Rapid City middle school students checked out about 30,000 fewer books at district libraries this year, a direct result of budgetary cuts, librarians say.

"That's 10 books that didn't get into the hands of each middle school student," West Middle School librarian Jane Patnoe said, citing the average and last year's use.

She provided the statistics to the Rapid City board of education last week in a report comparing "B.C." or "before cuts," and "A.D." - "after the destruction."

A year ago, the board cut about $4 million from the district's current year's operating budget. Restructuring the district's library program, worth about half a million dollars, was included in the cuts.

The results included middle school librarians splitting their time among elementary libraries. At previous meetings, librarians expressed frustration about students having less time with them and that so much teaching time was lost in traveling between schools.

Patnoe said the situation has been even worse than expected, with libraries being closed an entire day out of the week at the middle schools.

"I'm not here to complain," Patnoe said, but 30,000 to 40,000 fewer books checked out is alarming, especially when reading is tied so intimately to student achievement.

"If you think that is significant, you have to find a way to fix it," she told school board members.

Peggy Saunders, librarian at Canyon Lake and Corral Drive elementary schools, said fewer books are also being checked out by younger readers. And not only has staff been cut, but the amount of money to buy books has been reduced for the second consecutive year.

Budget director Dave Janak said the library fund this year was $200,000, but $125,000 of that was used to buy software. That left $75,000 for books.

Patnoe said that with the tough economic times, more families use the school libraries and check out books. Some of the kids have to wait to bring a book back because a parent is reading it, she said.

Saunders said the district should look at books as an investment because they are low maintenance and last an average 15 years. On the other hand, it costs $365 for a single light bulb in one of the new promethium boards - interactive white boards with a projection unit used in classrooms - she said.

Saunders said the district spends about $5 on each student for books and $8 for technology. Books can be used at home on the weekends, snow days, and after school, but technology is used only when the students are at the school.

Board member Wes Storm asked the librarians about the books they had to get rid of after health officials warned that books published before 1985 were not safe because of lead used in the printing process.

Saunders said she had to dispose of books, including copies of "Little House on the Prairie" that were published in the 1960s, and said it is another example of the little leeway she has in the budget. She can't afford to replace all of the books that should be thrown out.

"I have $200 worth of books on the toxic replacement list," Saunders said.

Board president Sheryl Kirkeby asked about researching what kind of stimulus money might be used to replace books, especially in light of $9.8 million in federal grants the district will apply for this year.

Janak said the district has to be careful about making sure it is using Title I grants only in designated schools and using the stimulus funds the way they were intended - not to supplant or replace general funds dollars, but to supplement them.

Grants director Lisa Plumb said books are bought with Title I funds.

But, that's the problem, Patnoe said.

"It's not for the libraries."

Contact Kayla Gahagan at kayla.gahagan@rapidcityjournal.com or 394-8410.