‘I want all of the schools in the state to have librarians’

What does a school librarian do in an online and video era? What is the purpose of a school library?

That was the jumping off point to an hour-long discussion with educators passionate about the work they do. It’s an era of hard budget and staffing choices, but this group made it clear that libraries and librarians should not be considered extras.

“I want all of the schools in the state to have librarians,” said Laura Gardner, librarian at Dartmouth Middle School and one of the panelists.

Gardner joined The Chat host Jack Spillane plus New Bedford High Library Media Specialist Madelene Freitas-Pimentel, New Bedford Superintendent of Schools Andrew O’Leary, Dartmouth Superintendent of Schools Dr. June Saba-Maguire and Massachusetts School Library Association Outreach Director Deborah Froggart.

THE CHAT ARCHIVES

Mitchell on his goals for the city, the budget, and immigration enforcement

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Sheriff Heroux at the halfway point: ‘There’s still work I want to do at the jail’

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Remaking The Zeiterion was ‘a big mountain to climb’

Just how did the folks behind the scenes pull off a $37 million restoration? And what can the community look forward to from The Z?

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