News from New York Library Association
For Immediate Release      
6021 State Farm Road  
Guilderland, NY 12084

The World Has Changed But Not Our Books

New York Library Association Unveils Eye-Opening Report Showing Public School Library Books Are Over 20 Years Old on Average

ALBANY, N.Y. -- The New York Library Association (NYLA) today unveiled a report that concludes current state aid is not keeping up with the cost of books causing the unacceptable aging of our public school library collections.

The average age of books in school libraries ranges from 21 to 25 years old across the six regions of the state surveyed, with the average book year being 1986.  Meanwhile, the average price of an elementary school book is $20.82 and $23.38 for secondary school books, while state aid per pupil is only $6.25 – a mere 27-30 percent the average cost of a single new book per student.

“The average age of our public school library books is astonishing and unacceptable,” said Michael J. Borges, NYLA Executive Director. “The problem is state aid has not kept up with the growing costs of school books which undermines the learning potential of our children.”

Borges said the report found that the average age of public school library books in the Capital Region, North County and Southern Tier is 1987.  That year Ronald Reagan was President and our current President’s father was Vice President.  The average book age in Western New York is 1988.

The average book age in Central New York is 1986.  That year the price of oil fell to $11 a barrel. This week it just hit a record $102 a barrel. And the Hudson Valley average book dates back to 1985, the year Mikhail Gorbachev became President of the Soviet Union.

 “It’s interesting to recall these fun facts but it’s a very serious matter we’re discussing,” concluded Borges. “We must quickly replace these books on science, history, computer science and other subjects with books that accurately reflect the world today’s children are growing up in, not the one their parents or grandparents grew up in.  The sad fact is that if we wait any longer, we will miss this generation of kids altogether.”

Borges continued, “A preliminary study by Syracuse University shows a direct link between the strength of libraries and student test scores.  Schools with libraries staffed by certified librarians and stocked with up to date reading materials scored ten points higher on the 4th grade ELA exam than those schools without a strong school library program.” 

Assemblymember Amy Paulin, Chair of the Assembly Libraries and Educational Technology Committee said, “I believe our public school libraries, all libraries in fact, are a vitally important part of our educational system and community fabric. When you take this report along with the Syracuse University study, one certainly has to conclude that if libraries fail our students fail and we can’t let that happen.”

Borges also pointed to several old and outdated books recently pulled off the shelves of our local public school libraries including Parade of the Animal Kingdom, 1942; The First Book of Science Experiments, 1952; Computers in Society: The Where’s, Why’s and How’s of Computer Use, 1974; and Soviet Society Today, 1989.

“In 1942, FDR was still President and we were fighting World War II and when they say ‘The First Book of Science Experiments’ they mean it,” said Borges. “We have students reading books on computer use that were written in the equivalent of the computer stone-age and reference books on a communist empire that no longer exists.”

Senator Hugh T. Farley, Chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Libraries said that “we should now fully understand that updated books, improved technology and certified librarians all directly impact our schools. Having books on the shelf that can misinform, mislead or cause our children to miss out on current technology and recent history is simply unacceptable. That’s why I’m sponsoring legislation -- S.1686 -- to address these needs.” 

"The Governor has proposed a $1.4 billion increase in school aid and we believe that a portion of this increase should be directed to school libraries that have demonstrated both need and ability to impact student academic achievement.  We are also advocating for changes to the Contract for Excellence Initiative to allow the extra funds that high need school districts receive to be spent on hiring school librarians and purchasing up to date reading materials. Both of our requests take into consideration the state's fiscal situation and require no additional funds beyond what has already been proposed," concluded Michael Borges.

About NYLA: The New York Library Association -- America’s first state library association -- was founded in 1890 to lead in the development, promotion and improvement of library and information services and the profession of librarianship to enhance learning, quality of life, and equal opportunity for all New Yorkers. Today, NYLA is working stronger than ever to promote its mission of supporting libraries and information services.

To learn more about the New York Library Association, please visit www.nyla.org.

For Further Info Contact:
Kyle Kotary
(518)-542-1988

Michael J. Borges
(518) 432-6952, ext. 101

PDF Version of Press Release

Photos of Outdated Books in School Libraries

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