Eliminate a librarian in the North Kitsap School District? I hope not.

After teaching for 40 plus years, I am finally retiring from my relatively new position as North Kitsap High teacher -librarian. I never would have guessed that my retirement would be the convenient catalyst to eliminate full-time librarians in the grade schools. I’m disappointed by this unintended consequence. Teacher-librarians are the lifeblood of the North Kitsap School District library system, promoting reading, facilitating responsible research, and gluing each school’s academic framework together so teachers and students have a rich variety of resources. The students I see at North Kitsap High today had full-time librarians in their grade schools: they know they can approach a librarian for help individually, as well as in their group lessons.

Only a full-time librarian can provide this level of service. Research says that school librarians are vital to academic success for all students. All NKSD students need and deserve a full-time teacher-librarian.

Janet Johnson

Poulsbo