School Librarians Impact Achievement!

Audrey ChurchCoordinator, School Library Media

Program, Longwood University

Traditional School Libraries

Print rich Print and AV oriented Centralized (one physical location) Rigidly scheduled Single person staff Quiet, almost-empty places

Libraries of Yesteryear…

And, perhaps you have met one of these

ladies?…

School Libraries of Today

Information rich in every format Multiple technologies Centralized and decentralized

simultaneously Flexibly scheduled Professional and technical staff Busy, bustling learning laboratories

Today’s School Librarian

Library Media Specialist Library Information Specialist Teacher Librarian “Agent of Academic Achievement”

The Research To Back It Up

Since 2000 At least 5 teams of researchers

(Baughman, Baumbach, Burgin, Lance, and Smith)

At least 12 U.S. states (MA, FL, NC, CO, PA, AK, IA, MI, NM, OR, MN, TX)

Data on over 4,000 schools—all levels, all sizes—and their communities

Building-level summary test scores representing over 1 million students

Key Research Findings Links between

Academic achievement (represented by scores on standards-based state tests of reading/language arts skills) and

Library staffing levels, librarian activities, collection size, technology integration, library usage

Schools with stronger school library programs average 10-20% higher test scores

More Findings… Controlling for key school and

community differences, library still explains 3-8% of test score variation

Poverty explains away other school and community differences—like the teacher-pupil ratio, per pupil spending, and parents’ education—but not the impact of school libraries

Reading/Language Arts test scores are higher in

schools…

Which have a school library staffed by a licensed librarian and assisted by adequate staff;

In which the library has a strong collection and adequate funding;

In which the librarian collaborates with teachers, teaches information literacy skills, provides in service for teachers in information technology;

In which library resources are available outside of library walls via computer networks.

Most Recently Completed Study—Ohio,

2004 “Student Learning through Ohio School

Libraries,” Todd and Kuhlthau Sought to understand how students

benefit from school libraries, to examine the multi-dimensional dynamics of student learning through effective school libraries, from the perspective of students

Findings show that effective school libraries are dynamic agents of learning

Today’s School Librarian Impacts

Academic Achievement!

And it is what he/she does that makes the difference…

When the library media specialist

takes an active role in the instructional

program of the school as…

A school leader A program administrator An information navigatorAn information navigator A technology facilitatorA technology facilitator A collaborative teacher and A collaborative teacher and

learnerlearner

An information navigator Selects print, nonprint, and

electronic resources to support curriculum and standards

Teaches others how to be information literate—to recognize a need for information and to access, evaluate, and use information in critical thinking and problem solving

Libraries are busy, bustling, learning laboratories…

A technology facilitator Selects licensed databases

(InfoTrac, SIRS, EBSCOHost) and authoritative free Web sites

Bridges the gap between students and teachers, online information, and curriculum and instruction

A collaborative teacher and learner A teacher of students who

collaborates with classroom teachers in design and delivery of instruction

A teacher of other teachers who creates more self-reliant users of information resources and technology

Student achievement is higher!

When library media specialists take an active role in curriculum and instruction…

When library media specialists teach information literacy skills…

When teachers and library media specialists collaborate…

Today’s School Libraries School library media programs—

dynamic, enthusiastic, and student-centered

Students—independent, information-literate, lifelong learners

School librarians—information specialists who are collaborative, active instructional partners

Dr. Keith Lance, Director, Library Research ServiceJune 4, 2002 White House Conference on School Libraries

“Research shows quite conclusively that school libraries are a powerful force in the lives of America’s children. The school library is one of the few factors whose contribution to academic achievement has been documented empirically, and it is a contribution that cannot be explained away by other powerful influences on student performance. So, if you want to invest in a research-based strategy for helping to insure that No Child Is Left Behind in your school, this is it!”

“School libraries help teachers teach and children learn…children and teachers need library resources—especially books—and the expertise of a librarian to succeed. Books, information technology, and school librarians who are part of the schools’ professional team are basic ingredients for student achievement.”

First Lady Laura Bush, June 4, 2002, White House Conference on School Libraries

School Librarians Impact

Academic Achievement!

Resources American Association of School Librarians. (1998).

Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning. Chicago: American Library Association.

Lance, K. C. (2003). 5 Roles for Empowering* School Librarians. Retrieved March 8, 2004 from http://www.lrs.org/documents/lmcstudies/5roles.pdf

Loertscher, D. V. & Achterman, D. (2002). Increasing Academic Achievement through the Library Media Center. San Jose, CA : HiWillow.

White House Conference on School Libraries. Retrieved March 16, 2004 from http://www.imls.gov/pubs/whitehouse0602/whitehouse.htm

Graphics from

1907 ASU Library Retrieved March 8, 2004 from http://www.asu.edu/lib/archives/asustory/images/01research.jpg

1931 Library Retrieved March 8, 2004 from http://dovergrammar.co.uk/archives/old-pharos/pictures/1931library.jpg

Animation Factory. Rebrieved March 16, 2004 from http://www.animationfactory.com/free/people_a_l/librarian_variant_page_librarian_shhh_quiet_please.html

Library at The Children’s School. Retrieved October 15, 2002 from http://tcslj.org/resource/library/

Scenes from the Chico High School Library. Retrieved March 16, 2004 from http://dewey.chs.chico.k12.ca.us/scenes11-00.html

Stratford Library Association, Our building’s history. Retrieved March 15, 2004 from http://www.stratford.lib.ct.us/building.html

Students and Teachers Using the Portable Lab. Retrieved March 16, 2004 from http://www.newpaltz.k12.ny.us/local/duzine/Teachers/jpallus/computer_pictures.htm

UNI Library Retrieved March 8, 2004 http://www.library.uni.edu/speccoll/images/lh1-14.jpg

 Wheatland Elementary School Retrieved March 8, 2004 from http://www.wheatland.k12.ca.us/Old%20Web%20Stuff/wesl.h1.jpg

Audrey ChurchCoordinator,

School Library Media ProgramLongwood University

achurch@longwood.eduPhone: 434-395-2682