COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The number of school librarians in Ohio has dropped by nearly half in the past 10 years despite studies showing students do better when those jobs are filled.
Ohio Department of Education data shows 923 school librarians in the 2013-2014 school year, down 43 percent from 1,628 in the 2004-05 school year.
The Columbus Dispatch reports many districts are replacing licensed librarians with aides, volunteers or substitute teachers. The paper says in some districts, the only licensed librarians have to cover several schools a week.
Dozens of studies say children have higher reading levels and better overall performance in schools with full-time licensed librarians, a job that requires both a master's degree and a teaching license.
