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Media specialist urges continued funding for school libraries and book distribution programs
Summary
A Newton County media specialist asked the board to continue funding school libraries and reading programs, citing student access barriers and the benefits of providing books through ESSER and local programs.
Jennifer Cole, a media specialist at Porterdale Elementary, urged the Newton County Board of Education on Tuesday to continue funding school libraries and countywide reading programs that put books into students’ hands.
Cole described school libraries as critical spaces for literacy and said some of her students live five to nine miles from the nearest public library, with driving times of 10–20 minutes; she noted many families cannot reliably transport children to those facilities. Cole said the school has used ESSER and L4GA funds to supply books and to run countywide events such as a reading extravaganza and International Reading Day, and she asked the board to maintain that funding so students can access books at school and at home.
Board members thanked Cole for her work; no board action on library funding was taken at the meeting. Cole asked the board to consider sustained investments in libraries and related extracurricular literacy efforts to address equity and access concerns.
