School Libraries Work

School libraries work! Explore these research-based frameworks, recommendations, and support for school library programs at your child’s school.

Our school librarian is amazing.

When my daughter walks into the library, her eyes light up with smile. “Our new books came in and I wanted you to be the first to pick one,” she whispered, taking my daughter by the hand and leading her to a table of brand-new books.

My daughter wiggled with delight as she chose a new book from the library to check out and was so busy reading, she didn’t see the librarian do the SAME THING with another 4 children.

She makes reading special.

She makes reading exciting.

She makes a difference.

Promote the benefits of library media instruction to teachers: Encourage them to collaborate with the school librarian.

When Scholastic released the 2016 Edition of School Libraries Work!, a new research report providing evidence of the positive impact of school librarians and libraries on student learning, I asked if I could share these findings with you, our friends, and readers. I know in my heart that certified teacher-librarians are quintessential to empowering and exciting children in reading.

This report has the data to back up my feelings.

If you are an

educator
school representative
district leader
policy maker
parent
community member

the report includes “research-based frameworks, recommendations, and support for school library programs.”

National- and state-level findings from more than 30 separate research studies are included in this compendium, demonstrating the integral role school libraries play in teaching and supporting student learning while confirming that when school librarian staffing is reduced, achievement in English Language Arts suffers.

Key research from the report includes:

A School Library Journal analysis found states that gained school librarian positions between 2005 and 2009 experienced larger increases and no decreases in National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) reading scores for 4^th grade, while states that lost school librarians experienced smaller increases or decreases in reading scores.

A South Carolina study commissioned by the South Carolina Association of School Librarians revealed that students were more likely to show strengths and less likely to show weaknesses on writing standards if their school libraries were staffed with a full-time librarian plus a full or part-time assistant.

School Libraries Work! seeks to empower librarians, classroom teachers, school and district leaders, policy makers, parents and communities by arming them with the most powerful research-based frameworks, recommendations, and support for school library programs.
Scholastic

Would you like to receive a PDF of the full School Libraries Work report? You can download online here