Sizing Up America’s School Libraries The First Annual Report on the AASL Longitudinal Survey of School Library Media Centers Keith Curry Lance Consultant RSL Research Group

Outline The Plan –Reasons for project –Designing questionnaire –Determining whom to survey The Response –Promoting survey –Assessing response The Results –Overall –By school level –By enrollment range Results in Reno –School type (charter, special) –Region, setting, poverty –Selected states –Independent schools What’s Next –Report/access plans –How to gain more input –How to increase response –Trend analysis –Further reporting plans

The Plan Reasons for project –Long-term dissatisfaction with lack of data from NCES –“Relative deprivation” (models of ACRL & PLA) –AASL Research & Statistics Committee interest –AASL Strategic Plan –Feasibility & affordability of online (vs. paper) survey

The Plan Designing questionnaire –“20 questions” limit –Precedents of state surveys (especially “Colorado” study states) –Input from AASL Board, Research & Statistics Committee, Independent Schools Section

The Plan Determining whom to survey –Regular public schools –Independent schools –Wish for representative national sample

The Response Promoting survey –AASL events at ALA Midwinter & Annual –AASL staff, lists –AASL Independent Schools Section –AASL Chapters & Affiliates, state lists –Interested parties –Contractor mailings to stratified random sample of public schools nationwide

The Response Assessing response –Over 5,000 responses initiated –Over 4,500 responses completed –Almost 4,000 regular public schools –Over 200 independent schools –Preponderance of responses generated by AASL membership (directly or indirectly)

Public School Results Library staff (TLs, total) Library staff activity (prep, teaching, budget) Library hours (total, flex) Library collection (copyright, format) Library/networked computers Library usage per typical week (individual & group visits) Annual library expenditures

Results in Reno School type –Regular public schools –Charter schools –Special education schools –Vocational-technical schools –Other special schools (alternative, magnet, online)

Results in Reno Region (Northeast, South, Midwest, West) Setting (metropolitan status) Poverty Status (National School Lunch Program eligibility)

Results in Reno Independent schools –AASL’s Independent Schools Section (ISS) –Types: Religious (parochial, diocesan, Jewish) Religious independent Independent Others types: Alternative (Montessori, Waldorf, International); Military

Results in Reno StateNumberStateNumber CA473ID165 MD345OR155 PA334OH138 FL249IL130 NC231WI127 TX212NY109 TN193NJ104 VA174SC102 2/3 of states provided 3/4 of responses

What’s Next Online tool to be developed –Available on subscription basis –RFP in progress “Print” report –Similar in size & appearance to School Libraries Work and The State of America’s Libraries Free products & tools on AASL website Expect update at AASL Reno

What’s Next How to gain more input –Annual programs at ALA Annual –Regular programs at AASL National –Programs by AASL Chapters & Affiliates –Presentations to AASL Board & selected committees –Requests of other key players

What’s Next How to increase response –Reconsideration of who universe is –Appeals for increased state-level support –Efforts targeted to specific under-represented groups (e.g., charter schools, independent schools)

What’s Next Trend analysis –Possibilities for examining year-to-year change from year two forward –Eventually, long-term trends

Contact Information Beverley Becker, AASL Deputy Director: Marcia Mardis, Chair, AASL Research & Statistics Committee: Keith Curry Lance, RSL Research Group (contractor):