Self Evaluation of Self Evaluation of School Libraries in the School Libraries in the USAUSADr. Nancy EverhartDr. Nancy EverhartFlorida State UniversityFlorida State University

Good afternoon!Good afternoon!

Florida State UniversityFlorida State University

Tallahassee, Florida

Topical OutlineTopical Outline

Advantages of a national self-evaluation modelAdvantages of a national self-evaluation model

Similarities and differences of school libraries in Similarities and differences of school libraries in the U.S. and Portugalthe U.S. and Portugal

School library evaluation in the U.S.School library evaluation in the U.S. NationalNational StateState

Similarities and differences in relation to the auto-Similarities and differences in relation to the auto-evaluation modelevaluation model

Possible next stepsPossible next steps

Congratulations!Congratulations!

““The School The School Libraries Libraries

Network in Network in Portugal”Portugal”

Jeremy SaundersJeremy Saunders

School Libraries in School Libraries in ViewView

Issue 22: Spring Issue 22: Spring 20062006

How are school libraries How are school libraries alike and how are they alike and how are they different in the USA and different in the USA and

Portugal?Portugal?

Universal truthsUniversal truths

We want teacher-librarians and school We want teacher-librarians and school libraries to make a difference. libraries to make a difference.

We want students to become lifelong We want students to become lifelong learners.learners.

We want school libraries and teacher-We want school libraries and teacher-librarians to be valued.librarians to be valued.

Evidence and evaluation are so very Evidence and evaluation are so very important.important.

First Lady Laura BushFirst Lady Laura Bushformer teacher-librarianformer teacher-librarian

Recent newspaper Recent newspaper headlinesheadlines

Officials Defend Cuts for Dayton Schools.Officials Defend Cuts for Dayton Schools. November 15, 2006. November 15, 2006. Dayton Daily News Dayton Daily News (Ohio)(Ohio)

Librarian Protests Provo District Cuts.Librarian Protests Provo District Cuts. May 8, May 8, 2006. 2006. Desert News Desert News (Utah)(Utah)

After Budget Cuts, Aides Running School After Budget Cuts, Aides Running School Libraries. Libraries. September 2, 2008. September 2, 2008. The Arizona The Arizona RepublicRepublic (Arizona) (Arizona)

In Parents’ Book, Library Cuts Go Too Far. In Parents’ Book, Library Cuts Go Too Far. December 23, 2007. December 23, 2007. Los Angeles Times Los Angeles Times (California)(California)

Advantages of a Advantages of a national evaluation national evaluation

modelmodel Describe institutional characteristicsDescribe institutional characteristics

Enlist cooperation from administrators and Enlist cooperation from administrators and facultyfaculty

Understand changes in user behaviorUnderstand changes in user behavior

Compare information from peer institutionsCompare information from peer institutions

Identify best practicesIdentify best practices

Increase assessment capacityIncrease assessment capacity

National National

U.S. Department of Education, NationalCenter for Education Statistics

Schools and Staffing Survey – School Libraries

Longitudinal surveyLongitudinal survey

School Libraries Count!School Libraries Count!

2007 & 20082007 & 2008

Health of school library media programsHealth of school library media programs

Staff ActivitiesStaff Activities

Hours Open Per WeekHours Open Per Week

CollectionsCollections

ComputersComputers

VisitsVisits

ExpendituresExpenditures

Schools and Staffing Schools and Staffing Survey School LibrariesSurvey School Libraries

School library media center surveys are School library media center surveys are designed to obtain information about the designed to obtain information about the amount and experience of library staff, and amount and experience of library staff, and the organization, expenditures, and the organization, expenditures, and collections of the library media center.collections of the library media center.

ResearchResearch

Achievement dataAchievement data

Hours of endorsed library media Hours of endorsed library media specialists per 100 studentsspecialists per 100 students

Total LMC staff per 100 studentsTotal LMC staff per 100 students

Weekly LMC visits per studentWeekly LMC visits per student

Weekly circulation per studentWeekly circulation per student

Net loan rateNet loan rate

Interlibrary loans per 100 Interlibrary loans per 100 circulations ratiocirculations ratio

Time spent in leadershipTime spent in leadership

Time spent in collaborationTime spent in collaboration

Volumes per studentVolumes per student

Print subscriptions per 100 Print subscriptions per 100 studentsstudents

Video material per 100 studentsVideo material per 100 students

Computer software per 100 Computer software per 100 studentsstudents

Print materials expenditures per Print materials expenditures per studentstudent

Electronic format expenditures Electronic format expenditures per studentper student

Non-print materials expenditures Non-print materials expenditures per studentper student

Total operating expenditures per Total operating expenditures per studentstudent

Self-Evaluation Self-Evaluation InstrumentsInstrumentsExamples by StatesExamples by States

ExCExC33EL – Expectations for EL – Expectations for Collaboration, Collections, and Collaboration, Collections, and

Connections to Enhance Learning: A Connections to Enhance Learning: A Program Evaluation RubricProgram Evaluation Rubric

ComponentsComponents

InstructionInstruction

Curriculum assessment/supportCurriculum assessment/support

Resource managementResource management

Program administrationProgram administration

EnvironmentEnvironment

Instructional SupportInstructional Support

11 Materials, reserve collections, bibliographies, etc. Materials, reserve collections, bibliographies, etc. are occasionally provided. are occasionally provided.

22 Materials, reserve collections, bibliographies, Materials, reserve collections, bibliographies, websites, etc. are occasionally provided or when websites, etc. are occasionally provided or when requested. requested.

33 Materials, reserve collections, bibliographies, Materials, reserve collections, bibliographies, websites, etc. are provided in conjunction with websites, etc. are provided in conjunction with collaborative planning. collaborative planning.

44 Systematic consultations and planning occur with Systematic consultations and planning occur with instructional design team and/or curriculum instructional design team and/or curriculum council to ensure maximum use of LMC resources council to ensure maximum use of LMC resources and staff development sessions offered by or and staff development sessions offered by or coordinated through LM programcoordinated through LM program

Achieving Exemplary School Libraries: Achieving Exemplary School Libraries: School Library Media Program School Library Media Program

Recommendations and Evaluation Recommendations and Evaluation RubricsRubrics

ComponentsComponents

Collaborative planningCollaborative planning

Flexible schedulingFlexible scheduling

ResourcesResources

ReadingReading

Data collectionData collection

Decision-making committeesDecision-making committees

Advisory committeesAdvisory committees

Staffing, funding and facilitiesStaffing, funding and facilities

Faculty, student, and administrator surveyFaculty, student, and administrator survey

ReadingReading

ExemplaryExemplary - Objective 4 is exceeded. - Objective 4 is exceeded.

The media center professional staff are actively involved with The media center professional staff are actively involved with the planning and implementation of the school’s reading the planning and implementation of the school’s reading initiatives, events, and activities.initiatives, events, and activities.

At the elementary level more that 75 percent of students At the elementary level more that 75 percent of students participate in one or more reading events or activities participate in one or more reading events or activities throughout the year.throughout the year.

At the secondary level, more than 30 percent of students At the secondary level, more than 30 percent of students participate in one or more reading events or activities participate in one or more reading events or activities throughout the year.throughout the year.

The LMC professional staff report regularly to the school and The LMC professional staff report regularly to the school and district leadership data showing the effect of the reading district leadership data showing the effect of the reading initiatives, events, and activities on student reading attitudes initiatives, events, and activities on student reading attitudes and achievementand achievement

School Library Media School Library Media Program Evaluation Program Evaluation

RubricRubric

ComponentsComponents

Professional staffProfessional staff

Support staffSupport staff

FacilitiesFacilities

ClimateClimate

CollectionCollection

SchedulingScheduling

Collaborative planningCollaborative planning

Collaborative teaching Collaborative teaching and learningand learning

Library automationLibrary automation

Technology for Technology for instruction and accessinstruction and access

NetworkingNetworking

BudgetBudget

Administrative supportAdministrative support

Professional developmentProfessional development

Advisory committeeAdvisory committee

FacilitiesFacilitiesNon-existent

In progress Basic Proficient Exemplary

NO SCHOOL LIBRARY. Do not complete rest of form.

Library space arranged traditionally with large tables for whole class instruction. No space for simultaneous whole class and individual student use.

Library space accommodates whole class. Limited space and furniture for simultaneous class, small group, and individual use.

Large, flexible library facility with space and furniture available for simultaneous whole class, small group, and individual use. At least two groups able to work in library at the same time.

Very large, flexible library facility with space and furniture for simultaneous scheduling of multiple groups of students. Production space, presentation space, and flexibility in design provided in the library.

What Evidence do What Evidence do Principals Use to Evaluate Principals Use to Evaluate Teacher- Librarians?Teacher- Librarians?Relationships to the National ModelRelationships to the National Model

Most Prominent Forms of EvidenceMost Prominent Forms of Evidence

1.1. Informal visitsInformal visits

2.2. Faculty interviewsFaculty interviews

3.3. Examine student Examine student work for evidence of work for evidence of library uselibrary use

4.4. Student interviewsStudent interviews

5.5. Library use reportsLibrary use reports

6.6. Standardized test Standardized test scoresscores

7.7. Teacher lesson plans Teacher lesson plans

8.8. Librarian lesson Librarian lesson plansplans

9.9. Faculty SurveysFaculty Surveys

10.10.Non-teaching Non-teaching observationobservation

11.11.Circulation ReportsCirculation Reports

12.12.Teaching observationTeaching observation

13.13. Budget reportsBudget reports

14.14. Student surveysStudent surveys

When you visit the library informally When you visit the library informally what leads you to believe that what leads you to believe that

appropriate activities are happening?appropriate activities are happening?

Students are “actively engaged” with books or Students are “actively engaged” with books or technologytechnology

Librarian is interacting with teachers and Librarian is interacting with teachers and studentsstudents

Organized, clean, inviting environmentOrganized, clean, inviting environment

Variety of materials availableVariety of materials available

Relevant displaysRelevant displays

Students are borrowing booksStudents are borrowing books

When you visit the library informally When you visit the library informally what strikes you that appropriate what strikes you that appropriate

activities activities are not ongoing?are not ongoing?

The library is emptyThe library is empty

Materials in poor conditionMaterials in poor condition

Students doing busy workStudents doing busy work

Students made to feel unwelcomeStudents made to feel unwelcome

Materials going unusedMaterials going unused

When you examine student work for When you examine student work for evidence of library use, what do you evidence of library use, what do you

look for?look for?

References students have consultedReferences students have consulted

Work that supports the school’s goalsWork that supports the school’s goals

A literary quality to writingA literary quality to writing

Presenting results of inquiry in a variety Presenting results of inquiry in a variety of waysof ways

WhatWhat types of informal interviews do types of informal interviews do you conduct with students to get a you conduct with students to get a feeling that the library is operating feeling that the library is operating

effectivelyeffectively??

Asks students, “What are you reading?”Asks students, “What are you reading?”

Asks students, “What did you learn in the Asks students, “What did you learn in the library today?”library today?”

Asks students, “Does the library have good Asks students, “Does the library have good books?”books?”

Asks students, “Can you find what you need in Asks students, “Can you find what you need in the library?”the library?”

What types of informal interviews do What types of informal interviews do you conduct with faculty to determine if you conduct with faculty to determine if

the library is operating effectively?the library is operating effectively?

Tries to find out how knowledgeable the Tries to find out how knowledgeable the librarian is librarian is

Looks to see if teachers are enthusiastic about Looks to see if teachers are enthusiastic about taking their classes to the librarytaking their classes to the library

Asks teachers if they feel that staff Asks teachers if they feel that staff development activities conducted by the development activities conducted by the librarian are usefullibrarian are useful

Tries to determine how extensively the library Tries to determine how extensively the library is being usedis being used

How are we alike and How are we alike and how are we different how are we different

generally in relation to generally in relation to school library school library evaluation?evaluation?

How are we alike and How are we alike and how are we different how are we different specifically in relation specifically in relation to the self-evaluation to the self-evaluation

model?model?

How are we alike?How are we alike?

Areas being assessedAreas being assessed

Support for curriculum developmentSupport for curriculum development

Reading and literacyReading and literacy

Projects, partnerships, and free activities Projects, partnerships, and free activities open to the communityopen to the community

Management of the school libraryManagement of the school library

How are we different?How are we different?

Areas being assessedAreas being assessed

Support for curriculum developmentSupport for curriculum development

Reading and literacyReading and literacy

Projects, partnerships, and free activities Projects, partnerships, and free activities open to the communityopen to the community

Management of the school libraryManagement of the school library

Overall impressionsOverall impressions

Richness of evidenceRichness of evidence

Instructions on what to do after evidence is Instructions on what to do after evidence is collectedcollected

Faculty and community involvementFaculty and community involvement

ReflectionReflection

OtherOther

Next stepsNext steps

Link to researchLink to research

DisseminationDissemination

Best practicesBest practices

CollaborationCollaboration

Web 2.0Web 2.0

Share Your StoryShare Your StoryAsk Your QuestionsAsk Your Questions

Contact InformationContact Information

Nancy EverhartNancy Everhart

everhart@ci.fsu.edueverhart@ci.fsu.edu

(also on facebook)(also on facebook)

Project LEADProject LEAD

ci.fsu.edu/projectleadci.fsu.edu/projectlead