Time is precious during the school day, whether one is a student, a teacher, a staff member, or an administrator. All too often sufficient time cannot be found to visit the school library media center (LMC) during regular school hours. What’s a person to do? One commonly used alternative is the local public library; but in many small and outlying communities public libraries are open even fewer hours than LMCs. Besides, few public libraries anywhere in the state develop staff and collections with the intention that they serve as adequate substitutes for their school counterparts. Ideally, then, students, teachers, and others—including parents—would be able to visit their school’s LMC at some time beyond the regular school schedule, either after school on weekdays or on the weekend. Of course, such “after hours” access requires a variety of resources, including staff, funding, training, and a secure facility. The number and schedule of such hours will vary based on the school and the community.
Click the Download Report button at right to continue reading this Fast Facts.