Lets Raise Those Scores!

The Media Center Can Make It Happen

Research Shows:
O Studies conducted by James C. Baughman, Keith
C. Lance, Robert Burgin, & others are consistent in
showing the relationship between high student
achievement and quality school library media center
programs.

Media Center Aspects Important To Ensure
Middle School Student Success
(Baughman, 2000)

O Library availability extended to include
before & after school hours;
O Adequate books per student count ;
O Teachers & students must have access to
a variety of periodicals, including
periodical databases;
O Respectable expenditure per pupil for
materials;


Media Center Aspects Important To Ensure
Middle School Student Success
(Baughman, 2000)

O Library instruction programs for students and staff;
O Participation in the regional library system; and
O Parent volunteers, including PTSA donations and
fundraisers


Improving Standardized Reading & English
Test Scores in Middle & High Schools
(Burgin & Brown, 2003)
OThe Burgin & Brown study
supports Baughmans findings
that in order to ensure academic
success for students of all ages, a
well funded library media center
program must be in place in
every school.

Additional Media Center Areas That
Ensure Student Success
(Burgin & Brown, 2003)
O Current, up-to-date literature;
O Adequate funding for electronic resources;
O CD ROM services and subscriptions
What can a well-staffed and
well-equipped library media
center can do for our school?

T
A
K
E

U
S

O Higher
Higher
Higher


O Higher LM staffing levels
and
Higher LM staffing hours
and
Higher circulation numbers

EQUALED

O Higher student achievement scores
A California study
published in 2008 compared
school libraries
O

*without a certified
library media specialist

*with only a certified
library media specialist

*with a certified
library media specialist
and clerical support staff

The results were No Surprise
O 8
th
grade student achievement scores
were higher in schools with fully staffed
library media centers as compared to their
peers in schools with understaffed or
unstaffed library media centers. The
relationship strengthened when adjusted
for community variables such as ethnicity.
WORK THIS IN!! Where

O Achterman also found collaboration to be
among the most significant contributors to
higher scores

curriculum-integrated information literacy
instruction
Multiple state studies demonstrate the
same truth strong, supported library
media programs raise student
achievement.
O
INDICATOR EXAMINED
O
STATE STUDY
O
Library media staffing hours (Library media specialists and paraprofessional clerical staff)
O
Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Oregon,
Pennsylvania
O
Certified school library media
O
specialist
O
Florida, Michigan, Wisconsin
O
Library-based instruction
O
Alaska, Massachusetts, Oregon, Pennsylvania
O
Collaborative planning and instruction between LMS and classroom teachers
O
Colorado, Iowa, Oregon
O
Print volumes per student
O
Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, Oregon,
O
Pennsylvania, Texas
O
Usage of library (as measured by LMC visits or by high numbers of per student book check
outs)
O
Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Oregon

in a survey
conducted by Todd and Kuhlthau, 13,000
students indicated just how much they valued
the school library media program.


O 88.5% of students
O credit SLM programs with better grades on
projects and assignments.
O 74.7% of students believe SLM programs help
them with homework.
O Student respondents placed technology instruction
among their top priorities for their SLM programs.
O The vast majority of students noted
O library-based
O instruction as a vital resource in learning to
access, assess, process, and use information.

A school library media
specialist is
O An information specialist
O An instructional partner
O A school leader
O A program administrator
O And always, a teacher

The Impact of School Library Media Centers
on Academic Achievement Study

O Students scored higher on standardized
tests when their schools had more library
staff, more books, periodicals, and
multimedia resources regardless of
economic factors

O Students continually displayed higher
academic achievement in schools that had a
large collection and that was well-staffed
(Dzikowski, 2002).

Reading Achievement
Voluntary reading best predicts student comprehension,
vocabulary development, and improved writing abilities.

O Students who had access to school library media
centers participated in more voluntary reading

O Schools that had a school library media specialist
experienced more voluntary reading

O Large collections increased students involvement in
voluntary reading
(Dzikowski, 2002).
The Landmark Ohio Study
Results of study found the following results:

O Nearly 100% of the students who took part in the research study
indicated that the school library, its services and library media
specialists have helped them with their learning
(School Libraries, 2008, p. 22).

O Highly certified media specialists played vital roles in facilitating
learning and promoting information literacy

O Media specialists that worked to create a whole school library
program and provided learning opportunities assisted in meeting
the achievement goals set in place by the schools.
(School Libraries, 2008).

Indiana Study
Better performing schools had principals who placed
significant value on the following:
O In-service opportunities for classroom
teachers
O Met with media specialists on a regular
basis
O Media specialists served on school
leadership committees
O Promoted collaboration among media
specialist and classroom teachers
(School Libraries, 2008).
Indiana Study
Better performing schools had principals who placed
significant value on the following:
O In-service opportunities for classroom
teachers
O Met with media specialists on a regular basis
O Media specialists served on school leadership
committees
O Promoted collaboration among media
specialist and classroom teachers
(School Libraries, 2008).


O Higher LM staffing levels
and
Higher LM staffing hours
and
Higher circulation numbers

EQUALED
O Higher student achievement
scores (Baumbach, 2002)


Keith Curry Lances Findings
There is a direct correlation
between library media centers and
their programs to student success.
O When school libraries have higher levels
of professional and total staffing, larger
collections of print and electronic
resources, and more funding, students
tend to earn higher scores on state
reading tests (Lance, n.d.).

The Colorado Study
Reading is a window to the world.
Reading is a fundamental skill for
learning, personal growth and
enjoyment
(Lance & Hofschire, 2012).
O Lances Colorado Study demonstrated there
is a positive relationship between increased
reading levels and endorsed library staffing
trends (Lance & Hofschire, 2012).
O School libraries and media specialists DO
impact student achievement!

The Colorado Study: The
Numbers
O Based on Lances Colorado Study:
O Schools that gained or maintained their
endorsed librarian between 2005 and 2011
had more students score advanced in reading
in 2011 (Lance & Hofschire, 2012).


O Fewer students scored unsatisfactory in
reading if the school had an endorsed
librarian employed (Lance & Hofschire,
2012).

References
O Baughman, J. C., Ph.D. (2000). School Libraries and MCAS Scores.
Simmons. Retrieved from
http://web.simmons.edu/~baughman/mcas-school-
libraries/Baughman%20Paper.pdf.

O Burgin, R., & Brown, P. B. (2003). An Essential Connection: How Quality
School Library Media Programs Improve Student Achievement in
North Carolina (Rep.).Retrieved February 28, 2013, from
http://www.lrs.org/documents/impact/NCSchoolStudy.pdf.

References
O Dzikowski, J. (2002). Facts at a
glance...student achievement and
school library media programs. Retrieved
from http://www.northnet.org/slsa/facts
glance2002.pdf

O School libraries work. (2008). Retrieved
from
http://www.scholastic.com/content/col
lateral_resourc es/pdf/s/slw3_2008.pdf

Resources
Achterman, D. L. (2008). Haves, halves, and have-nots: School libraries and student
achievement in california. (Doctoral dissertation), Available from UNT Digital Library.
Retrieved from http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc9800/m1/2/
Baumbach, D. (2002). Making the Grade: The Status of School Library Media Centers
in the Sunshine State and How They Contribute to Student Achievement.
Retrieved from
http://www.manatee.k12.fl.us/sites/library_resources/Documents/MakingThe
GradeSummary.pdf Michie, J. S., Chaney, B. W., & Office of Planning, E.
(2009). Second evaluation of the improving literacy through school libraries
program. US Department Of Education. Retrieved from
http://www.eric.ed.gov/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=ED504205
Whelan, L. D. (2004). 13,000 kids can't be wrong. School Library Journal, 50(2), 46-50.
Retrieved from http://ehis.ebscohost.com/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=cfcee934-
af2f-4e23-ba31-859d1e84e9c5%40sessionmgr104&vid=4&hid=105