Library Assessment Project

LIS 773 Fall 2011

Recommendations for Per Capita Grant Monies: Linking District 369

Background Our district is a large, consolidated school district with approximately 6,000 total students divided between 6 elementary schools and 3 middle schools. The district policy with regards to the Illinois State Per Capita Grant is that each school is awarded the total amount every ninth year. Based on student population, the estimated amount of the per capita grant for 2012 will be $4,500 ($0.75/pupil). This year, Lincoln Elementary School will be the recipient of the per capita grant. In accordance with application procedures, library staff at Lincoln Elementary conducted a facilities analysis using guidelines in Linking for Learning 3rd Edition, 2010. It has long been known that Lincoln School Library has not been updated since 1993, when the current furniture was purchased. The facility is underutilized because the atmosphere is unappealing and dark. Furthermore, there are only 8 computer terminals which are quite outdated and not configured in a way that invites student collaboration. The library staff at Lincoln School feels that updated furniture and additional computers would encourage students and teachers to use the library more frequently, which would contribute to higher scores on standardized tests. Consequently, library staff decided to focus on Learning Environment in Linking for Learning in order to analyze how grant monies could be used to raise the library in several categories. Following are the results from this analysis. Learning Environment #1 Basic: We find that: the school library is large enough to provide service to individuals and either small groups or an entire class. Classes are scheduled for regular visits with limited flexible access. A card catalog and/or automated catalog/circulation system provide access to information and resources in the library. Internet and interlibrary loan are available to extend access to ideas, information, information, and resources.
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We find that this is an area where Lincoln School library could move into the Proficient area through application of per capita grant funds. Improving the atmosphere of the library by creating a welcoming reading corner with updated furniture would encourage both students and teachers to enter and use the facility, especially before school and during the afterschool homework club. Reconfiguring the arrangement of computers will make research in the library (instead of the classroom) more attractive to teachers and promote flexible scheduling. NOTE: Teachers at Linking District 369 have complained that the current configuration of computers makes teaching information literacy difficult because the students are facing a wall. Furthermore, the wooden desks and large heavy chairs do not enable two students to sit side-by-side sharing one computer. The environment is dark and cheerless, discouraging teachers from using the library instead of the classroom for research. Teachers have also complained that the library does not have a reading corner where students can read comfortably while they instruct a small group on the computers. Learning Environment #2 Proficient: We find that: the school library media program provides a diverse cataloged collection of resources in multiple formats. Multiple online databases and interlibrary loan materials are available for use. The current school-wide curriculum map, librarys strategic plan, and boardapproved collection development policy are consulted to guide the selection materials. These documents are regularly updated. The school library information specialist also gathers input on reading and curricular needs from other teachers and students on a regular basis. The school library information specialist also gathers input on reading and curricular needs from other teachers and students on a regular basis. The school library information specialist ensures the quality of resources through the use of professional journals and other selection tools. The collection is regularly analyzed to identify strengths and weaknesses. The library collection is regularly weeded. Learning Environment #3 Proficient: We find that:

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the school library information specialist suggests budgetary needs and manages the annual program budget. The budget supports a collection of resources in multiple formats and access to resources outside the school library. Local funding provides for maintenance and some upgrades of resources, equipment and facilities. The school library information specialist consults with administrators about budgetary needs. Learning Environment #4 Basic: We find that: written policies and procedures address the issues of selection, acceptable use, intellectual freedom, copyright, confidentiality and challenges. Policies have been board-approved. The school library information specialist supports the concept of intellectual freedom. Instruction in ethical and responsible use of information is limited. There is support for promoting the Internet safety law. We find that this is an area in which Lincoln School could move from Basic to Proficient via per capita grant monies. Currently there are too few computers available in the library for the library staff and teachers to instruct and model the concepts of intellectual freedom, Internet safety, and the ethical use of ideas, information, and resources. Furthermore, the current configuration of computer stations precludes students from sharing computers and/or sitting side-by-side. More flexible configurations and additional computers would enable library staff to teach students the information literacy that they need to be world-class learners. With the addition of four laptops, 12 computer stations will be available. The new tables and chairs will enable two students to sit side-by-side for a total of 24. One feature of the proposed laptop computers is that they can turn into e-readers. Currently, our district is investigating the possibility of investing in e-readers on a trial basis. The Inspiron Duo laptop computers convert into touch screens which are compatible with Kindle applications. Furthermore, the laptops converted into e-readers can be carried into the reading corner and used by students there. Learning Environment #5 Proficient: We find that:

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the district employs the equivalent of one or more full time certified school library information specialist per attendance center. Each school library information specialist is a member of the schools instructional staff and participates in the planning and delivery of instruction and in the assessment of student learning. The school library information specialist provides input into the training, supervision and evaluation of library staff members. Learning Environment #6 Proficient: We find that: a school library information specialist/coordinator at the district level provides leadership and promotes equity among building-level school library media programs. The library information specialist/coordinator facilitates regular meetings and professional development for buildinglevel librarians. The library information specialist/coordinator collaborates with district-level administrators and decision makers in the areas of curriculum, technology, capital projects, and budget development. The library information specialist/coordinator participates in the development of district-wide policies for board approval and monitors procedures. The library information specialist/coordinator seeks and maintains relationships with agencies outside the school district. Learning Environment #7 Proficient: We find that: one clerical staff person per attendance center provides support to implement routine nonprofessional library operations. Technical support is available. Summary Lincoln School Library has been found to be Basic in two areas: Learning Environment #1 and Learning Environment #4. It is our recommendation that Illinois Per Capita Grant monies be used to move Lincoln Library into the Proficient category by purchasing updated furniture and supplemental computers that would improve the environment, as well as enhance information literacy. Research to Support Proposed Use of Per Capita Funds

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LIS 773 Fall 2011

In 2003, 657 Illinois schools participated in a voluntary survey of their school libraries. Some of the findings in this report will be used to support our proposed use of Illinois Per Capita Grant monies. 1. Benefit #1: Flexible Scheduling The first area identified in the 2003 Illinois Study is flexible scheduling. According to the report, the ISAT test scores of 5th graders in elementary schools with more flexibly scheduled libraries were 10 percent higher in reading and 11 percent higher in writing. (See Chart 1) According to the study, Flexible scheduling continues to exert a positive effect on test scores, regardless of per pupil spending, teacher-pupil ratio, or students race/ethnicity. Creating a more usable library environment will promote flexible scheduling if teachers see that research and teaching can be more easily done there.

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2. Benefit #2: Raising ISAT Test Scores By adding 4 more computers to the library, Linking District 369 will now be above average for number of library computers instead of below average. According to the Illinois study, the average number of computers in elementary school libraries is 9. The Illinois Study found that the presence of more library computers is associated an 8 percent increase in ISAT reading performance scores for fifth- and eighth-grade students, and almost an 11 percent increase in eighth-grade ISAT writing performance scores. (See Chart 7). The report further states that the association of library computers with fifth- and eighth-grade ISAT reading and writing achievement endures, despite per pupil spending, teacher-pupil ratio, or students race/ethnicity. The link between library computers and fifth-grade reading performance is similarly persistent. Only household income obscures these relationships.

3. Benefit #3: Increased Access to Subscription Databases The Illinois Study noted that school libraries usually subscribe to licensed databases that are unavailable at the local public library. These resources are important sources of information that should be easily
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accessed by students and teachers. Increasing the number of computers in the library, as well as reconfiguring the computer set-up, will encourage teachers to use the library for research, and enable the librarian to highlight features of the databases. The Illinois Study also noted that schools that provide more such access than others are likelier to be rewarded with higher test scores for their students. (Please see extracts from Table 90).

In the table above, note that when more library computers were available, there was a 35.6% increase in 5th grade ISAT reading scores. In schools where there were other library-connected computers, the improvement was even greater 191.1%. Another noteworthy statistic is the 193.4% increase in ISAT reading scores when flexible scheduling in the library was available. Even greater improvements were achieved in 5th grade ISAT writing scores when the number of library computers was increased. (See extracts from Table 91). Note that there was a 77.3% increase in 5th grade ISAT writing scores with additional library computers, as well as a 128.7% improvement in scores when flexible scheduling was available.
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