aasl: school libraries count! 2012 | 1 · florida state university members: sara kelly johns, lake...
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AASL: SchooL LibrArieS count! 2012 | 1
2 | AASL: SchooL LibrArieS count! 2012
AASL boArd of directorS (2011–2012)
AASL reSeArch And StAtiSticS committee (2011–2012)
tAbLe of contentS
Chair: Gail Dickinson, Old Dominion University
Elizabeth Friese
Meghan Harper, Kent State University
Rebecca Hunt, Northern Illinois University
Sung Un Kim, The Catholic University of America
Sue Kimmel, Old Dominion University
President: Carl Harvey, North Elementary School, IN
President-Elect: Susan Ballard, Simmons College
Treasurer: Karen Lemmons, Detroit School of Arts
Past-President: Nancy Everhart, Florida State University
memberS:
Sara Kelly Johns, Lake Placid Middle/High School
Carl Jay Bansbach, Maryland State Department of Education
Louis Greco, Saint Johns County Schools
Audrey Church, Longwood University
Research conducted by KRC Research, 700 13th Street, 8th Floor, Washington, DC 20005.
©2012 by the American Library Association. All rights reserved except those which may be granted by Sections 107 and 108 of the Copyright Revision Act of 1976.
Survey Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Analysis and Highlights . . . . . . . . . . . .4
DetaileD FinDings
Staff Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Hours and Staffing . . . . . . . . . .6
Collection Size . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Visits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Expenditures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Supplemental
Report on Filtering . . . . . . . . . .13
Robin Moeller
Barbara Schultz-Jones, University of North Texas
Andre Maria Taylor, Jones International University
AASL Board Liaison: Nancy Everhart, Florida State University
AASL Staff Liaison: Allison Cline
Sally Daniels, Cicero North Syracuse High School
Valerie Diggs, Chelmsford Public Schools
Valerie Edwards, Monona Grove High School
Karen Egger, Fay Herron Elementary School
Susi Grissom, Travis Vanguard & Academy
Dorcas Hand, Annunciation Orthodox School
Bonnie Kelley, Pinellas County Schools
Deborah Christensen, Central Academy of Technology & Arts
Linda Roberts, Retired
David Sonnen, Sherwood Elementary School
Deborah Svec, Palm Beach Gardens High School
Ex-Officio Member: Julie Walker, AASL Executive Director
AASL: SchooL LibrArieS count! 2012 | 3
methodoLogy
AASL’s School Libraries Count! annual longitudinal survey is an online survey that is open to all
primary and secondary school library programs to participate. The 2012 survey was launched
on January 24th and closed on March 20th. The survey was publicized through various
professional organizations and events and through word of mouth.
reSpondentS
AASL has received a high participation rate during the six years this survey has been
offered. In 2007 there were 4,571 respondents, 2008, 6,998 respondents, 2009, 5,824
respondents, 2010, 5,191 respondents, 2011, 4,887 respondents, and in the most recent
year, 2012, there were 4,385 respondents.
SchooL enroLLment Size
<300 students . . . . . . . . . . . .11%
300-499 students . . . . . . . . .25%
500-699 students . . . . . . . . .24%
700-999 students . . . . . . . . .21%
1,000-1,999 students . . . . . .16%
>2,000 students . . . . . . . . . . 4%
LocAtion
Metropolitan . . . . . . . . . . . . .58%
Non-metropolitan . . . . . . . . .42%
SchooL LeveL
Elementary . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42%
Jr. High/Middle . . . . . . . . . . .19%
High . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26%
Combined . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13%
region
Northeast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20%
Midwest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19%
South . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49%
West. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13%
AASL memberShip
Member . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39%
Not a member . . . . . . . . . . . .61%
mArgin of error
The estimated margin of error among school libraries that responded:
2007 + 1.4 percentage points at the 95% confidence interval
2008 + 1.2 percentage points at the 95% confidence interval
2009 + 1.3 percentage points at the 95% confidence interval
2010 + 1.4 percentage points at the 95% confidence interval
2011 + 1.4 percentage points at the 95% confidence interval
2012 + 1.5 percentage points at the 95% confidence interval
–
–
–
–
–
–
4 | AASL: SchooL LibrArieS count! 2012
AnALySiS AppLied to 2012 reSuLtS
The 2012 results were analyzed in two ways, first analysis was in changes overall
for each statistic at three key percentiles: the 50th, the 75th, and the 95th.
• As in previous reports, the purpose of reporting these three
figures is to describe the better half of responding school libraries.
• The 50th percentile, or median, is the figure that divides the
respondents in half—half reported this figure or above, half
a lower figure.
• The 75th percentile is the figure below which three-quarters of
the respondents fall and one-quarter above.
• The 95th percentile is the figure at or above which only
five percent of the respondents fall.
The second level of analysis was in changes in the average response overall and by subgroups,
including school type, level and size of enrollment, region, and two pieces of data from the
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES):
• Locale (either Metropolitan, from a city or surrounding suburb, or non-Metropolitan).
• Poverty status (broken into high, or more than average, and low,
or below average number of students eligible for government-funded
lunch programs).
• Other factors did not yield sufficient numbers of cases to look more
closely at specific types of schools (e.g., charter, special education,
vocational-technical, alternative, and magnet).
overALL highLightS
In the major areas of reporting these changes were
reported between the 2011 and 2012 data.
• American school libraries are in a steady state with
hours open, average number of hours worked by total
staff and overall staffing levels consistent with 2011.
• While the number of visits, both individual and group
remains consistent compared to 2011, the average
number of computers outside of the library with
networked access to library services has increased
significantly from 2011 to 2012.
• Expanded access is on the upswing with schools
continuing the trend to increase remote access to their
library licensed databases.
AASL: SchooL LibrArieS count! 2012 | 5
Overall the staff activities remained consistent between
2011 and 2012 reporting years.
• In 2012 the mean number of hours spent planning showed
a slight decrease across schools compared to last year,
although this change is not significant.
• Though there were no significant changes, a slight
decrease between 2012 and 2011 did not follow the
trend of instruction hours increasing from 2007 to 2011.
• There were no reported changes in administrative
time spent on budgeting.
0 10 20 30 40 50
Total number of hours the library is open
Total number of hours available for �exible schedulingeach week hours per week spent delivering
instruction
hours per week spent working on budget
0 10 20 30 40 50
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Number of Teach-Librarians & hours
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
hours per week meeting with teachers to plan number of books number of audio materials number of individual visits in a typical week
number of group visits in a typical week
perceived most e�ective initiatives for ELL
ELL collaboration strategies used.
Percent of Students who are ELL
average spent on informational resourses
number of computers in the librarynumber of periodical
number of video materials number of computers located elseware in the school
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
0 3 6 9 12 15
0 5000 10000 15000 20000 25000
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
0 500 1000 1500 2000
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
0 100 200 300 400 500 600
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
0 5000 10000150002000025000300003500040000
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
0
5
10
15
20
25
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
0 10 20 30 40 50
Total number of hours the library is open
Total number of hours available for �exible schedulingeach week hours per week spent delivering
instruction
hours per week spent working on budget
0 10 20 30 40 50
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Number of Teach-Librarians & hours
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
hours per week meeting with teachers to plan number of books number of audio materials number of individual visits in a typical week
number of group visits in a typical week
perceived most e�ective initiatives for ELL
ELL collaboration strategies used.
Percent of Students who are ELL
average spent on informational resourses
number of computers in the librarynumber of periodical
number of video materials number of computers located elseware in the school
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
0 3 6 9 12 15
0 5000 10000 15000 20000 25000
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
0 500 1000 1500 2000
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
0 100 200 300 400 500 600
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
0 5000 10000150002000025000300003500040000
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
0
5
10
15
20
25
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
0 10 20 30 40 50
Total number of hours the library is open
Total number of hours available for �exible schedulingeach week hours per week spent delivering
instruction
hours per week spent working on budget
0 10 20 30 40 50
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Number of Teach-Librarians & hours
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
hours per week meeting with teachers to plan number of books number of audio materials number of individual visits in a typical week
number of group visits in a typical week
perceived most e�ective initiatives for ELL
ELL collaboration strategies used.
Percent of Students who are ELL
average spent on informational resourses
number of computers in the librarynumber of periodical
number of video materials number of computers located elseware in the school
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
0 3 6 9 12 15
0 5000 10000 15000 20000 25000
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
0 500 1000 1500 2000
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
0 100 200 300 400 500 600
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
0 5000 10000150002000025000300003500040000
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
0
5
10
15
20
25
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
50th Percentile
1222
1
333
33
777
87
2.32.42.42.5
2.4
75th Percentile
95th Percentile
Mean
hours per week spent meeting with teachers to plan instructional units
hours per week spent delivering instruction
50th Percentile
1214
1515
13
2020
2122
20
3030
3432
31
13.814.515.015.3
14.4
75th Percentile
95th Percentile
hours per week spent working on the budget
50th Percentile22222
5555
4
1415
10
1015
3.9 3.9
3.73.8
3.6
75th Percentile
95th Percentile
Mean
Mean
DETAILED FINDINGS:
StAff ActivitieS Key: 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
6 | AASL: SchooL LibrArieS count! 2012
Year-over-year school libraries remain consistent in hours
open, flexible hours and staffing levels.
• The mean hours of operation remain generally
consistent with 2011, but have declined slightly in
schools with more than 2,000 students.
• The average number of hours worked by school
librarians decreased slightly across schools, although
this change was not statistically significant. The only
exception is schools in the Midwest, which showed a
slight increase in mean work hours, though the
difference between 2011 and 2012 is not significant.
0 10 20 30 40 50
Total number of hours the library is open
Total number of hours available for �exible schedulingeach week hours per week spent delivering
instruction
hours per week spent working on budget
0 10 20 30 40 50
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Number of Teach-Librarians & hours
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
hours per week meeting with teachers to plan number of books number of audio materials number of individual visits in a typical week
number of group visits in a typical week
perceived most e�ective initiatives for ELL
ELL collaboration strategies used.
Percent of Students who are ELL
average spent on informational resourses
number of computers in the librarynumber of periodical
number of video materials number of computers located elseware in the school
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
0 3 6 9 12 15
0 5000 10000 15000 20000 25000
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
0 500 1000 1500 2000
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
0 100 200 300 400 500 600
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
0 5000 10000150002000025000300003500040000
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
0
5
10
15
20
25
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
50th Percentile
38
38
38
38
39
40
40
40
40
40
45
45
45
45
45
32.4
34.0
33.6
33.633.7
75th Percentile
95th Percentile
Mean
total number of hours the library is open each week
DETAILED FINDINGS:
hourS &StAffing
Key: 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
AASL: SchooL LibrArieS count! 2012 | 7
0 20 40 60 80 100
0
10 20 30 40 50 60
number of hours Worked by School Librarians
number of hours Worked by other Staff
total number of hours available for flexible scheduling
0 10 20 30 40 50
Total number of hours the library is open
Total number of hours available for �exible schedulingeach week hours per week spent delivering
instruction
hours per week spent working on budget
0 10 20 30 40 50
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Number of Teach-Librarians & hours
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
hours per week meeting with teachers to plan number of books number of audio materials number of individual visits in a typical week
number of group visits in a typical week
perceived most e�ective initiatives for ELL
ELL collaboration strategies used.
Percent of Students who are ELL
average spent on informational resourses
number of computers in the librarynumber of periodical
number of video materials number of computers located elseware in the school
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
0 3 6 9 12 15
0 5000 10000 15000 20000 25000
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
0 500 1000 1500 2000
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
0 100 200 300 400 500 600
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
0 5000 10000150002000025000300003500040000
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
0
5
10
15
20
25
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
50th Percentile
2020 20 20 20
3838
373737
4444444444
21.321.921.5
21.421.1
75th Percentile
95th Percentile
Mean
0 10 20 30 40 50
Total number of hours the library is open
Total number of hours available for �exible schedulingeach week hours per week spent delivering
instruction
hours per week spent working on budget
0 10 20 30 40 50
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Number of Teach-Librarians & hours
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
hours per week meeting with teachers to plan number of books number of audio materials number of individual visits in a typical week
number of group visits in a typical week
perceived most e�ective initiatives for ELL
ELL collaboration strategies used.
Percent of Students who are ELL
average spent on informational resourses
number of computers in the librarynumber of periodical
number of video materials number of computers located elseware in the school
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
0 3 6 9 12 15
0 5000 10000 15000 20000 25000
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
0 500 1000 1500 2000
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
0 100 200 300 400 500 600
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
0 5000 10000150002000025000300003500040000
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
0
5
10
15
20
25
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
0 10 20 30 40 50
Total number of hours the library is open
Total number of hours available for �exible schedulingeach week hours per week spent delivering
instruction
hours per week spent working on budget
0 10 20 30 40 50
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Number of Teach-Librarians & hours
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
hours per week meeting with teachers to plan number of books number of audio materials number of individual visits in a typical week
number of group visits in a typical week
perceived most e�ective initiatives for ELL
ELL collaboration strategies used.
Percent of Students who are ELL
average spent on informational resourses
number of computers in the librarynumber of periodical
number of video materials number of computers located elseware in the school
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
0 3 6 9 12 15
0 5000 10000 15000 20000 25000
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
0 500 1000 1500 2000
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
0 100 200 300 400 500 600
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
0 5000 10000150002000025000300003500040000
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
0
5
10
15
20
25
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
50th Percentile
50th Percentile
50th Percentile
11111
11111
4040404040
65
29.430.231.032.0
30.59
22222
625860
45
37.537383838
0.90.90.9
1.00.95
75th Percentile
75th Percentile
75th Percentile
95th Percentile
95th Percentile
95th Percentile
Mean
Mean
Mean
number of School Librarians5
3535353535
15.415.7
16.918.218.4
4040
4556
55
3000
8 | AASL: SchooL LibrArieS count! 2012
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2012 Change
Average number of books 12,672 13,086 12,741 12,989 13,517 528 (4%)
Average number of periodical subscriptions 23.7 30.6 27.0 27.0 25.66 -1.34 (-4.9%)
Average number of video materials 471.7 495.6 470.7 457.3 434.4 -22.9 (-5%)
Average number of audio materials 89.9 98.4 98.6 94.2 98.72 4.52 (4.7%)
Average copyright year for the Dewey
range 610-619, health and medicine1994 1994 1995 1996 1996 No changeDETAILED FINDINGS:
coLLectionSize
Summary of changes in collections
While the average number of audio material remains
consistent from 2011 to 2012, schools in the Northeast
report a significant increase (2011: 93.12; 2012: 114.0).
Overall average copyright dates, remained steady since
last year, though schools in the West reported an
increase in average copyright dates from 1995 up to 1997.
The average number of books in school library
collections increased significantly from 2011 to 2012
(2011: 12,989; 2012: 13,517).
• This change was driven by regular public
schools, schools with 300-999 and schools with
2000+ students.
• Schools in metropolitan areas, the South and
low poverty areas also reported significant
increases in the number of books.
The average number of periodical subscriptions
remains consistent in 2012.
The average number of video materials is similar to
2011, although it is directionally lower since 2009.
AASL: SchooL LibrArieS count! 2012 | 9
number of books (excluding bound volumes of periodicals)
0 10 20 30 40 50
Total number of hours the library is open
Total number of hours available for �exible schedulingeach week hours per week spent delivering
instruction
hours per week spent working on budget
0 10 20 30 40 50
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Number of Teach-Librarians & hours
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
hours per week meeting with teachers to plan number of books number of audio materials number of individual visits in a typical week
number of group visits in a typical week
perceived most e�ective initiatives for ELL
ELL collaboration strategies used.
Percent of Students who are ELL
average spent on informational resourses
number of computers in the librarynumber of periodical
number of video materials number of computers located elseware in the school
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
0 3 6 9 12 15
0 5000 10000 15000 20000 25000
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
0 500 1000 1500 2000
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
0 100 200 300 400 500 600
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
0 5000 10000150002000025000300003500040000
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
0
5
10
15
20
25
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
50th Percentile
75th Percentile
95th Percentile
Mean
11,65011,888
11,550
12,00012,000
15,20015,49415,150
15,55015,950
23,86425,000
24,00024,00024,000
12,67213,086
12,74112,989
13,517
number of current periodical subscriptions (i.e., magazines, newspapers)
0 10 20 30 40 50
Total number of hours the library is open
Total number of hours available for �exible schedulingeach week hours per week spent delivering
instruction
hours per week spent working on budget
0 10 20 30 40 50
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Number of Teach-Librarians & hours
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
hours per week meeting with teachers to plan number of books number of audio materials number of individual visits in a typical week
number of group visits in a typical week
perceived most e�ective initiatives for ELL
ELL collaboration strategies used.
Percent of Students who are ELL
average spent on informational resourses
number of computers in the librarynumber of periodical
number of video materials number of computers located elseware in the school
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
0 3 6 9 12 15
0 5000 10000 15000 20000 25000
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
0 500 1000 1500 2000
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
0 100 200 300 400 500 600
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
0 5000 10000150002000025000300003500040000
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
0
5
10
15
20
25
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
50th Percentile
75th Percentile
95th Percentile
Mean
1817
1515
12
3030
2726
24
6566
6260
52
23.730.6
27.027.0
25.7
number of video materials (i.e., vhS cassettes, dvds)
0 10 20 30 40 50
Total number of hours the library is open
Total number of hours available for �exible schedulingeach week hours per week spent delivering
instruction
hours per week spent working on budget
0 10 20 30 40 50
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Number of Teach-Librarians & hours
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
hours per week meeting with teachers to plan number of books number of audio materials number of individual visits in a typical week
number of group visits in a typical week
perceived most e�ective initiatives for ELL
ELL collaboration strategies used.
Percent of Students who are ELL
average spent on informational resourses
number of computers in the librarynumber of periodical
number of video materials number of computers located elseware in the school
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
0 3 6 9 12 15
0 5000 10000 15000 20000 25000
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
0 500 1000 1500 2000
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
0 100 200 300 400 500 600
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
0 5000 10000150002000025000300003500040000
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
0
5
10
15
20
25
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
50th Percentile
75th Percentile
95th Percentile
Mean
300300287300
250
589591
551575
535
1,5001,600
1,4721,500
1,408
471.8495.6470.7457.3
434.4
number of audio materials (i.e., audio books, cds, music on tape)
0 10 20 30 40 50
Total number of hours the library is open
Total number of hours available for �exible schedulingeach week hours per week spent delivering
instruction
hours per week spent working on budget
0 10 20 30 40 50
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Number of Teach-Librarians & hours
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
hours per week meeting with teachers to plan number of books number of audio materials number of individual visits in a typical week
number of group visits in a typical week
perceived most e�ective initiatives for ELL
ELL collaboration strategies used.
Percent of Students who are ELL
average spent on informational resourses
number of computers in the librarynumber of periodical
number of video materials number of computers located elseware in the school
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
0 3 6 9 12 15
0 5000 10000 15000 20000 25000
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
0 500 1000 1500 2000
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
0 100 200 300 400 500 600
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
0 5000 10000150002000025000300003500040000
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
0
5
10
15
20
25
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
50th Percentile
75th Percentile
95th Percentile
Mean
4045434846
100100100100100
316300
319304
330
89.998.498.694.298.7
Key: 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
10 | AASL: SchooL LibrArieS count! 2012
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2012 Increase
Average number of computers in libraries 23.9 25.6 27.4 27.9 29.29 1.39 (5%)
Average number of school computers outside library, with network
access to library services168.3 178.4 194.0 193.4 208.2 14.8 (7.6%)
Total of library and library-networked computers 190.6 203.6 220.4 221.1 237.5 16.4 (7.4%)
While the average number of computers in libraries
remains steady, school computers with network access to
library services is on the rise.
• While the average number of computers in libraries in
2012 is comparable to 2011 (29.29 and 27.9
respectively), the overall number of library and library-
networked computers has increased significantly from
221.1 in 2011 to 237.5 in 2012.
• Additionally, the average number of computers outside of
the library with networked access to library services has
increased significantly from 193.4 in 2011 to 208.2 in 2012.
DETAILED FINDINGS:
technoLogy
Summary of changes in technology installation
percentage Able to Access database remotely
0 20 40 60 80 100
0
10 20 30 40 50 60
Yes
No
74%76%
79%82%
84%
26%24%
21%18%
16%
• The change was driven by many cohorts, including all
elementary, middle, and high school levels, public
schools, and schools with enrollment of less than 999
have seen a significant uptick in the average number
of computers outside libraries with networked access.
Schools are continuing the trend to increase remote access
to their school library’s licensed databases.
• Over eight in ten report that students can access their
library’s resources remotely. The increase is attributed
across the board: elementary schools, public schools,
schools with enrollment of less than 300 and 300-999,
schools in the Midwest and South, non-metro areas,
and areas of low poverty.
Key: 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
AASL: SchooL LibrArieS count! 2012 | 11
Overall library usage is comparable to 2011, with a slight
down tick. On average, the number of individual and group
visits to school libraries remains consistent with 2011.
• The average number of individual and group visits to
libraries overall are largely unchanged compared to
last year (313.3 individual and 30.9 group visits per
week in 2012 and 315.1 individual and 32.3 group visits
per week in 2011).
• Across all subgroups no significant change occurred
among the average number of individuals and group
visits to libraries.
number of individual visits per typical week (only those visiting alone, not those visiting as part of a class or a smaller group)
0 10 20 30 40 50
Total number of hours the library is open
Total number of hours available for �exible schedulingeach week hours per week spent delivering
instruction
hours per week spent working on budget
0 10 20 30 40 50
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Number of Teach-Librarians & hours
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
hours per week meeting with teachers to plan number of books number of audio materials number of individual visits in a typical week
number of group visits in a typical week
perceived most e�ective initiatives for ELL
ELL collaboration strategies used.
Percent of Students who are ELL
average spent on informational resourses
number of computers in the librarynumber of periodical
number of video materials number of computers located elseware in the school
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
0 3 6 9 12 15
0 5000 10000 15000 20000 25000
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
0 500 1000 1500 2000
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
0 100 200 300 400 500 600
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
0 5000 10000150002000025000300003500040000
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
0
5
10
15
20
25
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
50th Percentile
75th Percentile
95th Percentile
Mean
150130150150140
375350360350360
1,0001,0571,055
1,1001,120
299.0301.4304.0315.1313.3
number of group visits per typical week (i.e., number of whole classes or smaller groups, not the number of individuals in such groups)
0 10 20 30 40 50
Total number of hours the library is open
Total number of hours available for �exible schedulingeach week hours per week spent delivering
instruction
hours per week spent working on budget
0 10 20 30 40 50
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Number of Teach-Librarians & hours
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
hours per week meeting with teachers to plan number of books number of audio materials number of individual visits in a typical week
number of group visits in a typical week
perceived most e�ective initiatives for ELL
ELL collaboration strategies used.
Percent of Students who are ELL
average spent on informational resourses
number of computers in the librarynumber of periodical
number of video materials number of computers located elseware in the school
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
0 3 6 9 12 15
0 5000 10000 15000 20000 25000
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
0 500 1000 1500 2000
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
0 100 200 300 400 500 600
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
0 5000 10000150002000025000300003500040000
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
0
5
10
15
20
25
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
50th Percentile
75th Percentile
95th Percentile
Mean
2020202020
3030303030
5057
606060
27.429.831.032.3
30.9
DETAILED FINDINGS:
viSitS
Key: 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
12 | AASL: SchooL LibrArieS count! 2012
Library expenditures on information resources are consistent
with previous years.
• On average, schools are spending $11,827 on information
resources in 2012 compared to $12,937 in 2011, a slight
down tick but not significant.
Average Spent on information resources (i.e., print and non-print materials, licensed databases, and other electronic access to information)
0 10 20 30 40 50
Total number of hours the library is open
Total number of hours available for �exible schedulingeach week hours per week spent delivering
instruction
hours per week spent working on budget
0 10 20 30 40 50
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Number of Teach-Librarians & hours
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
hours per week meeting with teachers to plan number of books number of audio materials number of individual visits in a typical week
number of group visits in a typical week
perceived most e�ective initiatives for ELL
ELL collaboration strategies used.
Percent of Students who are ELL
average spent on informational resourses
number of computers in the librarynumber of periodical
number of video materials number of computers located elseware in the school
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
0 3 6 9 12 15
0 5000 10000 15000 20000 25000
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
0 500 1000 1500 2000
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
0 100 200 300 400 500 600
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
0 5000 10000150002000025000300003500040000
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
0
5
10
15
20
25
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
50th Percentile
75th Percentile
95th Percentile
Mean
$7,000$6,500
$6,000$6,000$5,500
$13,500$12,477$12,000$12,000
$10,400
$35,000$35,072
$32,000$30,900
$28,000
$11,390$13,525
$12,260$12,937
$11,827
DETAILED FINDINGS:
SchooL LibrAry
expenditureS
School Library budgeting
all amounts are in dollars ($) 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2012 Change
All schools (average) 11,390 13,525 12,260 12,937 11,827 -1,110 (-8.5%)
50th percentile 7,000 6,500 6,000 6,000 5,500 -500 (-8.3%)
75th percentile 13,500 12,477 12,000 12,000 10,400 -1,600 (-13.3%)
95th percentile 35,000 35,072 32,000 30,900 28,000 -2,900 (-9.3%)
All elementary schools (average) 6,720 7,772 8,408 8,525 10,301 1,776(20.8%)
50th percentile 5,000 5,000 4,931 4,907 4,200 -707 (-14.4%)
75th percentile 8,800 8,000 8,000 8,000 7,500 -500 (-6.2%)
95th percentile 17,000 16,000 18,000 17,441 15,000 -2,441 (-13.9%)
All middle schools (average) 11,173 11,892 11,642 8,944 7,641 -1,303 (-14.5%)
50th percentile 8,000 7,000 6,900 6,540 6,000 -540 (-8.2%)
75th percentile 13,000 12,000 12,000 11,450 10,000 -1,450 (-12.6%)
95th percentile 27,000 25,000 25,000 21,500 20,000 -1,500 (-6.9%)
All high schools (average) 18,550 23,679 19,129 24,661 18,409 -6,252 (-25.3%)
50th percentile 13,028 12,000 10,250 11,230 10,000 -1,230 (-10.9%)
75th percentile 24,418 23,000 20,000 20,000 18,000 -2,000 (-10%)
95th percentile 52,000 50,000 46,737 50,000 42,000 -8,000 (-16%)
Key: 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Survey bAcKground
In 2007, the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) initiated an annual
survey of school library programs. The development of this longitudinal survey project
was mandated by the AASL Board as part of the association’s strategic plan with the
goal to provide research and statistics to be used at the national, state and local levels
when advocating for School Library Programs. The survey was developed through the
AASL Research & Statistics committee with AASL Board review and final approval.
In addition to annual survey questions, starting in 2008 AASL began adding a
series of questions that change annually and address a current issue within the
school library field. In 2012 AASL focused these questions on Filtering.
2012 marked the sixth year of AASL’s “School Libraries Count!” survey, with
4,385 respondents. The results represent a + 1.5 percentage points at the 95%
confidence level.
Key highLightS
Filtering of online content is nearly universal across schools or school libraries.
Filtering is used most frequently for social media and entertainment
purposes, and used much less for news and education consumption.
• Social networking sites and IM/online chatting (88% and 74%) are
among the top items identified as currently being filtered.
• Second tier mentions include gaming (69%) and video services
like YouTube (66%).
• Least likely to be filtered are newsgroups (17%) and professional
development tools for education (9%).
AASL: SchooL LibrAry count! 2012 | 13
14 | AASL: SchooL LibrArieS count! 2012
Among schools that report filtering, 88% are filtering content for staff as well.
• A slight majority of schools apply the same level of filtering to staff and
students (56%), and three quarters use the same level of filtering for
all grades of students (73%).
Schools use a variety of methods to filter content including filtering software, an
acceptable use policy and supervision of students when accessing the internet.
• The most common types of filtering software are URL based (70%) and key word
based filtering (60%).
Nearly all schools can request to unblock a site, but
the decision is most often made at the district level
and within varying time periods.
• About a third of librarians say their request takes
within one to two days (35%), while only 27%
report their request is addressed immediately or
within a few hours.
• 1 in 5 say it takes more than a week to unblock
a site (20%).
content fiLtered onLine
how does your school filter online content
types of filtering Software used
how long does it take for a site to be unblocked after a request?
iF FilteR: Which of the following items are currently filtered in your school? (select all that apply) all
Social networking sites 88%
IM/online chatting 74%
Gaming 69%
Video services (including YouTube, SchoolTube) 66%
Personal email accounts 41%
Peer-to-Peer File Sharing (used for downloading and sharing files) 40%
FTP (File Transfer Protocol, used for downloading large files) 32%
Newsgroups 17%
Professional development tools for education (including e-binders, Google Docs) 9%
None of the above 2%
Other 7%
URL based
Keyword based
Blacklists
Dynamic categorization
Filtering software
Acceptable use policy
Supervision of students while accessing the internet
Limiting access to the internet
Allow student access to the internet on a case-by-case basis
Other
Immediately or within a few hours
Within one to two days
More than two days, but less than a week
One week or more
Whitelists
Other
0 20 40 60 80 100
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
0 10 20 30 40 50
0 20 40 60 80 100
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
0 10 20 30 40 500 20 40 60 80 100
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
0 10 20 30 40 50
94%
70%
60%
47%
27%
23%
11%
27%
35%
17%
20%
87%
73%
27%
8%
3%
AASL: SchooL LibrArieS count! 2012 | 15
Among schools that allow portable electronic devices, half indicate their school has
a filtering mechanism in place to control the content viewed on these devices.
• Those that have a filtering mechanism for personal devices most commonly filter
personal devices by implementing an acceptable use policy and making students
log on through school networks (48% and 47% respectively).
types of filtering Software used At what level is the decision to unblock a site made?
What impact have filters had within your school or school library program?
portable electronic devices allowed
how are personal devices filtered?
District
Building
Other
Not sure
0 20 40 60 80 100
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
0 10 20 30 40 50
0 20 40 60 80 100
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
0 10 20 30 40 50
0 20 40 60 80 100
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
0 10 20 30 40 50
0 20 40 60 80 100
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
0 10 20 30 40 50
0 20 40 60 80 100
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
0 10 20 30 40 50
68%
48%
47%
29%
28%
26%
6%
52%
Impeded student
research when topic or key
word searches are filtered
Decreased the number of potential distractions
Discounts social aspects
of learning
Decreased the need for direct
supervision
Impeded continued
collaboration outside of
face-to-face opportunites
Allowed research
curriculum to yield more
relevent results
Other
E-readers Cell phones
Laptops MP3 players
Netbooks Portable game
players
Other None of the above
50%42%
34%
25% 23%
9%
53%49%
39%36%
32%
16%
6%
31%
17%
8%
7%
Acceptable Use Policy
Log on through school network
No internet connectivity
Use limited to classroom teacher
discretion
Log into “guest” network
Other