Librarians in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools say the most recent round of layoffs will leave at least 20 campuses without media specialists.

CMS last week sent pink slips to 739 teachers, counselors, media specialists and others on the teacher pay scale. Media specialists have contacted the Observer to say at least 20 schools will be left with no trained staff to tend the libraries.

The librarians say they are concerned not only about their jobs, but about the prospect of students losing trained faculty who can teach them how to navigate the waves of information coming at them in today's Web-centered world.

"These are life skills. They're not just school skills," said Shelley Worman, media specialist at Eastway Middle School. "They're skills you would use for everything from buying a car to planning a meal and cooking it to purchasing a house."

CMS officials said 21 media specialists who haven't reached tenure - CMS prefers the term "career status" - are being laid off. An additional 31 are being reassigned, and could wind up in teaching slots or at other schools.

Also, 11 tenured media specialists have been told that CMS doesn't have positions for them presently. They will have the opportunity to get new posts when vacancies occur.

CMS officials said Tuesday that they couldn't immediately tally how many schools will be without media specialists.

They said the librarian layoffs came after principals were asked to choose between cutting media specialists, guidance counselors or academic or literacy facilitators.

With 164 of such positions on the chopping block, 80 principals chose to cut media specialists, CMS spokesperson LaTarzja Henry said.

It was unclear how many of those are being reassigned or might wind up with jobs later. Librarians said the actual number of schools without media specialists could be much higher than 20.

Superintendent Peter Gorman said a number of schools will be without librarians, though he couldn't say how many exactly.

"That's how severe these cuts are," he said. "When we say, 'Don't cut a classroom teacher,' that's what you end up with. You cut media specialists or other things."

Henry said the libraries will remain open at schools losing their media specialists. She said they probably will be staffed by teachers, teacher assistants or, in schools receiving Title I federal money, media assistants.

But media specialists say such arrangements can't take the place of the trained staff who safeguard thousands of library items.

Glenda Blaisdell-Buck, a longtime media specialist in CMS who now teaches English as a Second Language, questioned whether district leaders put enough thought into their decision. She noted how cash-strapped public libraries in many neighborhoods have already had to close or cut their operating hours.

"This is a double whammy for students," she said.

The 164 cuts will save $11 million. They rank among CMS' highest priorities to go back in the budget if schools get additional money toward closing their $100 million shortfall.

Some librarians question whether the guidance CMS gave principals resulted in more media specialists getting cut than counselors and facilitators. CMS officials said they gave principals discretion.

"We're making the best of poor choices," said Gorman.