Library needs support
“The members of the community must be the ones to show interest and get involved, not the Ringgold School District.”
That came from the letter to the editor by Emma Ott in the Sunday edition of the Observer-Reporter. Ott is a recent Ringgold graduate and daughter of a sitting school board member. I would respond that the community has done its share, with spaghetti dinners and donations by individuals and businesses, and it’s time for Ringgold School District to do the same.
Public libraries impact the achievement of all students by providing them with access to information after school hours, providing reading programs and supporting under-represented residents. A recent study highlighted the point that students who attend public libraries and participate in reading programs scored higher on standardized tests. Students also increased reading skills and were better prepared academically than students who did not. Over 55 percent of visits to the library had a school-based educational purpose. Ringgold School District should realize all the libraries located within the district have a real value to them.
Although Ott claimed the Monongahela Area Library is rarely used by the overwhelming majority of Ringgold students, the average age of a patron is between 12 and 17 years-old. The majority of these students are completing school-related work for a school district that doesn’t support the libraries. Additionally, many Ringgold parents are using the library for reference to the new Common Core standards because we are not supplied with textbooks or other resources.
In another study, conducted by the commonwealth, 70 percent of parents said that their children visit public libraries. Of those children, 43 percent of them complete school assignments with the library’s resources because the child has no Internet access at home. They also do not have access to the school’s “media room” after hours.
There should be a cooperative effort between schools and libraries based on real need. Clearly there is a need in our district. Our communities, businesses, city leaders, parents and residents have been supportive of our libraries. The Ringgold School District has not been in over 10 years. The community’s most influential institution and, unfortunately, its most costly, is the one not showing interest in being involved.
Michelle D. Parnell
Monongahela