Spencer Media Center and Student Achievement

A Strong Library Media Program Is: Adequately staffed, stocked, and funded One whose staff are actively involved leaders in school’s teaching and learning enterprise One whose staff have collegial, collaborative relationships with classroom teachers One that embraces networked information technology (Lance, Rodney, & Hamilton-Pennell, 2001).

What Studies Are Showing: “…there is overwhelming evidence that students are more likely to succeed academically where they have school library programs that are better staffed, better funded, better equipped, better stocked, and more accessible”(Lance, & Schwarz, 2012). “…LM program development alone accounts for three to five percent variation in Oregon reading scores” (Lance, Rodney, & Hamilton-Pennell, 2001).

What Studies Are Showing: “Generally, these patterns were found for All students as well as students who are Economically Disadvantaged, Black, and Hispanic and who have Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). In other words, these findings cannot be explained away by such socio-economic or demographic factors” (Lance, & Schwarz, 2012).

What Studies Are Showing: “A general finding of this phase is that the impact of school library programs is more pronounced proportionally for Writing than Reading scores…For Writing, students with access to libraries that have more of all of these resources are, in most cases, two to five times more likely to score Advanced than students without well-resourced libraries” (Lance, & Schwarz, 2012).

School library programs are a valuable component of a child’s education because they help a child achieve (Baughman, 2000). Our research shows that the highest achieving students attend schools with good school libraries (Baughman, 2000).

Study Results Over 20 states have complete studies that all have similar findings on the impact of Library Media Programs on student achievement. Making the Connection: Quality School Library Media Programs Impact Academic Achievement in Iowa showed that Library Media Programs increased reading test scores by 2.5%. “Students are more likely to succeed/excel/thrive when MS play active and collaborative roles with other teachers and with administrators(Idaho for Libraries, 2010).

What Studies Are Showing A key player in a successful media program is a knowledgeable principal with a commitment to literacy (Baxter & Smalley, 2003). Investing in a quality school library media program will increase student achievement. This is a great return on the money invested assessment scores rise and students with the ability to understand and use information graduate (Baxter & Smalley, 2003).

Study Recommendations In order to achieve these results administration and staff should: Administration should foster collaboration, and help create relationships that enable MS to become the provider of in-service professional development. (Idaho for Libraries, 2010) Hire staff that is actively involved with teachers, curriculum planning and BLT. (Iowa Education Agencies 2002) Provide a well-staffed MC. (Iowa Education Agencies 2002) MS should be open to collaboration and to co-teaching and be proactive in inviting teachers to in-services. (Idaho for Libraries, 2010)

References Baughman, J. C. (2000, October). School libraries and MCAS scores. Presentation delivered at a symposium MCAS and school libraries: making the connection, Boston, MA. Retrieved from http://web.simmons.edu/~baughman/mcas-school-libraries/Baughman Paper.pdf Baxter, S. J., & Smalley, A. W. Institute of Museum and Library Services, Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). (2003). Check it out! the results of the school library media program census. Retrieved from website: http://www.lrs.org/impact.php Idaho Commission of Libraries (2010). Idaho School Library Impact Study - 2009: How Idaho Librarians, Teachers, and Administrators Collaborate for Student Success. Retrieved from: https://westga.view.usg.edu/d2l/lms/discussions/messageLists/frame.d2l ?isShared=False&fid=99003&tid=494469&ou=235367 (1998). Information power, building partnerships for learning. Chicago: American Library Association. Iowa Area Education Agencies (2002). Making the Connection: Quality School Library Media Programs Impact Academic Achievement in Iowa. Retrieved from: http://www.iowaaeaonline.org/pages/uploaded_files/Make%20The%20 Connection.pdf

References Lance, K.C., Rodney, M.J., & Hamilton-Pennell, C. (2001). Good schools have school librarians: Oregon school librarians collaborate to improve academic achievement. Retrieved from http://www.davidvl.org/LanceStudies/ORStudy.pdf Lance, K.C., & Schwarz, B. (2012). How Pennsylvania school libraries pay off: Investments in student achievement and academic standards. Retrieved from http://paschoollibraryproject.org/research