Locals are in shock after news broke that H.B. Beal Secondary School tossed 10,000 books following a library review.
The news was so shocking, that it prompted Ontario’s Education Minister Paul Calandra to announce a temporary stop to all school library culls.
Meanwhile on the east side of the city, Fanshawe College is sticking by their process when it comes to intake and reviews at their Library Learning Commons.
“What libraries do are particular to the environment in which they are situated.” said Dana Vanzanten, Manager of Library Learning Commons User Engagement for Fanshawe.
Vanzanten noted that school libraries have a different purpose than your local public library.
“For an academic library like the one here at Fanshawe College, our mandate is to provide support for the curriculum that’s developed and delivered by faculty and support students in their learning outcomes.”
When asked about the reasons why books are taken off the shelves, Vanzanten explained the criteria.
“What we’re here to do is make sure that students have access to the materials they need to be successful in their courses. Material in any kind of library, academic, public, special… can be removed if the conditions no longer meets the requirements. If the item is moldy, if it’s damaged, and then careful consideration is made to determine whether or not it’s replaced or if it’s been superseded by something newer, so we apply those basic principles.”
When asked about the preservation process for books with no more shelf life, Vanzanten stated that they look within the college.
“I know that our librarians offer the books to faculty members, to students, and if there isn’t uptake from those particular populations then we do also offer them to community organizations who might be selling them to raise money for charitable purposes.”
Vanzanten finished by stating Fanshawe’s books are only recycled if the material is damaged and uncapable of being used.
Fanshawe’s library isn’t just for page turners. It acts as the heart of the school, and is one of the first things that can be seen when entering the school’s F Building.
The library also offers learning support, study spaces, and peer tutoring to all students.
