NYPL, NYC Schools Form Partnership for Delivery of Books Directly to Classrooms

From the Associated Press:

A partnership between the New York Public Library and the city’s public school system will for the first time allow teachers to borrow books online and have them delivered directly to classrooms.
The Wall Street Journal reports that teachers at more than 50 schools will be able to borrow up to 100 books at a time under the pilot program to be announced Monday.

From the Wall St. Journal:

“What this offers students is access to a world of resources well beyond what their school library can stock,” said Gregg Betheil, the Department of Education’s executive director for school programs and partnerships.
The project started a few weeks ago and comes as the city has cut school librarians and assistance for teachers to buy supplies. [Our emphasis] Library and city education officials said the program, called ” Biblio Schools,” isn’t meant to replace school librarians.
Anthony Marx, president of the New York Public Library, said he hoped to find funding to expand the program to every city school within two years.
[Clip]
Public library officials said they would help create electronic catalogs for school libraries currently using card catalogs.
[Our emphasis] New York state law requires all middle and high schools to have licensed librarians. The city has roughly 1,700 public schools, 800 libraries and 365 licensed librarians.

Read the Complete WSJ Report
See Also: New York Public Library and Floating University Partner and Will Present ‘Great Big Ideas’ Video Lecture Series (November 3, 2011)

Filed under: Funding, Libraries, Public Libraries, Reports, School Libraries