What is the average number of books collecting dust?
The books in the Todd Beamer High School library are spanking new, but librarian Dave Sheldon said he hasnt had a budget to buy any more since the school opened in 2003. Sheldon said its not at the level he wants or is recommended by several national library organizations. He cant add to the collection because the high schools administration didnt give him any money. His case is not unique. From school to school in Federal Way, the amount of money spent to improve a librarys collection or replace books varies greatly. Several libraries in the district havent had budgets over the last few years or have been given a few hundred dollars to replace or expand the book collections and maintain databases. Others are allocated several thousand dollars, up to $10,000 a year, according to librarians. A community group is preparing to lobby the School Board to change the system. Friends of the Federal Way Public School Libraries has drafted a report claiming many libraries are being neglected whe
In the archives of the King’s College library sit roughly 1,000 yearbooks, if not more. In the penthouse of the New Academic Building sit approximately 560 more. Shelves of yearbooks for the years 2001-02 and 2004-05, sit in archives. The average cost for a yearbook, based on an order of 450, is $35.56. With roughly 1,560 yearbooks sitting unclaimed, it means that there is $55,473.60, sitting on shelves and in boxes. The King’s Student Union produces the yearbook. The KSU pays Friesens, the company that publishes the yearbook, about $16,000 for approximately 450 yearbooks. Students pay for the yearbook in their mandatory student union fee. King’s has about 1,100 students and has averaged about 237 grads over the last three years, according to figures provided by the university’s registrar’s office. So even if the complete graduating class takes a yearbook, a quarter of the lower-year students can still claim one. But that’s not happening. Boxes of yearbooks on shelving and odd box full
