Cathe Olson Advocates for School Libraries

Link to timespressrecorder.com (CA) post, "Layoffs turn parents into school librarians".

Excerpt: “Learning to use a library is a really essential skill,” Olson said. “I think getting educated about libraries is just another subject kids need to be taught.”

Although some parents might find their way around a media center easily, others won’t know how to begin accessing an electronic card catalogue.

For those parents, helping their children locate research materials in a county library may prove frustrating and, ultimately, fruitless.

Olson said that although she feels at home in a county library, knowing her daughters will have less time in their school library saddens her.

“It’s just hard to imagine a school without a (fully functioning) library. I know some of my best memories of elementary school were going to the library.”