The library, which was used for testing, studying, meetings, reading and more, was closed by administration this school year.

     The library’s wide selection of books made it handy for students to be able to research information needed for school assignments or sign out a book. There were students that would use the space during lunch time to hang out with friends and finish assignments or to print out papers.

     “I went to the library a lot to print because it was only 10 cents a page, and it was really convenient,” senior Konstantina Papadaki said. “I didn’t have to leave school, I could just get it printed and do it here.”

     Paraprofessional Robbieta Jones, the person who was in charge of the Media Center has been relocated to the registration office, taking charge of another job.

     “No one told me the library was going to close,” Jones said. “I just came to work one day and it was just closed. But it should have stayed open because the kids thrived from it, it didn’t matter if I ran it or not.”

     The administration has explained that the closing of the library was due to lack of fundings for a media clerk, and that Jones’ work was needed in other areas of the student services department which is what her job description says. 

     “We are working on solutions in regards to the situation,” Principal Lee Krueger said. “We are trying to see if the library can be opened for student use during lunch hours or after school, but we can’t promise anything.” 

     Another solution offered is for students to use the Miami-Dade Public Library online system as an alternative to check out books if needed, as the school’s virtual library is not an option because there is no media clerk.

     “I wasn’t aware that the library closed,” junior Luciana Risco said. “I was told by a friend after I had asked her if she wanted to hang out there as it was our favorite place to go to. We were both saddened to hear that it closed because it was our safe place since freshman year.”

     The closing of the library has affected some teachers that are known for using the library’s amenities and the usage of space for locating students during testing times.

     “I’m a Reading teacher. How will I show [the students] the value of a book? How do I show them how to research or going down the library’s aisles?” Language Arts teacher JoAnn Vilella-Howell said. “Where will they go when I need them to do group work outside of the classroom? It’s a sensory overload that they should appreciate, a process that is being taken away from them.”

     The Media Center was used mainly for testing, now due to its closing, the use of empty classrooms arose. Administration said that the computers and other resources in the Media Center will be relocated to classrooms so that students can use them but there is yet a use for the books.