Do we really need a SLMS?

Susan Murray

“What a school thinks about libraries is a measure of what it

thinks about education”

Harold Howe, former U.S. Commissioner of Education

What does a school librarian do anyway?

Order and catalog books Check books in and out Reshelve books Run Accelerated Reader program Tend library computers Teach library lessons to every student Chair the book fair

5 roles of a School Librarian

1. a school leader2. a program administrator3. an information navigator4. a technology facilitator5. a collaborative teacher and learner

“The first rule of staff development: work with the living.” The Indispensable Librarian

As a School Leader, the SLMS is -

Someone who has the education, training and credentials required to be a leader in the job

All SLMS must possess one of the following: Master’s/bachelor’s degrees Teacher certification & experience Library endorsement

“There is always an easy solution to every problem – neat, plausible and wrong.” H.L.

MenkenAs a Program Administrator, the SLMS is -

An effective manager of a school library program that is adequately staffed, stocked, and funded Requires planning, budgeting, reporting, and

evaluation

Someone who works with students and teachers on a flexible schedule Requires support staff

“The more you read, the more you know. The more you know, the farther you’ll go.” Dr. Seuss

As a Information Navigator, the SLMS is -

A selector of print, non-print, and electronic resources that support the school’s curriculum and the state’s standards

Someone who teaches others how to be information literate—i.e., to recognize an information need and to locate, evaluate, and apply information in critical thinking to solve a problem

“Technology won’t replace librarians – librarians who know technology will.” Nancy B. Nassar

As a Technology Facilitator, the SLMS is -

Someone who selects licensed databases and identifies authoritative free websites

Someone who bridges gaps between students and teachers, online information, and curriculum and instruction

“Library media programs are the best single predictor of test scores among those considered.”

Colorado StudyAs a Collaborative Teacher and learner, the SLMS is –

A teacher of students who collaborates with classroom teachers in design and delivery of instruction

A teacher of other teachers who creates more self-reliant users of information resources and technology

A colleague who attends local library staff meetings and state and national conferences regularly

Research shows us that : Schools with stronger school library programs

average 10-20% higher test scores Test scores higher at schools with more:

Flexible scheduling (+10-11% elem.) Library staffing (+17-18% elem., middle) Librarian/teacher collaboration (+8% elem.) Current collections (+13-14% middle) Library & other connected computers/100

(+8-11% middle) Library spending (+5% elem., +9% middle,

+12% high) Circ (+11%, elem.), group visits (+9-10%,

middle)

Controlling for key school and community differences, library still explains up to 8% of test score variation

Poverty explains away other school and community differences—like the teacher-pupil ratio, per pupil spending, and parents’ education—but not the impact of school libraries

Elementary, middle and high school libraries serve an estimated 2.6 million students

How can we improve the library?

Staff school libraries with professional & support staff

Stock them with current books & licensed databases as well as Internet computers

Fund them to support school’s curriculum and state’s standards

Adopt flexible scheduling

Utilize school computer network to extend library program’s reach into every classroom

Do We Really Need a SLMS?

As the facts show – Yes we really DO need a SLMS. Test scores and statistics can’t be wrong. Support your SLMS and SLMC.

Works Consulted

American Association of School Libraries and Association of Educational Communications and Technology. Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning. Chicago: American Library Association, 1998.

Constantino, Rebecca. “It’s Not Rocket Science; Students Know What Is Good for Them: The Efficacy of a Quality School Library.” Knowledge Quest 36.4 (2008): 60-63. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. North Hall Lib., Mansfield, PA. 2 Nov. 2008 <http://search.ebscohost.com/>.

“Good School Libraries: Making a Difference to Learning.” Education Journal 94 (2006): 30. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. North Hall Lib., Mansfield, PA. 8 Nov. 2008 <http://search.ebscohost.com/>.

Hartzell, Gary. “Why Should Principals Support School Libraries? ERIC Digest.” ERIC Clearinghouse on Information and Technology (Nov. 2002). 2 Nov. 2008 <http://www.ericdigests.org/ 2003- 3/ libraries.htm>.

Lance, Keith Curry. “How School Librarians Leave No Child Behind: The Impact of School Library Media Programs on Academic Achievement on U.S. Public School Students.” School Libraries in Canada 22.2 (2002): 3-6. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Mansfield U. 5 Nov. 2008 <http://search.ebscohost.com/>.

School Libraries Work! Scholastic Library Publishing. 2008. 5 Nov. 2008 <http://www.scholastic.com/ librarypublishing>.

Library Research Service. 2008. 5 Nov. 2008 < http://www.LRS.org/impact.php>.