More than 160 Chicago public schools lack libraries

From The Chicago Tribune: A lack of money and space and the competing need for new technology in Chicago Public Schools mean that libraries often are left out of school plans even as students struggle to meet national standards in reading. Citywide, 164 public schools — nearly 1 in 4 elementary schools and 51 high schools — do not have stand-alone libraries staffed by a trained librarian. Even at those schools that do have a library, which the district defines as having at least one part-time teacher-librarian is on staff, the situation is sometimes far from ideal. At Durkin Park Elementary School, half of a dank and windowless supply room doubles as a library.