Long Live Librarians!

LONG LIVE LIBRARIANS

By Stephen Wilson

 

            

The  bold and brilliant ten day strike by Chicago school teachers has made an indelible impression on the world. It is certainly unprecedented. It starkly shows that only fools take teachers for granted. This strike was not just about securing a decent wage, but fought for a well thought out social agenda where issues such as the homelessness of teachers and students was addressed as well as class sizes and the facilities available to school students. It is evident to any astute and objective observer that the main aim of the strike was to achieve a more caring and improved education system. Unfortunately, many important aims of the strike  were not met, such as ending an unfair evaluation system which has led to unfair dismissals as well as the failure to restore the jobs of many librarians. 

            

And libraries play a great role in schools. They are just important as nurses or psychologists. A librarian is not just some luxury or extra. It is not an inconvenient expense but an urgent necessity in schools. The leaders of the strike should have been bolder in insisting that  librarians be returned to schools.

            

The attitudes of some officials reminds me an incident I recently read in a Russian history book. During the 19th century, the local government in Suzdal were punished by government officials for daring to allocate 50  rubles for building a  Russian library. Two noble woman were arrested for teaching illiterate peasants in their free time. All this was part of the crude counter reforms of Alexander the Third and Nicholas the Second which ultimately led to the revolution. The philistine attitude of so many people who were opposed to libraries was summed up by the crude saying: 'You can't eat books'.  But in Chicago the unmentioned saying should be: "Books won't help you subsidize real estate projects'. 

            

Libraries are imperative. We urgently need a librarian in every school. Too often people share a misconception of libraries being dull, dreary and pointless places. A grim silence reigns in them as they are not part of this world. They are seen as belonging to 'the other world.' Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, a library can be an alluring and enchanting place. Libraries don't just offer a quiet place to study or books, but organize storytelling sessions where children can tell and listen to stories, writer workshops , art exhibitions and a place where people can gather to make friends with each other. A library is not just a place to read books. It can be a warm and thriving community. 

            

I recall a kind librarian who visited my school to give a talk on his profession. He asked pupils, "Which is more important ; books or people?" And then he warned, "The correct answer is people." His words have haunted me ever since. Because libraries are not just about books, but about caring for readers. My Aunt Betty once told me how a library was the only place of refuge she could go to get some peace from her strict father. So often a library might be one of the few refuges where children can enjoy some peace away from a tense family situation.

            

When I visited a local library called the Platonov library near Sokol in Moscow I was amazed at what I could see. The library was beautiful. On display one could only marvel at the beautiful photos on display, the pictures and the poems written by children as well as courses available for people of all ages. You could just feel boundless positive energy around the place. That is why we need the librarian as much as the physical education teacher or nurse. Both complement and assist  each other rather than compete with each other. Doing sport helps you read a book better and reading books can also inspire you to physically keep on the move and perform exercises. 

            

In some old schools of the nobility one of the exercises which students had to perform was to walk around in an erect position with a book on your head. The exercise was meant to help children develop straight spines. And this would at least help some of them alleviate if not avoid later back pain in old age. So although you can't eat books they can help you to straighten your spine. It sounds very practical! The role of the librarian can be priceless. You just can't measure it in terms of dollars or gold. We must  never give up the struggle to give librarians back their jobs.