I recently asked for a response to the amount of budget money schools
received. Thank you for all the fabulous responses! Here are the results:
Last year zero.
This year, by asking several different sources, about $10,000.
2600 students
19,193 volumes
-----------------------------------------
(Note: this was a suggestion to me - my library is about 650 students K-8)
Minimum of $5.5k with at least 4 dedicated to book purchases, the rest
for periodicals, supplies, etc IF you do not have to buy common supplies
like light bulbs, lamination, etc. etc. IF you do have to buy those
common supplies, up it by 2K.
-------------------------------------------
Hi. Two years ago when I was at an elementary with about 500 students,
K-6,
I received $3000 for books and periodicals, $200 for supplies, and $300 for
book repair materials. Now I'm at a high school with 2300 students, and my
budget is about $18,000.
-------------------------------------------
I hae 1250 students and get $9,000/year for books and magazines and
supplies!
-------------------------------------
When I was in the school district, I was in a k-6 school. We had about 485
students. My budget was about $8500. And I had the largest budget in the
district. I did get some grant monies, and some wonderful donations at times,
too. This would make a nice hit when you get all the information!
-----------------------------
$5.25 per student to pay for EVERYTHING --pathetic! Has been this same
number for 15 years. My enrollment is 1125 this year, but will probably be down
about 25% next year.
-----------------------------------------------------
My Middle School Budget (grade 5-8) the past 3 years has been
$12,280.00; I decide how much from this total to place in the following
categories. Below is our possible budget for next year: General
Supplies $700.00; AV supplies $2,500.00; AV Materials $300.00;
Books $5,500.00;
Newspapers $280.00; Periodicals $700.00; Reference $1,000.00;
Capital outlay (equipment) $1,000.00; District Fees $300.00
------------------------------------------------------
My High School Budget (9-12) has been $10,850 the past three years and I
asked for an increase because of how out-dated my collection is.
Because I justified it, my principal increase my budget to $11,750,
which I placed in the following categories: General Supplies $500.00;
Computer Software $500.00; AV supplies $1,000.00; AV Materials
$1,200.00; Books $3,750.00; Newspapers $300.00; Periodicals $1,600.00;
Reference $1,600.00;
Capital outlay (equipment) $1,000.00
What is nice about the state of WI is that the state government has
money that can only be spent in the public school libraries. This money
is based on the average cost of a book and school enrollment. Some WI
school LMC/IMC have only that money to work with for ordering. My
district adds to that funding, so we are not has limited as some
districts.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
I have a K-5 building of 860 students. My annual budget is about 11,500 per
year. Just because you are a new school, does not mean that the 30,000
whorth of materials should last "a while". If I'm not mistaken, industry
standards recommend reserving 10% of your budget for replacement costs ( dated
material, damages, etc.). I would start with that figure and project it into the
future. Also, what about new technology? It constantly needs upgrades to
stay current and useful. Start projecting that amount out for the next several
years. Also, I would fight tooth and claw to NOT include in your budget any
money made from book fairs. It's the responsibility of the district and/or
state to provide adequate funds for its educational programs!
Book fair money should be " unexpected gravy". Don't let anyone tell you
otherwise. It's like expecting a cake sale to cover part of the cost of the
new math program!
------------------------------------------------------
In my 1-8 school of around 350 students I have a
budget of $5000.00. Library computer ssytem
maintenance fees and subscription databases are paid
from this. That's around $1500.00. I spend about that
same amount on magazine subscriptions.
In addition, we get $6.00 per student from the state
for books and software.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Fight for a dollar amount per FTE. Somewhere on ALA website they will
show the average cost of a book, use this to show how much you should be
getting, and then times it by the number of kids you have (FTE) for a
total amount.
This is a pretty standard formula.
We are actually only getting 15.00 per FTE. Ask for the stars, if all
you get is the moon, it is still way out there.
--------------------------------------------------
I am in a high school of just over 1800 students. Our budget decreases
(along with every other department's) every year. This year we got $4300 with no
other source of budget money. I think we may have gotten $4500 last year.
In my district, this is very good. I know a librarian in an elementary
school with around 400 students who gets less than $200 budget but she does get
bookfair money from the PTA. Another middle/high school librarian at a school
with around 600 students gets less than $300 for her budget. Just to give you
some idea of how tough it can be. I am fortunate to have a principal who
values the library. Please keep this anonymous if you post a hit. Thanks!
-----------------------------------------------------
My budget from the school accounts is $10,000 a year. (And it goes fast!)
My activity accounts depend on how much money I make at the book fairs.
--------------------------------------------------
If you want your book fairs to do well, one thing I suggest is doing library
lessons (for at least 2-3 weeks before the fair) on the book fair theme. If
the company will send you free preview books, use those for the lessons.
Take a look at my website, under 'Scrapbooks' to see what I've done this year.
My school is about 70% free & reduced lunch, and we sold just over $8000 at
the fall fair AND the spring fair as well. A lot of it is because I try to
get the kids excited about reading and about getting their own books. The
library lessons help. Also, when I schedule classes to come to the fair, the
whole class comes. Then, the kids who have money shop, and the kids who don't
get a wish list, pencil, and clip board and 'window shop.' We have a lot of
kids come back the next day with money for the books on their lists! And
this way I don't have behavior problems from bored kids who don't have money to
shop! (All of these are ideas other librarians have given me, by the way.)
Here's the link to my library webpage.
http://disdweb.dickinsonisd.org/education/dept/dept.php?sectionid=1128
If that doesn't want to work, go to:
http://disdweb.dickinsonisd.org
and then click on "District Libraries" and then on "K.E. Little Elementary
Library."
By the way, you might want to remind your principal that magazine
subscriptions have to be bought each year, plus technical support for your
automation
system, plus supplies like barcode labels and label protectors... And what
about bookmarks for the kids? Not every penny is spend on new books! And
the newest award winning books (Caldecott, Newbery, Orbis Pictus, Coretta Scott
King, Pura Belpre, Thomas Geisel...)
Sadly I only get about 3000 for a budget and I buy both tech supplies and
consumables with that. Most of my book money comes from fundraisers like book
fairs. I will be heavily beseeching my PTA next year for help with purchasing.
---------------
My budget for my K-4 school with 475 is students is $8200. I allocate about
$6500 for books and the rest goes for supplies like printer ink, batteries,
disks, lightbulbs and library processing stuff. I'd love it if you posted a
hit of all the answers you get. Thanks!
-----------------------
My budget was supposed to be $11,000 this year, at least according to the
budget sheets I saw earlier in the school year. By November, that number was
$7,000. I kept asking my principal how much money I had available, and when
could I begin spending it. Well, Friday, she posted a notice on our office
announcement board telling all department chairs to spend $1,000. Including
me, there are 11 departments. Guess who is spending the library budget? My
collection size is 9,000 books, and we have 940 students in grades 6, 7 and 8.
I have time for one book fair per year, and I am lucky to make $800 from
that.
----------------------
My book budget is $4000 for 350 students.
--------------------------
I teach in an Pre-5 school of 460 students. I receive $1000 per year for
books, $1200 for computers/electronics, $200 for library supplies. I earn
about $1800 on two book fairs and I do a basket auction with the PTA at our
holiday concert. It raises $1400. This is a pretty minimalist budget in my
opinion but my principal won't budge. We have site based management so some
elementary schools end up with $6000 for books. A great disparity in our district.
--------------------------
I get about $4000. a year from my principal. That is broken down into
print, equipment, and supplies. I have been fighting for a non-print budget but I
usually just spend my book fair money on those items. I have two book fairs
a year (without volunteers I would not even attempt this!) That money goes
toward our AR store (run by a parent), books for the AR store from the fair
and for the media center, and then I use some of the money to double my
spending ability and use the coupons and the Instructional Resource Catalog from
Scholastic.
On top of that I get some money through our Special Projects center. This
is federal money, (Title ?) That is dependent on our circulation statistics.
Every year the total dollar amount for everyone has shrunk because there is
less money coming from the Feds. In Iowa I didn't get this money because we
have Area Education Centers and they get all of that.
I feel that I am quite fortunate. Of course, there is always something that
the collection needs and I have been noticing that this year, my books are
looking really ratty. I also have money that I have collected from lost
books. This of course does not amount to much.
___________________________
Our state has a guideline of $9 per student up to 500 students and then $4.5
beyond that. That is $4500 for a school of 500 and most schools have more
than 500 students. That is the baseline amount, and often there is more. My
school has 420 students and this year I have spent almost $6000 using the
mandatory funds plus book fair, Wal-Mart grant and PTA support. There are some
elementary schools in my district who regularly spend $10,000 a year. All
secondary schools spend $7000 to $15,000 depending on the benefits of that
year. The mandatory amount (approx $4500) must be spent on books, periodicals
and software. Equipment, accessories, supplies (bulbs, tape, etc) must come
from additional funds. (Oklahoma)
----------------------------------------
Our book budget ranges from a low of $4000 to a high of $7000 over the past
5 years. Our collection was begun 9 years ago. Our school houses 550+ 4th
and 5th grade students. I don't have enough to replace all worn or outdated
books and keep up with the new stuff on $7000. I could use a bit more.
----------------------------
We are a 6-8 middle school of about 650 students. My budget is about
$5500/yr.
--------------------------------
9-12 500 students $5,ooo.
------------------------
Approximately 8,000 for books
----------------------------
I am a LMS at the middle school level in a suburban community
(Hudsonville, Michigan --near Grand Rapids). At one of my MS buildings,
there are just over 700 students, and at the other there are around
450.
At each building, my budget for this year was $5,000. In addition,
whatever was generated from fines, book fairs, etc. was also mine to
spend for the library.
-------------------------------
We have about 750 students and my allotment for magazines, supplies and
books was $2163 for this year.
--------------------------------
Hi. I used to teach in a K-5 building with 800 students and a high minority
population (so we got federal and state funds) and a good
industrial/commercial tax base and I got $19,000 for books and unlimited for
supplies, so it
was hard to come to this community where I get only the NY State $6/student for
books and about a $1000 for supplies (this would include shelves, etc.).
This is supplemented by $2000 in book fair money from our PTA. I have
something like 17 books per student, but the average age of the collection is 1988
(I
am trying to improve this!!!), so I would rather have 10 books/student that
actually circulate than 17, 12 of which never leave the shelf. Just out of
curiosity, was the initial purchase made as a "new library" collection, or did
someone individually pick titles? Good luck
-----------------------
In Oklahoma, we're mandated to get at least $9 per student for our budget.
Doesn't stretch far...I wonder how many reference books you could buy for $9???
--------------------
My budget for a school the exact same size and configuration as yours is
$10,000, plus our Title V funds (about $2,000) plus the money from the book
fair (this year $3,400, but most years around $2,000). That is for books,
AV and supplies. Hope this helps.
------------------------
My budget is just 20.00 per student per year. Not very much at all.
(Kansas)
---------------------
$10.00 per student for all I need, plus whatever fine monies are generated.
We have about 900 kids, so about $9000 per year. This number has not
changed since the 1960's I believe.
(Idaho)
-------------------------------
Our budget is supposedly xDollars per student (I'm not sure of the exact
number). I have 400 students and my budget is split up into the following
categories:
General Purpose Print- just under $3,000
General Purpose Nonprint- same- and I have to deduct my maintenance
agreement on
my circulation software.
Periodicals- around $1200
Supplies- around $250
We usually get some Title V NCLB funding. This year it ran just under
$1,000 each for print and nonprint materials.
------------------------------------
I'm in a middle school of 450 students. I get $10K
for books and periodicals. Our online databases, to
the tune of about 8K are covered out of the district
budget. I also get a few hundred for supplies.
-------------------------
I am at a k-6 school with about 1050 students. I have amost 23,000 items in
my collection including about 17,500 books, 800 videos and 3000 magazines
and journals. The average age of my collection is 1992. My budge for next
year is the same as last year although enrollment is up 100 students from last
year. For books(this includes videos and periodicals) I have 10,612. For
supplies I have 2,040.
-----------------------------
You should definetly ask for 6500 for books alone - don't forget
periodicazls (which somewhere there is a $ amount per pupil you should be
spending. and
audio books and supplies for book repair. I ask for at least $500 for
supplies.
-----------------------------------
I'm in a K-4 school of about 390 students. My budget is based on what we
get from the state. Here in Wisconsin we have something called Common
School Fund Library Aid. Basically, the Common School Fund is a trust
fund set up by the state, and it was determined that the interest earned
on this fund would go to school libraries. The amount is a little
different each year, and it's based on the number of kids aged 4-20 living
in the district.
Anyway, our district will be receiving right around $27,000 this year.
That gets split up amongst the elem, middle, and high schools, so I get a
third of it, or around $9000. The district doesn't give me any more money
beyond this (like they're supposed to), but at least they can't take it
away!
-------------------------------
I'm at a new high school. In this county, a new high school
library/media center gets approx. $100,000. a year for the first three
years to stock the library. Most of the money is spent on books. This
is the third year. After that, it's left to the principal's discretion.
My principal has already told me that I will be getting NOTHING next
year. Please send me your responses. I'm curious too.
----------------------------
Two years ago the State Library Enhancement was $0 per student. Last year
it increased to (about) $130 per student. This year we were thrilled to hear
that it would be $220 per student. We have not heard what it will be next
year. We have a high school of about 1,000 students. Our local money is
usually $1,000 and each librarian (there are two of us) gets a $500 state
enhancement. This is a rough estimate, but I hope it helps. (Alabama)
-----------------------------------
Arlene Morrow
Library Media Specialist
Pathway School of Discovery (K-8)
Dayton, OH
_admorrow@aol.com_ (mailto:admorrow@aol.com)
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