Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Megan Muttreja, Brooklyn Resident and Parent of NYC Public School Students
5:26:17
ยท
163 sec
Megan Muttreja, a Brooklyn resident and parent of two children in the NYC public school system, testifies about the importance of full-time certified librarians in schools and the inadequacy of current library services. She emphasizes the critical role of librarians in maintaining library resources, promoting reading, and teaching digital literacy.
- Describes the current state of her children's school library without a full-time librarian, highlighting issues such as disorganization and outdated resources
- Argues that digital libraries like Sora are not sufficient replacements for physical libraries and professional librarians
- Stresses the importance of librarians in teaching digital literacy and helping students distinguish between credible and false information online
- Expresses support for Intro 1125, which likely relates to reporting requirements for school librarians
Megan Muttreja
5:26:17
Good afternoon chairs.
5:26:19
Thank you so much for the opportunity to speak today.
5:26:22
My name is Megan Mutreja.
5:26:23
I'm a resident of Brooklyn, New York and a parent to two children in the New York City public school system at PS two sixty one in Brooklyn.
5:26:31
I'd like to take my time to cover two items.
5:26:33
The first is what it's like in a public school library when there is no full time certified librarian.
5:26:39
Our library occupies a sunny room on the Second Floor of our building.
5:26:43
On the occasions when we have been able to get a part time librarian with grant funds or PTA money, which I'll add is not very equitable, there has been someone able to check books in and out and do some general organization of the room, but that's about it.
5:26:57
Currently, we have no one.
5:26:59
Parents are expected to step in, but we are an inadequate substitute.
5:27:04
Returned books are piled high at the desk with no one to check them in.
5:27:07
Our non fiction section is dated with no one around to weed the old books and purchase new books.
5:27:13
Parent volunteers open the room in the mornings two times per week so that kids have an opportunity to get books, but truly, this is a Band Aid that does nothing to provide what a full time professional can bring to the room.
5:27:24
Even when we have had part time help, I've been struck by how many parent volunteers have to come in to shelve books just to keep the room functional.
5:27:32
For some kids like mine, there will always be plenty of books at home.
5:27:35
But for many of the kids at our school, the library is the primary place where they can access books they can read for enjoyment.
5:27:42
And I'd like to add that DOE representatives here today talked about Sora as being some sort of a replacement for a library.
5:27:50
A digital library is not a sufficient replacement for a physical library and a professional librarian.
5:27:56
We would never throw art supplies on a table and call that an art class, and we shouldn't be calling a room with books or a digital library the same thing as a certified librarian.
5:28:08
I also want to draw attention to an important part of a certified librarian's job, digital literacy.
5:28:14
It's a different world than what I grew up in, and I'm regularly thankful I did not have to deal with social media as a kid.
5:28:19
Following the inauguration in January, my 10 year old started coming home from school with stories about a friend who was buying into all sorts of MAGA fringe ideas from the Internet.
5:28:29
I had to explain to him that, no, Kamala Harris did not kidnap 300 Ukrainian children.
5:28:34
A school librarian is a key part in teaching kids about reputable sources, explaining that not all things we see on the Internet are true and giving kids the skills they need to tell truth from fiction, which is sadly more important now than ever.
5:28:47
We have been assured that digital literacy is taught by teachers in the school, but with everything else teachers need to get through, this has been woefully inadequate.
5:28:54
A librarian is trained for this.
5:28:56
It's part of what they do.
5:28:58
Thank you for supporting Intro eleven twenty five.