Woodbridge Schools Eliminating Librarians in Library Overhaul, Superintendent Says

WOODBRIDGE, NJ - In a controversial proposal, the Woodbridge school district seeks to eliminate librarians as part of a dramatic overhaul of the district's library system. The librarian cuts are part of the 2017/2018 budget, which will be presented Tuesday night at the Board of Ed. meeting at Avenel middle school.

The district seeks to eliminate librarian jobs for the upcoming school year, superintendent Dr. Robert Zega confirmed to Patch. It's a decision that's upset many Woodbridge parents, but one that Zega defends.

Currently, there are only three existing staff librarians in the Woodbridge school district. Two of those jobs would be eliminated under this budget. That one remaining librarian will then serve as a traveling librarian, and travel back and forth between the district's libraries. That position will be determined by seniority.

Library reductions in Woodbridge public schools are nothing new: In 2008, the district eliminated librarians at its 16 elementary schools. In most schools, the books were moved into the classrooms. In two of the schools, parent volunteers stepped up and said they would staff the libraries. Iselin middle school had its library converted to a technology center several years ago. So right now, libraries exist in the remaining Woodbridge middle schools and the Woodbridge high schools.

However, those libraries are being woefully underused, Zega said.

"I recently went into the Woodbridge High School library. This was well into the school year and I saw that 50 books had been checked out so far this year - 50. In a school of 1,400 students," Zega said. "The job of a librarian is just not what it used to be."

The proposed job cuts are not about cost savings, he said. Instead, this is part of a dramatic overhaul Zega is planning for the district's libraries. He envisions most of the district's libraries being converted into technology centers that resemble the Apple store.

"We want to make it a place where the kids will go and sit and work collaboratively. There will be bar-level counters with computers and a couple couches," he said. "Ninety percent of what happens in a high school library is Internet research. Very little with middle and high school libraries has to do with checking books out anymore."

"Not to mention the stacks of encyclopedias we have that are out of date and obsolete," he added.

Zega said he's received "several dozen" emails from parents who are upset with the proposal. But he said he also spoke with other parents who are supportive.

"While I appreciate they are concerned, I think there is some misinformation out there," he said.

The budget will be presented for its first reading to the Woodbridge Board of Education Tuesday night at 7 p.m. at Avenel middle school. The public is invited to attend and there will be a public speaking portion. The Board will then vote on the budget Thursday night.