74% of Oakland students are living in poverty.*
The absence of school libraries most deeply affects students living in poverty.
School Libraries build literacy
Research demonstrates that the most important way to build literacy is access to books. School libraries are more accessible than public libraries, because they are right down the hall.
student focused
The library is the only place in a school where students are encouraged to follow their own interests and drive their own learning.
college and career readiness
How will students navigate college libraries if they’ve gone from kindergarten through senior year without access to a school library?
* “Oakland Unified District Summary.” ED Data Education Data Partnership, Ed-Data Is a Partnership of the California Department of Education, EdSource, and the Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team/California School Information Services , 7 Sept. 2019, https://www.ed-data.org/district/Alameda/Oakand-Unified.
Thank you for your support.
Friends of the Oakland Public School Libraries is committed to expanding and improving library services in Oakland public schools.