Letter to the Editor

Letter to the editor:

It has been brought to my attention by several faculty members of Salmon River Central School that the Elementary Library is being down sized to meet the self-serving need of an administrator. The story room is now being turned into an office for administrator Ms. FitzRandolph. She has also appropriated the elementary faculty room for her secretary’s use. A door is being cut into the shared wall in order to turn the story room into an office for Ms. FitzRandolph. The faculty room is as large as a classroom and shares a wall with the story room. There have been faculty meetings, birthday, retirement celebrations, and baby showers in that room. Surely the faculty room alone can be divided and refitted to house one secretary and one administrator?

The library’s layout was designed by Mrs. June Carpenter, who had the foresight to include a separate story room that aids in the promotion of literacy, not to mention the love of reading for and to elementary students. I was the Elementary Library Media Specialist at Salmon River Central School for 27 years. I utilized the story room daily to promote literacy and the love of reading to students of all ages. This room was not only instrumental in instilling a love of reading and literacy but also enhanced classroom learning.

Ask your children what memories they have of the story room. I, myself, have so many that are continually reinforced by past students or their parents telling me of their memories of their time spent listening to stories, performing finger plays or acting out stories they listened to. This room also provided a quiet spot away from the constant activity of the main library. It is an essential quiet place for one-on-one or small group instruction when it is not in use for a classroom story time.

Now all this is no longer available to present or future students and staff. Why? Because, Ms. FitzRandolph wants an office to fit her stature as an administrator, at the expense of students and staff. Once a showplace of the North Country of what a Library Media Center should be is now a generic library. Why take steps backward?

I was under the impression that part of the district’s mission statement was to promote the love of reading and literacy as well as lay the basics at an early age and build on them. I would think the administrators would know this. Why are the elementary principal and superintendent so complacent about the destruction of this integral part of the Library Media Center that supports and enhances curriculum? Why does Ms. FitzRandolph ignore the successful use of this learning tool and add to the already strained taxpayers burden with unnecessary expenses? Don’t they care about the students needs? Was the current Library Media Specialist consulted or just told that an integral learning tool she used daily was being destroyed? A library is more than computers and research.

I sincerely hope that this letter gives you pause to think and ask questions. It makes me think what other issues are being swept under the carpet? Ask and you might be surprised!

Sincerely,

Susan Drost-Plante

Retired LMS

Massena, NY