The Value of School Libraries

Here’s part two of my series of posts and links on the value of libraries. This one is about the value of School Libraries and includes my list of links. As always, if you find a bad link, then just tell me and I’ll fix it. If you know of another study, just add it in the comments.

In the school library field, there are numerous studies and seemingly increasing stupidity in just ignoring them. I heard the word ‘anegnosis’ once. It’s similar to ‘amnesia’ although instead of forgetting knowledge and experience, it means to willfully ignore or be unaware of facts and knowledge. Dr. Ken Haycock’s summary, The Crisis in Canada’s School Libraries: The Case for Reform and Reinvestment, of the major studies on the impact of school libraries, published in 2003 by the Canadian Coalition for School Libraries, clearly shows that students, who attend schools with well-funded, properly-stocked libraries managed by qualified teacher-librarians, have higher achievement, improved literacy and greater success at the post-secondary level. Duh! So why are we having a crisis in school libraries, where they’re threatened routinely? Standardized scores tend to be 10 to 20% higher than in schools without an investment in a school library program and the “relationship between library resource levels and increased achievement is not explained away by other school variables (e.g., per student spending, teacher-pupil ratios) or community conditions (e.g., poverty, demographics). In fact, no fewer than forty years of research provides an abundance of evidence about the positive impact of qualified teacher-librarians and school libraries on children and adolescents.”

There are a number of leaders in this field of research including Ross Todd, Keith Curry Lance, Ken Haycock, David Loertscher, Stephen Krashen, Ann Curry, and others. All are great soldiers in this battle so reading their sites, reports and blogs is helpful.

Value of School Libraries Studies

The Crisis in Canada’s School Libraries: The Case for Reform and Reinvestment
http://www.accessola.com/data/6/rec_docs/ExecSummary_Ha_E1E12.pdf

Recent reports that were not included in the above report include:

School Libraries and Student achievement in Ontario [PDF]
The Ontario Library Association, April 2006
http://www.accessola.com/data/6/rec_docs/137_eqao_pfe_study_2006.pdf

School Libraries Work! [PDF]
Scholastic Research Foundation Paper, 2008 Edition
http://www2.scholastic.com/content/collateral_resources/pdf/s/slw3_2008.pdf

Idaho School Library Impact Study – 2009
http://libraries.idaho.gov/doc/idaho-school-library-impact-study-2009

The 2006 report on the impact of Delaware school libraries is available from the Delaware Division of Libraries:
http://library.blogs.delaware.gov

Statistical Studies of School and Other Libraries (excellent webliography)
http://www.sldirectory.com/libsf/resf/statistics.html

School libraries seem over challenged lately and that’s not fair. It verges on insanity. It also risks future generations. I hope these studies help to arm ourselves for the battle. Advocate for your libraries, our libraries.

Stephen