Durbin Announces September 2007 as "Adopt a School Library Month"

Press Release

Durbin Announces September 2007 as "Adopt a School Library Month"

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin today announced the passage of his legislation to designate September 2007 as Adopt a School Library Month. This legislation reaffirms what studies have consistently shown: children are more likely to succeed when they have access to a high quality library at school. Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN) co-sponsored the legislation.

"Some of my favorite childhood moments were spent losing myself in a book about faraway places, exciting adventures and historic figures," said Durbin. "Sadly, today, many children do not have access to new books that could establish them as lifelong readers. In fact, some libraries in Illinois are unable to purchase new books and must rely on donations from the community. We can not expect our students to compete in today's global economy unless we provide them with the tools they need to succeed. As Adopt a School Library Month, September 2007 has the potential to jumpstart community efforts to replenishing book shelves, revitalizing technology and redecorating our libraries."

Increasingly, school libraries are facing extraordinary obstacles in the effort to provide students with high quality resources. These circumstances are not due to lack of concern by librarians, school officials or members of the community. Rather, school leaders are working with limited budgets and unforgiving performance standards.

There is, however, a strong link between school libraries and student achievement, both in the classroom and on standardized tests. When libraries are well-funded, students score an average of 5 percent to 13 percent higher on their reading and writing test scores. The data shows that children are more likely to succeed when they have access to current, well-funded libraries.

Durbin's legislation was intended to raise public awareness about the important role that school libraries play in the academic success of every child in America. By designating September 2007 as Adopt a School Library Month, Senator Durbin hopes to raise public awareness about the important role that school libraries play in the academic success of every child in America. Adopt a School Library Month offers a great opportunity for state and local governments, nonprofit organizations, and businesses to take an active role in the success of their local school libraries by making a commitment to restock and revitalize libraries so that students have the resources they need to succeed.

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