Uneven access to school librarians
A Sun-Times analysis conducted with a Chicago Teachers Union researcher found that librarians were present at 10% of schools where Black students made up the largest share of the student body. The comparable figures were 25% at schools where white students were the majority and 21% where Hispanic students were the largest group, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. The paper also reported that CPS said it employed 107 librarians for more than 500 district-run, noncharter schools.
Regular book access at Woodson
Carter G. Woodson Elementary School in Bronzeville does not have a library. The Cook County Sheriff’s Office converted a retired prisoner transport bus into a mobile library called the Book Bus, which visits Woodson every two weeks so students can choose books to take home, according to ABC7 Chicago. The station reported that Woodson was the first school served by the program.
ABC7 reported that the Book Bus had collected more than 30,000 donated books and served 60 schools, with another 60 on a waiting list. The Sheriff’s Office was evaluating where the need was greatest as it considered expanding the program, the station reported.
