Parkwood Upjohn Elementary and Winchell Elementary are slated to lose their Library Assistant positions next year, which would leave the school libraries unstaffed. The elimination of these positions, which are part time at each school, is because of a budget shortfall due to declining enrollment at both schools. An unstaffed school library will affect access and how the school library runs. Keeping the school library orderly and functioning properly so that kids have access to books they love takes a lot of work and organization, and trying to maintain order and operate on a volunteer basis would be very difficult and most likely put additional responsibilities on teachers.

As a community, we are asking to maintain a Library Services staff member at Parkwood Upjohn and Winchell. Additionally, we request that Kalamazoo Public School district leaders reevaluate the staffing of school libraries throughout the district and commit to adequate staffing of all school libraries. At minimum, having a Library Assistant or Certified School Librarian working at each school would better serve students and staff. A fully accessible and functioning school library staffed by a Library Services staff member allows kids the freedom to choose their own library books and grow their love of reading, which is one important ingredient in reading success.

School libraries also have the potential to be key resources for student research and enrichment. Certified School Librarians are trained to be at the forefront of information literacy, which is the ability to effectively access, locate, and use information. The teaching and practice of evaluating information is needed in our world now more than ever. In addition, the library space should be opened during all school hours to best serve students. The school library should be a space where students can work together and collaborate, and be a place where students can work with tutors. 

In KPS, a district of approximately 12,000 students, school libraries are staffed by 5 Certified School Librarians (which requires an advanced degree) and 9 Library Assistants. For a district our size, that amount of staff does not allow adequate library access. Compare this to Portage Public Schools that has approximately 8,000 students and 12 Certified School Librarians and 9 Library Assistants. 

School libraries can play a key role in student success and increasing student achievement. Maintaining staffing and school library access at Parkwood and Winchell, and increasing staffing and access throughout all of KPS, would serve all our students and teachers better. 

Note: Statistics updated 5/21/25 to reflect current staffing. Originally statistics were from most recent National Center for Educational Statistics.