Which two details in Daliah’s campaign speech support her challenge of the opposition’s claim that classroom libraries are sufficient? To the avid readers out there, I know that we do not currently have a school librarian, and our access to the library is limited. This is unacceptable, and I intend to address the problem if you elect me as student president.

All of you are tired of spending your own money to buy books for the library and for yourselves. I understand that the school’s budget was reduced due to cuts in funding from the state. But how are we supposed to grow as readers if the library is closed most of the time and can only be used to conduct research as scheduled by homeroom teachers?

The school, in partnership with the PTA, conducts many fundraisers to provide funds for the sports teams and STEM activities. Yes, I understand the importance those two opportunities; however, research shows that the more access students have to books, the more student achievement improves on state and district assessments. Research also shows that the more we read, the more we learn about different cultures. The result is that we become more open minded, and we can develop more compassion and empathy for others. All of those things are important to our growth as students and as contributors to society.

To those arguing that our English and reading teachers have classroom libraries, I say that that’s not enough. Those teachers stock classroom libraries using their own money and donations from crowdfunding sources. They take those books with them when they move to other schools or jobs, and then a new teacher has to take time to rebuild that classroom library while readers are left high and dry. That’s unfair, don’t you think? Yes, school district should do a better job of ensuring all schools have libraries and librarians. Yes, schools should do a better job of finding ways to equally fund all initiatives on campus. So, I will present a solution until those in charge can do better.

I propose working with the PTA to increase fundraising efforts so that the campus can hire a part-time librarian. This part-time staff member will work on campus three days a week during the times when we have interventions, homeroom, and club time. Until we can find our part-time librarian, I will also start a petition to share a librarian with our neighboring elementary school to work on our campus twice a week for three hours in the afternoon.