Atlanta Public Schools is facing a troubling trend: full-time certified librarians are being replaced by part-time paraprofessionals in six of its most vulnerable schools for the 2025–26 year, reports Ava Mitchell in the student newspaper at Midtown High School in the city.
(Melinda Young Stuart/Flickr Creative Commons)Humphries Elementary, Scott Elementary, Tuskegee Airman Global Academy, Carver Early College, Therrell High School, and Washington High School, each serving predominantly economically disadvantaged and minority student populations, will operate without dedicated librarians.
Budget constraints are at the heart of the shift, according to a report in the Atlanta Civic Circle. While the district’s newly approved $1.85 billion budget for FY 2026 includes a modest increase in school funding and raises for teachers, APS also eliminated 135 positions from its central office, resulting in a nearly $20 million reduction. The burden of these cuts often falls on specialist roles deemed less essential, like librarians — particularly in schools that can least afford the loss.
Educators argue that this loss is deeply damaging. Library assistant Andrea Tomlin laments that students in schools without librarians miss out on “magical” moments and the opportunity to explore books under the guidance of passionate librarians. Sherry Neal, media specialist at David T. Howard Middle, points out that full-time librarians significantly boost test scores, student well-being, and essential research skills. These skills, she says, are especially powerful for at-risk learners.
But librarians are fighting back, even amid budget pressures. Brian Montero, Midtown High’s library media specialist, believes that continuing to strengthen the library’s role is vital. “Rather than trying to control things out of our reach,” he says, “it’s more important to focus on what the library can do for this school.” For Tomlin, that means fostering a love of reading, like making kindergarteners laugh: “You’re so silly, I’m gonna like it here.” Others, like Neal, note that libraries serve as vital community spaces, hosting clubs such as Geeks & Gamers or the Gender Sexuality Alliance, providing safe havens that help students find connection, belonging, and even books.
The stakes are high: equity is at stake. Research shows that students with access to full-time certified librarians score higher in both reading and math. Neal insists that stripping these positions from high-poverty schools deepens educational inequities. These cuts risk widening the very gaps the schools most aim to close.
