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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Salma Baksha on the Importance of School Libraries and Librarians
3:54:36
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Salma Baksha, a former student of Forest Hills High School and current first-year at Smith College, testifies about the crucial role of school libraries and librarians in supporting students' well-being and education. She emphasizes the need for every New York City school to have a library and a librarian, sharing her personal experience of finding a welcoming space in her high school library.
- Baksha highlights that only an estimated 16% of NYC schools have a librarian on budget, according to Chalkbeat.
- She argues that inconsistent access to school libraries across the city creates inequity in education.
- The testimony supports the importance of librarians in transforming libraries into spaces that foster community, socialization, and acceptance.
Salma Baksha
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Good afternoon.
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It's afternoon at this point.
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Thank you to the committee chair and to the committee for giving me the opportunity to deliver testimony.
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My name is Salma Bach and for the past few months I've had the privilege of working closely with council member Joseph as I pursued my passion of ensuring that every single New York City school has a librarian and a library.
3:55:01
This is included in op ed in Chalkbeat which you guys should totally check out.
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And a public awareness campaign.
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And then I also met Jenny and Rachel, two incredible leaders with Librarians equals Literacy.
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And I'm just happy to be supported by so many passionate people.
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But I'm currently a first year at Smith College and less than a year ago I was a student at Forest Hills High School in Queens, 1 of a few New York City high schools with a comprehensive library program.
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As a student entering high school after quarantine, I needed a space where I felt connected, welcomed and supported and I found that space in my school library.
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The second time I entered the library, my school librarian, Ms.
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Clemis, who's here today.
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Ms.
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Clemis referred to me by my name.
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This was a big deal for me as a 15 year old because I was one of thousands of students in a New York City high school.
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I wondered why she had taken the time to learn my name.
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This small act of kindness reeled me into the library.
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It was a space filled with diverse books, games, and crafting supplies.
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It was maintained by two passionate and hard working librarians.
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At a time when many teens are struggling with isolation and mental health challenges, we need school libraries.
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For me and many others at my high school, the library was a third space and a safe haven.
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But this wouldn't have been possible without miss Clemis and mister Hetko.
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Librarians transform a room of books into spaces that foster community, socialization, and acceptance.
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Every student needs and deserves access to a school library.
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Yet Chalkbeat estimates that only 16% of New York City schools has a librarian on budget.
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When we neglect our school libraries and librarians, students have the most to lose.
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I was lucky to attend a high school with a well funded library and two incredible librarians, but it shouldn't be up to luck.
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We must stop leaving school library access, essential education services up to chance.
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Inconsistency is inequity.
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Thank you.