Oceano Schools Fight to Keep Library - KCOY Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo - News

OCEANO, Calif- State budget cuts over the years have taken a toll on education, including access to school libraries. But at least one local district is refusing to close this chapter.

"To have a school without a library, it's just a startling thought," said Ron Walton, Oceano Elementary Principal. However, that scenario is playing out at schools across the state. 

The Lucia Mar School District in Oceano used to receive a $600,000 school and library grant, but now that money is gone.  

"Lucia Mar does want children to have access to libraries, and where some school districts have been closing libraries, Lucia Mar has gone out of their way to make sure we have libraries open," said librarian, Jan Ojerholm. 

How is Lucia Mar able to keep its libraries open?  "Being a Title 1 school, we have some money that we can allocate to have our librarian longer. Some schools don't have that money, so they have to come up with other techniques," said Walton. Title one funds are for schools that have a significant portion of its population living in poverty.