Durham librarians urge board to protect second high‑school media coordinator as board proclaims April School Library Month

Dozens of Durham Public Schools media coordinators, students and parents urged the Durham Public Schools Board of Education on April 7 to preserve a second media coordinator position at large high schools and to protect library budgets.

Speakers at public comment described libraries as hubs for literacy, technology support and student well‑being and warned the proposed budget would force libraries to close during instruction, reduce lesson time and leave schools without an adult to supervise students. "With only 1 librarian, we would not actually be able to have any sort of a library program," said Rebecca Stacy, a teacher librarian at Jordan High School.

The plea continued with specific examples from multiple schools. Tara Gold, a teacher librarian at Riverside High School, said cutting the second position would "result in at least a 50% decrease in direct student instruction"…