S. presidents. Kids and teachers have been so grateful, especially the reluctant readers. Before these extra funds, there was much soul-searching before spending most of the budget on a large, expensive set of books. Having current, multi-level sets is wonderful.
“I’ve also been able to add excellent sets to our Spanish collection. Our school has a dual language program and there is never enough money to supplement the curriculum bilingually so this library fund has been very appreciated.” –J.P.
“I have been able to update our outdated permanent collection. I [also] have been able to provide our bilingual population with relevant, current, language appropriate materials.” –B.J.R.
“*Tremendous impact in my being able to provide a current, usable library to students with up-to-date materials.
“*Promotes a much greater circulation when students see materials that interest them and are current.
“*Provide a knowledge base that draws students in.” –M.M.
“Go bonds and School Library Materials Fund funds have enabled us to buy books to support math, science and social studies curriculum at our school. Teachers comment, on a regular basis, about how grateful they are to have current library materials that support research projects and learning activities in their classrooms.” –J.S.
“The funds have enabled me to update my library from an average [publication] age from 1976. The students are excited about all the news books available to them and I believe circulation has improved.” –S.P.
“I work at a school that was built for 750 students and we currently serve over 1,600 in our library. Without our [GO bond and School Library Materials Fund] monies, we would not be able to provide for the literacy needs of our students and teachers.” –R.P.
“Having a very large populated school, the [GO bond and School Library Materials Fund] dollars have helped give us the new library materials that we need to support this amount of children.” –S.F.
“Our school is very new and we are very overpopulated. The [GO bond and School Library Materials Fund] money has provided approximately 30-40% of our new book purchases in the past 3 years. These are books for entertainment and to support classroom curricula.” –R.P.
“I was able to update my collection and able to discard old books.” –G.A.
“These funds have allowed me to purchase newly released books and replace worn out favorites. They have also helped me acquire extra copies of certain books that are popular and lost or destroyed. It’s great to have back-up copies!” –P.L.
“These funds have made it possible for our school to purchase up-to-date science videos, which make scientific concepts and processes as concrete as possible for our students. The funds also allow our library to purchase current materials in academic areas, as well as current and interesting books that stimulate students to read.” –D.Z.
“This is my 1st year at Los Ranchos, but I can tell that the overall collection has benefitted from the [GO bond and School Library Materials Fund] money since there is no school site money for library materials.” –A.N.
“For the 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 school years, the [GO bond and School Library Materials Fund] dollars were the only source of funding for our school’s library to purchase quality materials to support the curriculum and literacy. The quality of our library is greatly enhance with these funds.” –D.F.
“These funds have allowed my library to contain a more complete and well rounded collection. It has offered our school the ability to have books on more specific subjects and of a more current nature.” –M.S.
“More books! More books enables more recent copyright collection.” –W.S.
“The [GO bond and School Library Materials Fund] funds are a tremendous help filling in the holes of our collection. They allow us to update books that children will read and use.” –S.H.
“A majority of the GO bond money that I received this year allowed me to purchase books that support the Research-Based Math program that was adopted this past year.” –B.M.
“These funds allow our library to purchase current and up-to-date materials for our library. These funds also allow our library to add current fiction materials for our students to read.” –C.B.
“The impact and need of [GO bond and School Library Materials Fund] money should go without saying. Our school and community are very diverse with all types of needs. These funds are necessary to accommodate the needs of our students. The library is a focal point of our school and community that is sought out for direction and literature for our students and patrons. This certainly could not be met without these funds. ” –D.L.
“The [GO bond and School Library Materials Fund] funds have been crucial in providing the latest and best written books to support research in science and social studies at my school. I often receive compliments on the bright covers of the books on display, inviting students to read. Without the GOB and SLMF funds, my library would quickly fall below the minimum national standards for school libraries as determined by the American Association of School Libraries.” –T.D.
“[GO bond and School Library Materials Fund] funds have allowed me to respond to specific curriculum needs of teachers. I have also been able to purchase more titles that reflect the demographics of the community.” –C.G.-S.
“Both budgets [GO bond and School Library Materials Fund] have allowed for more and varied library materials including multimedia, databases and websites.” –P.F.
“[GO bond and School Library Materials Fund monies provide] a better, differentiated collection for all students and staff.” –A.A.
“*Helps offset books non-returned, non-paid for losses of ~$10,000/per year.
“*Would not have funds for library materials without those funds.
“*School administration has not funded library from school budget for 2 years running.” –J.H.
“Our library collections would be very small or very old without these monies. Students enjoy having choices of interesting, new books.” –L.C.
“I was able to purchase long-needed books about science experiments to support our annual science fair, which is a very important school-wide activity.” –J.S.
“The GO bond funds have been very helpful in updating time-sensitive nonfiction materials, particularly our science and social sciences sections. SLMF funds have been instrumental in building our Spanish collection, both fiction and nonfiction. Parents and staff have commented on the wide selection.” –H.R.
“I have been able to purchase materials especially for the specialized area, e.g. deserts, Spanish (fiction and nonfiction). The [GO bond] funds help tremendously since my principal keeps forgetting to set aside funds in the Spring for SLMF.” –L.d.-V.
“[GO bond and School Library Materials Fund] allow for updating collection and buying new titles.” –N.B.“[GO bond and School Library Materials Fund] have enabled me to replace many outdated copies with current publications. I have also been able to purchase titles to support content areas, especially in science and social studies.
“With school budgets getting tighter and tighter, often no money is available for library materials. This designated money is essential!!” –C.W.
“Students at Kit Carson have updated copies for science and social studies curricula that have enhanced their learning. Kit Carson students have new copies of classic books (i.e. Holes and other Newberry Award books) to read. Thank you for your support!” –E.A.S.
“1. In the last 3 years, [GO bond and School Library Materials Fund] funds have been almost my only sources of funding, except for mill levy and capital outlay. No regular budget money given.
“2. Currency of collection is finally becoming an attainable goal.” –V.C.
“These funds have been very beneficial to our library. They have provided the monies necessary to build a well-balanced collection with enough materials to meet the needs, wants and reading levels of the students.” –B.M.
“These monies that have been voted on by property owners have been a valued asset to our diverse student and staff population. We have been able to purchase new books that wouldn’t have otherwise been afforded to our media center.” –S.B.
“These two funds have enabled Polk Library to update the collection, especially in the areas of science/technology and social studies. This was especially important because Polk Library had been closed for two years for remodeling and the ordering cycle was interrupted. These funds have also enabled the library to expand the Bilingual/ESL collection, thus serving the needs of our population.” –L.B.
“[GO bond and School Library Materials Fund] funds provide more than half of my annual budget for library purchase of books for pleasure reading/literacy and curriculum supplement purposes. I have been able to update my school collections and provide bright, inviting and current new books. I check out to students, teachers and parents and all are excited to see new books on display.” –D.B.
“They have allowed me to provide informational resources that enrich the curriculum. They also have allowed me to meet the needs of our bilingual students.” –S.L.
“1. For teachers, increased copies and various of curriculum-based titles add info and excitement to a unit.“2. For students using the library [accelerated reading] program, more books in subjects they are interested in increases trips to the library, numbers of pages read, and enthusiasm for reading. This automatically increases their reading levels which allow them to improve scores on SB Tests.” –L.M.
“I am the librarian at the elementary school I attended. Thanks to the [GO bond and School Library Materials Fund], I was able to deselect a book from the library collection that had my name on the pocket check-out card from when I was a student.” –J.M.
“These monies have allowed me to add to the collection and obtain a variety of large print books for a visually impaired student. Thank you. ” –J.C.
“I have been able to develop the library’s collection in all sections from far below minimum standards (30-50% currency) to a collection that exceeds minimum standards in all time sensitive sections (73-84%) and nearly all of the other sections (54%-89%). Without [GO bond and School Library Materials Fund] monies and with APS regular budget only, our collection would not have been improved, possibly would have deteriorated further.” –M.J.H.
“The $$ from the [GO bond and School Library Materials Fund] have helped me keep my collection more up-to-date. It is important that we have funds every year since our collections continue to slip out-of-date every year.” –A.H.
“[GO bond and School Library Materials Fund] funds have allowed me to update several of the time sensitive sections of our collection. I have also been able to add titles to support specific curricular needs.” –L.R.
“We have materials that fill student and teacher needs that we would otherwise have. It is very positive to student involvement in literacy to be able to answer requests for materials.” –B.W.
“Using the repeated GO Bond and SLMF funding, we have been able to continuously upgrade our collection of materials with current and replacement copies that are appropriate and appealing to young learners. Our library space is heavily used beyond the school day by community groups for workshops, meetings, and training. Adult visitors to our library overwhelmingly praise the space, the atmosphere, and the books as being highly engaging and motivating to young readers. Children love to come to the library to read at recess!” –K.M.
“[GO bond and School Library Materials Fund] funds have had a huge impact by providing the means to update all the date-sensitive informational areas of my library I have finally been able to replace books from the Opening Day collection, when the school opened. I have been able to add adequate numbers of books on important topics such as the Constitution and heavily used curriculum areas such as states, space and biographies.” –T.W.
“[GO bond and School Library Materials Fund] funds have enabled me to update almost all areas in our library. Students and staff are excited to check out the new materials. These funds greatly appreciated.” –R.D.
“For the last several years, library book monies were completely taken away. Without [GO bond and School Library Materials Fund] monies, we would have no new books that were library bound.” –S.R.
“When I became the librarian at Hoover [Middle School], the library bookshelves were filled with thousands of outdated books—many from the 1940s, 50s and even earlier. After weeding the collection, many shelves were left bare. Thanks to the [GO bond and School Library Materials Fund] dollars, Hoover has been able to begin rebuilding a collection that is current and relevant.” –D.D.
“[GO bond and School Library Materials Fund] funds have enabled me to update many areas of the library’s collection. I have also indulged the students with high interest titles.” –D.F.
“I’ve been able to order materials/trade books which align with state math and science standards (especially the TERC math category). The professional library for staff is very current now.” –S.S.-M.
“The additional funding has provided the necessary money needed in order to bring Hodgin library’s nonfiction collection to 80% of the books being less than ten years old. This collection, especially the geography and history section, directly impacts of the ability of my intermediate students to conduct research.” –P.M.
“Because much of my collection is dated, this additional funding has enabled me to work to bring my school’s library collection up-to-date/have current titles. The [GO bond and School Library Materials Fund] money has also allowed me to work toward having the minimum requirement of titles per student. Both of these have had positive effect on the circulation in the library.” –L.S.
“I have been able to buy more recent fiction that students have heard about or seen. They are so excited to be able to check new books out at their school.” –R.H.
“Having the [GO bond and School Library Materials Fund] support for my library has enabled me to update the materials I have and remove outdated and worn out materials. My students and staff have comment very favorably about the new and up-to-date materials their use. Thank you!” –J.K.V.
“My library has been recently remodeled and I was able to purchase many new books. This has allowed me to create a library that students want to be in. They enjoy looking at, using and checking out books and materials.” –S.C.
“Children at Oñate Elementary School look forward to Library Day and because of the [GO bond and School Library Materials Fund] funds, they have a wonderful variety to choose from. We would not have the variety or the scope of materials without these funds. Thank you.” –D.G.
“The money was very helpful in updating the collection of Del Norte Middle School.” –Z.Z.B.
“1. These funds have increased our circulation of over 2,000 items per month for a high school and helped with depth for class research including Carts to Classroom and strong depth for in-library research.
“2. These funds have allowed us to update and improve all curriculum areas and keep fiction current hence, an improvement in student access, success and literacy.” –G.M.
“1. New books: girls and boy, art, music and dance-related.
“2. Teacher/principal renewed interest in the library” –D.S.
“I remember the old days when we barely had enough for replacement of worn materials. The [GO bond and School Library Materials Fund] funds have made it possible to build the collection.” –S.G.
“These funds have allowed me to improve the currency of my collection, replace worn and lost and support curriculum needs of the school. It has also replaced APS funds that have not kept up with the increased costs of books or were not released to the library.” –R.P.
“The [GO bond and School Library Materials Fund] funds helped us create the first ever library at Sierra Alternative High School. ” –R.T.L.
“*Science teachers are using more books with their classes.
“*Interdisciplinary projects are supported with more resources.” –H.D.
“They have helped me to fill teacher requests for curriculum enhancement.” –J.W.
“It ensures that the depth of the collection is great! It enables us to make the collection current and very usable. It gives us the assurance that funds will be there for our use.” –F.R.
“I’ve been able to increase the currency of my collection to within the guidelines while maintaining the book-per-student ratio.” –C.E.
“These funds have enabled me to update a very old collection. Books stating that ‘One day man will go to the moon’ are gone. The funds have helped create a functional library for our future leaders.” –S.A.
“The [GO bond and School Library Materials Fund] funds have made a terrific impact on my library. The new books have been a tremendous help in complementing our collection at Collet Park E.S. ” –K.K.
“Wow! Children are excited to see the ‘New Books’ display. Old, outdated books have been replace with current books. Books that were worn and damaged were also replaced. This funding is greatly appreciated. ” –S.M.
“My main source of library books are these two funds. I would not be able to meet my student and staff curricular needs without these funds.” –M.G.
“Students are excited to check out our new books. I am able to add to our collection by supporting new math programs and existing reading programs. I can also order books that are popular with students and in demand. Teachers also appreciate that books are available (due to the GO bond funds) to support specific areas of study/curriculum.” –A.W.