1. Hot Issues in School Libraries OLA Super Conference Session 413 February 1, 2007 Michael Rosettis President, Ontario School Library Association

2. Overview Research Study Research Study Advocacy Advocacy Knowledge Ontario Knowledge Ontario Ministry Curriculum & Initiatives Ministry Curriculum & Initiatives Ministry Meeting: OSLA, TALCO & OLA Ministry Meeting: OSLA, TALCO & OLA Discussion/Focus Groups Discussion/Focus Groups Future Direction Future Direction

3. Perspective “The government recognizes the critical role that school libraries play in improving student achievement... Libraries have a powerful influence on stimulating interest in reading and strengthening research and critical thinking skills.” “The government recognizes the critical role that school libraries play in improving student achievement... Libraries have a powerful influence on stimulating interest in reading and strengthening research and critical thinking skills.” (Avis Glaze, Chief Student Achievement Officer, The Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat, and Kit Rankin, Acting Assistant Deputy Minister, Secondary and Elementary Strategic Planning Division, Ontario Ministry of Education, 2005)

4. Research Study: Phase 1 Presence of teacher-librarian the strongest predictor of reading enjoyment for grade 3 and 6 students Presence of teacher-librarian the strongest predictor of reading enjoyment for grade 3 and 6 students Schools with TLs tended to have reading enjoyment scores up to 8 percentile points higher than average Schools with TLs tended to have reading enjoyment scores up to 8 percentile points higher than average Reading enjoyment strongly/positively linked to student achievement Reading enjoyment strongly/positively linked to student achievement Schools with professionally-trained school library staff could be expected to have reading achievement scores that were higher (~ 5.5 percentile points in grade 6 EQAO results) Schools with professionally-trained school library staff could be expected to have reading achievement scores that were higher (~ 5.5 percentile points in grade 6 EQAO results) Schools without trained library staff tend to have lower achievement on grade 3 and 6 EQAO reading tests Schools without trained library staff tend to have lower achievement on grade 3 and 6 EQAO reading tests Eastern and Northern regions of province particularly disadvantaged Eastern and Northern regions of province particularly disadvantaged

5. Research Study: Phase 2  Data collection: March-June 2007 Data Analysis and Preliminary Report: July to September 2007 Data Analysis and Preliminary Report: July to September 2007 Release of preliminary findings: October 2007 Release of preliminary findings: October 2007 Data collection: November 2007 to June 2008 Data collection: November 2007 to June 2008 Data Analysis and Final Report preparation: July to September 2008 Data Analysis and Final Report preparation: July to September 2008 Release of final report findings: October 2008 Release of final report findings: October 2008

6. Research Study: Phase 2 Possible Research Directions Research impact of exemplary libraries and library programs on student attitude and achievement Research impact of exemplary libraries and library programs on student attitude and achievement Extension of the use of EQAO data results Extension of the use of EQAO data results Use of School Library data from People for Education Annual Survey (2006) Use of School Library data from People for Education Annual Survey (2006) Identification of exemplary school library programs Identification of exemplary school library programs Sampling of schools from across the province Sampling of schools from across the province Initial emphasis for Phase 2: Elementary schools; rural vs. urban; small vs. large schools Initial emphasis for Phase 2: Elementary schools; rural vs. urban; small vs. large schools

7. Research Study: Phase 2 Possible Research Directions Case study approach: observation and analysis of varied staffing models; qualitative research design Case study approach: observation and analysis of varied staffing models; qualitative research design Measuring learning transfer (re: Interdisciplinary Skills learned through school library program – e.g., note-taking, evaluating content, accessing print and digital resources, etc.) Measuring learning transfer (re: Interdisciplinary Skills learned through school library program – e.g., note-taking, evaluating content, accessing print and digital resources, etc.) Use of EQAO data to identify higher scoring schools, and analysis of common factors Use of EQAO data to identify higher scoring schools, and analysis of common factors Survey tool development of local and web-based use Survey tool development of local and web-based use (Cont’d)

8. Quotes: The Importance of School Libraries Conference Board of Canada Conference Board of Canada Ministry Statements Ministry Statements Statistics Canada Statistics Canada Teacher Federation Statements & Policy Teacher Federation Statements & Policy CPCO CPCO Dr. David Booth Dr. David Booth Time, Globe and Mail Time, Globe and Mail

10. OSLA Website Renewal

11. Teacher Federations Teacher Federations –OSSTF –ETFO –OECTA Ministry of Education Ministry of Education –Education Minister –Curriculum and Assessment Policy Branch (CAPB) –Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat Advocacy: Provincial Level Lobbying

12. Networking Networking –TALCO –Leaders Today –Knowledge Ontario –Education Institute Research Research –Queen’s University –People for Education Advocacy: Professional Networking

13. Conferences Conferences –Ontario Principal’s Council (OPC) –OECTA New Teacher’s –Teacher Federation AGMs OTF Curriculum Forum & Ministry Subject Association Meetings OTF Curriculum Forum & Ministry Subject Association Meetings Advocacy: Professional Networking

14. Federation Support Federation Policy Statements Federation Policy Statements –OSSTF –ETFO –OECTA Federation Action Federation Action –International School Library Day, ETFO –January 2007 Education Watch, OSSTF –Open Letter to NDP Delegates, ETFO OSLA Correspondence OSLA Correspondence

15. OSSTF: International School Library Day

16. OSSTF: Education Watch

17. ETFO: Open Letter to NDP Delegates

18. Knowledge Ontario

19. Resource Ontario: Equity of access across province Equity of access across province Product selection Product selection KO Board of Directors KO Board of Directors Procuring sustained funding Procuring sustained funding OSLA Rep OSLA Rep Listserv Listserv Knowledge Ontario

21. Ministry Curriculum & Initiatives The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 1-8: Language, 2006 The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 1-8: Language, 2006 Many Roots, Many Voices: Supporting English Language Learners in Every Classroom Many Roots, Many Voices: Supporting English Language Learners in Every Classroom The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 1-8: Science, Draft (2007) The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 1-8: Science, Draft (2007) The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 9-12: English, Draft (2007) The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 9-12: English, Draft (2007)

22. Ministry Curriculum & Initiatives

23. Ministry Meeting: Jan. 2007

24. Our Vision: Ministry leadership regarding policy and program direction for school libraries and school library programs Ministry leadership regarding policy and program direction for school libraries and school library programs Equitable staffing for school libraries across Ontario by qualified teacher-librarians and support staff Equitable staffing for school libraries across Ontario by qualified teacher-librarians and support staff Board accountability for school library funding: staffing, resources and facilities. Board accountability for school library funding: staffing, resources and facilities. Clear connections between school libraries and Ministry literacy and curricular initiatives Clear connections between school libraries and Ministry literacy and curricular initiatives The school library becomes a learning commons for the entire school community The school library becomes a learning commons for the entire school community

25. Ministry Meeting: Jan. 2007 Revitalised school library programs can: Revitalised school library programs can:  help teachers and students meet provincial expectations;  help teachers and students meet provincial expectations;  increase student achievement levels;  integrate a wide range of vital cross-curricular knowledge, skills, and technologies;  improve teaching and learning, especially literacy and research skills;  develop the love of reading for learning and pleasure;  provide learning environments that are safe, nurturing, positive, and respectful;  serve entire school communities.

26. Ministry Meeting: Jan. 2007 The development of comprehensive content and professional standards, print and electronic, for school libraries in Ontario that: scaffold knowledge and skills with specific teaching and learning strategies, activities, and templates to support: scaffold knowledge and skills with specific teaching and learning strategies, activities, and templates to support: –research process; –reading literacy and independent reading; –Information literacy; –media literacy; –communication and presentation skills; –character education; –ICT and other innovative technological literacies. –collect best practices, activities, and templates to support the collaboration of teachers and teacher-librarians in implementing:

27. Ministry Meeting: Jan. 2007 To address the issues of equity and accountability, the funding formula must recognize that school library programs need Ministry policy, direction, standards and targeted funding rather than local school board and school independence. To address the issues of equity and accountability, the funding formula must recognize that school library programs need Ministry policy, direction, standards and targeted funding rather than local school board and school independence. There are large disparities and inequities in the resource budgets of school libraries and in the quality of school library collections. There are large disparities and inequities in the resource budgets of school libraries and in the quality of school library collections. Our most disadvantaged students continue to be disadvantaged if school library resource budgets are inadequate. Our most disadvantaged students continue to be disadvantaged if school library resource budgets are inadequate.

28. Ministry Meeting: Jan. 2007

29. Ministry Meeting: Jan. ‘07 “Recommendations: …That the Ministry of Education reinstate adequate funding for qualified teacher-librarians and library resources.” (CPCO Submission on Education Funding 2006)

30. New Ministry Leadership “Effective school library programs can … help promote the development of information literacy skills among all students by supporting and coordinating the collaborative planning and implementation of reading programs, inquiry and research tasks, and independent study.” (Ontario Ministry of Education, The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 9 to 12: Program Planning and Assessment, 2000)

31. OSLA Discussion/Focus Groups Advocacy: School Library Programs/ Role of Teacher-librarian AQ Courses, Library Faculties of Education Pre-service Federation Advocacy Fundraising in Libraries Global Citizenship Libraries & Literacy School Library Budgets/Funding

32. Dedicated listserv Regular e-mail Wiki Interaction Teleconferences In-person meeting  dialogue  planning further action OSLA Discussion/Focus Groups

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34. Future Direction ??? Research: School Libraries in Ontario Research: School Libraries in Ontario Targeted Action: Targeted Action: –Principals: OPC, CPCO –Federations: OTF, EFTO, OECTA, OSSTF Ministry Dialogue Ministry Dialogue –Literacy & Numeracy Secretariat –Curriclum & Assessment Policy Branch –Minister of Education Other Ideas??? Other Ideas???

35. Action is Paramount! “School libraries are places where students can develop a passion for reading and learning … [and] inspire our students and help them succeed” “School libraries are places where students can develop a passion for reading and learning … [and] inspire our students and help them succeed” (Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Ontario, 2006) (Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Ontario, 2006)

36. Hot Issues in School Libraries February 1, 2007 Michael Rosettis michael.rosettis@ycdsb.ca