READING LITERACY The Importance of the Library Media Specialist

Reading at Risk, July 2004 Less than half of Americans now read literature Book sales dropped by 25 million Reading is in decline; steepest rate at the youngest adult age groups National crisis

Who cares if we read? A decline in reading leads to…. Declines in social interaction, civic participation, cultural attendance

The average secondary student: Less than 1% of time in reading Enjoyed reading until 3rd grade Outside reading nosedive in middle school Non-reader by high school

Reading Problems National Study of the Effectiveness of Reading Comprehension Interventions SPONSORED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION SCIENCES National Assessment of Educational Progress revealed that 37 percent of the nations fourth-graders have difficulty reading. As many as 30 percent of elementary, middle, and high school students have reading problems that severely curtail their educational progress and ultimately hurt their educational attainment.

What is Reading Literacy? The ability to read at a basic level. The ability to gain information from reading.

The Purposes of Reading

Reading for literary experience Reading for information Reading to perform a task

Reading ~n~ Test Scores 38 out of 41 studies show Free Voluntary Reading Programs benefit students reading comprehension standardized test performance.

The Role of the School Library Teach Reading Literacy Provide easy access to books targeted to specific age level and interest

Research finds School Library media specialists directly affects students reading by: Having access to a school librarian = more reading Richer print environment = better literacy development Larger school library collections = higher reading scores Krashen, Stephen. The Power of Reading. Colorado: Libraries Unlimited, Inc. 1993

Research finds School Library media specialists directly affects students reading by: Having access to a school librariam = more reading Richer print environment = better literacy development Larger school library collections = higher reading scores Krashen, Stephen. The Power of Reading. Colorado: Libraries Unlimited, Inc. 1993

Sources: Burke, Jim. I Hear America Reading: Why We Read; What We Read. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann, Donhan, Jean. Enhancing Teaching and Learning. New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers, Inc Gallagher, Kelly. Reading Reasons: Motivational Mini-Lessions for Middle and High School. Portland, Maine: Stenhouse Publishers, Kailua Intermediate students Krashen, Stephen. The Power of Reading. Colorado: Libraries Unlimited, Inc

Sources Leslie, Roger and Wilson, Patricia Potter. Igniting the Spark: Library Programs That Inspire High School Patrons. Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited, Pillows graphic Nichols, Mary Anne. Merchandising Library Materials to Young Adults. Englewood, CO, Libraries Unlimited, Pilgreen, Janice. The SSR Handbook: How to Organize and Manage a Sustained Silent Reading Program. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann, Reading at Risk: A Survey of Literary Reading in America, Research Division Report #46, June 2004, National Endowment for the Arts, Washington, DC.

Questions? F. Yokoyama Library Media Specialist