The Logan Library is a safe space available to all students of Logan. Logan’s library is open the whole day every weekday, providing valuable assistance to all students and staff and making it a very versatile entity. However, these resources are dwindling on the line of survival.
“There are benefits in and out of the classroom,” said Tim Wharton, one of the two school librarians. “The library is a safe place for students to hang out before school, after school, [and during] lunch periods. This campus is so huge that it’s nice for students to have a place where they feel enclosed and safe. It’s [also] a place to come and get mentoring [or] tutoring from one’s peers. And then, of course, we offer all the academic benefits.”
“Usually in zero period, we see over 200-300 students,” observes Indira Chakrabarti, Logan’s other librarian. “Often they’re coming to use the printer because they don’t have a printer at home, or they need to finish some assignments on the computer because their internet doesn’t work or they don’t have the internet at home. There are students who come here very early, and they need a place to go. This is a place for them to come, stay, and work before they go to their classes. Usually, it’s a space where they can get some work done or meet some friends.”
The library also keeps students informed about what is happening around school.
“We have bulletin boards that have community service information, stuff that’s going on around Union City,” Chakrabarti said. “We post things about college fairs and testing events that are happening at Logan, so if [students] need information about what’s happening at school or outside, they can come here to get that.”
The Logan Library is not only a good resource for students, but it is also utilized by teachers and staff.
“Teachers can bring their classes here, and sometimes ask us to help them with lessons to present, how to use the databases, how to use the library catalog, or helping students learn how to do citations,” explained Chakrabarti.
Aside from assisting students and teachers day in and day out, the two librarians have also gained much from their positions in the library.
“It has given me a new perspective on the school,” Wharton said. “Having taught for 20 years, you get to see your own students every day and form bonds with them, but you only get to see a small piece of the pie. In the library, I get to see and interact with many different students and teachers, and I get to see how the school works from a broader perspective, which makes me appreciate how all the pieces fit together in a school of this size.”
“I’ve learned a lot more about what our teachers are up to because I’ve gotten a chance to work more with teachers,” Chakrabarti said. “I taught here for 12 years, just in my classroom teaching English. Now that I’m out here, I get to see my colleagues much more and hear about what they’re doing in class. I’ve [also] learned a lot about how the school spends its budget. I have a lot more information about the ‘behind-the-scenes’ things that make a school run that I wasn’t aware of before.”
Sadly, the library, as helpful as it is to all, is suffering due to budget cuts.
“Last year, the previous librarian retired, and her position was cut from the budget,” Wharton said. “My position was only filled because of a last-second donation by the Alameda County Supervisor. If he hadn’t made that donation, the library would be closed before and after school and during one lunch period. If this donation doesn’t come in again next year, those are real possibilities.”
“According to California school libraries, a model library in our California public school system should have one librarian to every 720 students. Logan’s falling way behind in that,” Chakrabarti said. “And libraries aren’t often funded as fully as we’d like them to be as they are in more wealthy districts. It limits what we’re able to do and what we’re able to provide to the teachers and students. Our budget for the library this year is around $5,000 less than last year.”
In light of the budget cuts taking a toll on the library and impacting the Logan community, there are methods that students and staff can take on the library’s behalf.
“We’re making sure we keep going to school board meetings so the board members know how important the library is and what it means to us,” Chakrabarti said. “I think it’d be great if high school students would speak of their library experiences, starting with elementary and what you remember. I was thinking we could have a little project where everybody takes some time to write about their favorite library experiences. If people give their positive feedback on what the library means to them, that would be really great for people who decide the budget to hear what’s important to our community.
Logan’s library has been silently giving students and staff numerous benefits, and in the face of the library’s troubles, it’s time for Logan to give back and support the library, whether it be donating, speaking out, or helping in your own small way.
Feel free to post any positive experiences you have had because of Logan’s library in the comments below.
