New Jersey School Library Cuts Raise Concerns as Districts Reduce Librarian Positions

School librarians have long been an important part of student life in New Jersey. They help children discover books, support classroom learning, teach research skills, and guide students through an increasingly digital world. However, as many school districts prepare for the 2026-27 academic year, a growing number are reducing or eliminating librarian positions in an effort to deal with budget challenges.

Education advocates say these decisions could have lasting effects on students, especially when it comes to reading, information literacy, and equal access to learning opportunities.

According to the New Jersey Department of Education, 164 school districts reported having no school librarian or media specialist during the 2024-25 school year. That number has fueled concerns among educators and library organizations, who say the role of certified librarians is becoming less common across the state.

Several districts are expected to reduce librarian positions before the next school year. A survey conducted by the New Jersey Library Association, the New Jersey Association of School Librarians, and the New Jersey Library Trustee Association found that school librarian positions are being cut in districts including Sparta, Newton, Clinton, and the South Orange-Maplewood School District. The survey also reported that Robbinsville has already experienced librarian reductions in recent years, with additional cuts expected during the 2027-28 budget cycle.

More than 500 people responded to the survey, describing a broader trend affecting school libraries across New Jersey. In many districts, librarians who retire or leave are not being replaced. Some positions have been reduced to part-time, while others have been eliminated completely. In some cases, one librarian is responsible for multiple schools, while classroom teachers, aides, or volunteers now manage library duties instead of certified professionals. Some schools have also converted library spaces into classrooms or other facilities.

Supporters of school libraries argue that certified librarians do much more than organize books. They work closely with teachers, help students complete research projects, support schools with technology and artificial intelligence education, and teach students how to recognize reliable information and avoid misinformation. They also guide students toward books that match their interests and reading abilities, helping create positive reading habits from an early age.

Joyce Valenza, an associate teaching professor of library and information science at Rutgers University, said reducing librarian positions is not simply a staffing issue. She described it as an issue of educational equity, explaining that students with access to certified librarians gain valuable information literacy skills that many other students may never receive.

She said librarians help prepare students to become informed citizens by teaching research skills, digital literacy, and responsible use of information. Without these opportunities, some students may enter college or future careers without important learning experiences that others receive through strong school library programs.

While educators continue to raise concerns, many school districts say they are making difficult financial decisions because of growing budget pressures.

One of the most significant examples is the Township of Union Public Schools. District officials are moving forward with plans to reduce nearly all school librarian positions as they work to close a budget shortfall of almost $14 million. District leaders said rising health benefit costs and reductions in state aid contributed to the financial challenges.

The district, which serves nearly 7,500 students across 10 schools, is expected to reduce its library staff from seven librarians to one district-wide certified library media specialist.

Union Superintendent Gerald Benaquista told families that students would continue receiving a high-quality education despite the staffing changes. According to the district, library services will shift to a classroom-based model supervised by a single certified library media specialist, while required information literacy standards will be taught across different grade levels and subject areas.

The proposal has received strong opposition from students, parents, teachers, and school staff.

During an April school board meeting, middle school student Ariadne Najera urged district leaders to reconsider the decision. She said removing library programs reduces opportunities for students and sends the message that these parts of education are not important. She also described the school library as a place where many students find comfort, encouragement, and a love for reading.

Education advocates say these concerns reflect a much larger issue facing schools throughout the state.

The New Jersey Department of Education reported that nearly 100 librarian positions disappeared between 2020 and 2025, representing a decline of about 7.5%.

Research also highlights the growing shortage. A national study of school librarian labor trends found that New Jersey ranked 26th in the country for student-to-librarian ratios during the 2024-25 school year. The report showed there was one school librarian for every 1,246 students in New Jersey, compared with Vermont, where there was one librarian for every 407 students.

Keith Curry Lance, a policy fellow with The EveryLibrary Institute, questioned why librarian positions are disappearing while spending on some administrative and instructional leadership roles has increased. He argued that if districts can continue expanding those positions, they should also be able to maintain certified school librarians who directly support student learning.

School librarians themselves say many people underestimate the work they perform every day.

Tricina Strong-Beebe, advocacy chair for the New Jersey Association of School Librarians, explained that her work in a K-8 school included teaching dozens of classes each week. Her lessons covered early literacy, coding, STEM activities, makerspace learning, research skills, and the use of digital tools. She said information literacy also includes financial literacy, STEM literacy, and artificial intelligence literacy, making school librarians valuable contributors across multiple areas of education.

Gabrielle Casieri, president of the New Jersey Association of School Librarians, said one of the greatest losses from librarian reductions is the impact on reading. She believes students benefit from having the freedom to discover books they truly enjoy instead of reading only material connected to classroom assignments.

The discussion comes as New Jersey prepares to implement updated Career Readiness, Life Literacies and Key Skills standards. The revised standards encourage students to strengthen research skills, digital citizenship, and the ability to identify misinformation, including content generated through artificial intelligence. The standards also state that certified school library media specialists should help select learning resources and provide professional development for educators.

However, current state regulations do not require every school to employ a full-time librarian. Existing administrative rules state that school library services must be provided under the direction of a certified school library media specialist. Education advocates say this wording allows districts to centralize library services under a single specialist instead of placing certified librarians in every school.

Supporters point to differences between school districts across the state, noting that some districts maintain one certified librarian in every school while others rely on a single librarian to serve many schools.

Advocates also reference research showing the educational value of strong school library programs. A 2024 report from the Center for American Progress reviewed 60 studies conducted over five decades and found that students with access to well-funded school libraries and certified librarians generally performed better on standardized tests. The report also found that underserved students often benefit the most from these resources but are less likely to have access to them.

Meanwhile, lawmakers have introduced identical bills in both the New Jersey Senate and Assembly that would establish minimum staffing requirements for school library media specialists based on student enrollment. The proposed legislation would require at least one part-time specialist in schools with fewer than 300 students, one full-time specialist in schools serving 300 to 1,499 students, and two full-time specialists in schools with 1,500 or more students.

Similar proposals have been introduced in previous legislative sessions but have not become law. The current bills have not yet received a vote.

As school districts continue balancing financial pressures against educational priorities, the future of certified school librarians remains uncertain. For many educators, students, and library advocates, the debate is about more than staffing numbers. They believe school libraries remain an essential part of helping children develop strong reading habits, research abilities, digital literacy, and lifelong learning skills.

Sources

• New Jersey Department of Education
• New Jersey Association of School Librarians
• New Jersey Library Association
• New Jersey Library Trustee Association
• Rutgers University
• The EveryLibrary Institute
• Center for American Progress