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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Daria, Student at Fiorella LaGuardia High School, on School Libraries
3:12:00
ยท
101 sec
Daria, an eleventh-grade student at Fiorella LaGuardia High School, testifies in support of Intro 1125, which would require annual reporting on school libraries in NYC public schools. As an immigrant student, she shares her personal experiences of how the school library has become a crucial part of her academic and social life.
- The library provides free resources for research, projects, and art references, especially important for low-income students.
- It serves as a space for academic tutoring and club activities, fostering a connection between students and the broader school community.
- Daria emphasizes the importance of functioning libraries with certified librarians in supporting students' diverse needs and interests.
High School Student
3:12:00
I'm an eleventh grade student in Fiorella Laguardia High School in New York City.
3:12:06
My name is Daria, and I'm here to testify for the bill one one two five about annual report on school libraries in NYC.
3:12:14
So for an immigrant, this year is my second year in an American school.
3:12:18
Coming from an educational and economical background in which libraries were not a part of school life, I never expected it to become a significant part of my social and academic experience in high school, but now I know how much of experience they make.
3:12:32
When I think about it, a complex of my needs and interests became achievable because of the functioning library in our school.
3:12:39
As a low income student, the library is a space for me to access free resources for research papers, projects, and art references in my community from teachers who I personally know and trust.
3:12:49
As an academic tutor, the library is a focused place to help students with their work, again, with all the needed resources.
3:12:56
As the president of the Feminist Club in LaGuardia, the library is a connecting point between my club and the broader school community, a place to conduct meetings and promote our work.
3:13:06
Without a working library and the librarian in our school, I would never be able to support such broad age of interests.
3:13:13
School libraries are not only about the academic support of student, but also about the trust bond between each individual individual student and the school community.
3:13:23
So if the system of public schools in New York City is set up to give student a right to access a functioning library with a certified librarian.
3:13:31
This right must be fulfilled.
3:13:33
We encourage you to support the bill one one two five to require reporting on school librarians and library access in New York City public schools.
3:13:41
Thank you.