Powering Achievement:
The Impact of School Librarians on
Academic Achievement
Keith Curry LanceLibrary Research ServiceColorado State Library & University of Denver
Keith Curry Lance - Library Research Service - Colorado State Library & University of DenverTel. 303 866 6737 – fax 303 866 6940 – e-mail [email protected] – URL http://www.LRS.org
Outline Background
States involved, Info Power context Results
Library predictors of academic achievement Controlling for school & community
conditions Implications
Recommended actions Other research questions What you can do
Keith Curry Lance - Library Research Service - Colorado State Library & University of DenverTel. 303 866 6737 – fax 303 866 6940 – e-mail [email protected] – URL http://www.LRS.org
Recent Studies 2000: Alaska, Colorado (II),
Massachusetts, Pennsylvania 2001: Oregon, Texas 2002: Iowa 2003: Florida, Michigan, New Mexico,
North Carolina Forthcoming: Ohio
Italics indicate studies done by other researchers
Keith Curry Lance - Library Research Service - Colorado State Library & University of DenverTel. 303 866 6737 – fax 303 866 6940 – e-mail [email protected] – URL http://www.LRS.org
Previous Research 1950s-1980’s: largely experimental
research Librarian as teacher, co-teacher, tutor Collections, technology, interlibrary
cooperation Library staff, budgets, teacher & principal
support 1992/3: 1st Colorado study: statistical
analysis School Match episode “School Match Revisited” aftermath The Big Question … and the answer
Keith Curry Lance - Library Research Service - Colorado State Library & University of DenverTel. 303 866 6737 – fax 303 866 6940 – e-mail [email protected] – URL http://www.LRS.org
Information PowerModel
Collaboration Leadership Technology
Learning & Teaching Information Access & Delivery Program Administration
Successor to earlier IP & Library Power
Keith Curry Lance - Library Research Service - Colorado State Library & University of DenverTel. 303 866 6737 – fax 303 866 6940 – e-mail [email protected] – URL http://www.LRS.org
Standards-Based Education
Standardized, norm-referenced tests Reading, library/study skills tests Percentile rankings Grading “on the curve”
Standards-based tests Content standards Information literacy standards Percent who meet or exceed standards
Keith Curry Lance - Library Research Service - Colorado State Library & University of DenverTel. 303 866 6737 – fax 303 866 6940 – e-mail [email protected] – URL http://www.LRS.org
Technology
Rapid growth in availability of computers, Internet access, World Wide Web capabilities in schools
Dovetailing of information literacy & computer literacy
Changing nature of library specialist & technology specialist jobs
Keith Curry Lance - Library Research Service - Colorado State Library & University of DenverTel. 303 866 6737 – fax 303 866 6940 – e-mail [email protected] – URL http://www.LRS.org
Challenge to Recent Studies
Take into account standards-based education technology developments Info Power/Library Power movements
Get message out beyond “the choir” Principals, teachers Technology specialists Parents, students
Keith Curry Lance - Library Research Service - Colorado State Library & University of DenverTel. 303 866 6737 – fax 303 866 6940 – e-mail [email protected] – URL http://www.LRS.org
States, Grades &Schools Studied
Alaska 4, 8/11 211
Colorado (II) 4, 7 200
Massachusetts 4, 8 & 10 519
Pennsylvania 5, 8 & 11 435
Oregon 5, 8 & 10 513
Texas 4, 8 & 10 500
Iowa 4, 8 & 11 506
New Mexico 4, 8 & 10 380
Michigan 4, 7 & 11 729
North Carolina 4, 8 & 11 206
Florida 3, 8 & 10 1,715
Keith Curry Lance - Library Research Service - Colorado State Library & University of DenverTel. 303 866 6737 – fax 303 866 6940 – e-mail [email protected] – URL http://www.LRS.org
Schools & Libraries Studied
Almost 6,000 schools Elementary, middle and high school
libraries serving over 3 million students
Keith Curry Lance - Library Research Service - Colorado State Library & University of DenverTel. 303 866 6737 – fax 303 866 6940 – e-mail [email protected] – URL http://www.LRS.org
Library Predictors of Academic Achievement
Library staffing Professional staff
Master’s/bachelor’s degrees Teacher certification & experience Library endorsement
Support staff Library aides, technology aides
Keith Curry Lance - Library Research Service - Colorado State Library & University of DenverTel. 303 866 6737 – fax 303 866 6940 – e-mail [email protected] – URL http://www.LRS.org
Library Predictors of Academic Achievement
Staff Activities Learning & Teaching Information Access & Delivery Program Administration
Keith Curry Lance - Library Research Service - Colorado State Library & University of DenverTel. 303 866 6737 – fax 303 866 6940 – e-mail [email protected] – URL http://www.LRS.org
Library Predictors of Academic Achievement
Staff Activities Learning & Teaching
Planning with classroom teachers Teaching students with classroom teachers Teaching information literacy skills to
students (without classroom teachers) Providing in-service training to classroom
teachers
Keith Curry Lance - Library Research Service - Colorado State Library & University of DenverTel. 303 866 6737 – fax 303 866 6940 – e-mail [email protected] – URL http://www.LRS.org
Library Predictors of Academic Achievement
Staff Activities Information Access & Delivery
Developing collections Identifying print & electronic resources for
classroom teachers Motivating students to read
Keith Curry Lance - Library Research Service - Colorado State Library & University of DenverTel. 303 866 6737 – fax 303 866 6940 – e-mail [email protected] – URL http://www.LRS.org
Library Predictors of Academic Achievement
Staff Activities Program Administration
Meeting regularly with principal Attending faculty meetings Serving on standards/curriculum
committees Meeting with other school librarians
Keith Curry Lance - Library Research Service - Colorado State Library & University of DenverTel. 303 866 6737 – fax 303 866 6940 – e-mail [email protected] – URL http://www.LRS.org
Library Predictors of Academic Achievement
School library hours of operation Before, during & after school In summer Flexible access/scheduling
School library usage Group visits Individual visits
Both for information literacy skills instruction
Keith Curry Lance - Library Research Service - Colorado State Library & University of DenverTel. 303 866 6737 – fax 303 866 6940 – e-mail [email protected] – URL http://www.LRS.org
Library Predictors of Academic Achievement
Technology Numbers of computers
In library Elsewhere in school
Providing access to Library catalogs Licensed databases State-specific packages of databases (Access
PA, Access MI) Internet/World Wide Web
Keith Curry Lance - Library Research Service - Colorado State Library & University of DenverTel. 303 866 6737 – fax 303 866 6940 – e-mail [email protected] – URL http://www.LRS.org
Comparing Best & WorstLibrary Programs
Sample findings from Colorado II about who meets standards: Best staffed, stocked & funded:
74% of 4th graders (vs. 63%--18% improvement) 61% of 7th graders (vs. 53%--15% improvement)
Most collaborative librarians: 76% of 4th graders (vs. 63%--21% improvement) 56% of 7th graders (vs. 52%--8% improvement)
Most hi-tech: 72% of 4th graders (vs. 64%--13% improvement) 70% of 7th graders (vs. 56%--25% improvement)
Keith Curry Lance - Library Research Service - Colorado State Library & University of DenverTel. 303 866 6737 – fax 303 866 6940 – e-mail [email protected] – URL http://www.LRS.org
Controlling for Other School & CommunityConditions
School library development factor Staffing, collections, expenditures
Other school conditions Per pupil spending Teacher-pupil ratio
Community conditions Poverty (NSLP eligibility) Minority enrollment Adult educational attainment (age 25+
graduated from high school)
Keith Curry Lance - Library Research Service - Colorado State Library & University of DenverTel. 303 866 6737 – fax 303 866 6940 – e-mail [email protected] – URL http://www.LRS.org
Academic Achievement Predictors Ranked
Ranked by percent of test score variation explained: Poverty (NSLP
eligibility): 50-65% School library
development: range 1-8%, typically 3%
Variables that don’t explain any test score variation consistently: Adult educational
attainment Minority enrollment Per pupil spending Teacher-pupil ratio
Keith Curry Lance - Library Research Service - Colorado State Library & University of DenverTel. 303 866 6737 – fax 303 866 6940 – e-mail [email protected] – URL http://www.LRS.org
Issues Taken With Findings
“Scientific” research Correlation vs. cause-and-effect Small percent of test score variation
explained
Keith Curry Lance - Library Research Service - Colorado State Library & University of DenverTel. 303 866 6737 – fax 303 866 6940 – e-mail [email protected] – URL http://www.LRS.org
Issues Taken With Findings
“Scientific” research Problems associated with applying
experimental (controlled randomized trials) model to education
History of experimental approach to studying school library impact
Statistical analysis of causal models only practical way to separate effects of multiple, inter-related variables and measure relative impact
Keith Curry Lance - Library Research Service - Colorado State Library & University of DenverTel. 303 866 6737 – fax 303 866 6940 – e-mail [email protected] – URL http://www.LRS.org
Issues Taken With Findings
Correlation vs. cause-and-effect No statistical test of cause Control for major school & community
variables for which data available What’s missing?
“Teacher quality” “Information-rich” environments Extra-curricular activities of students What else?
Keith Curry Lance - Library Research Service - Colorado State Library & University of DenverTel. 303 866 6737 – fax 303 866 6940 – e-mail [email protected] – URL http://www.LRS.org
Issues Taken With Findings
Small percent of test score variation explained Only consistent school predictor Overwhelming strength of socio-
economic factor
Keith Curry Lance - Library Research Service - Colorado State Library & University of DenverTel. 303 866 6737 – fax 303 866 6940 – e-mail [email protected] – URL http://www.LRS.org
Recommended Actions 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
Keith Curry Lance - Library Research Service - Colorado State Library & University of DenverTel. 303 866 6737 – fax 303 866 6940 – e-mail [email protected] – URL http://www.LRS.org
Other ResearchQuestions
How best to develop leadership skills of school librarians?
How can school librarians interact most effectively with principals, teachers, and students?
How can information literacy and technology dovetail to maximize library’s impact?
Keith Curry Lance - Library Research Service - Colorado State Library & University of DenverTel. 303 866 6737 – fax 303 866 6940 – e-mail [email protected] – URL http://www.LRS.org
What You Can Do
Collect and share meaningful numbers annually
Record and share success stories Respond to appeals from researchers Pursue “action research” projects
yourselves
Keith Curry Lance - Library Research Service - Colorado State Library & University of DenverTel. 303 866 6737 – fax 303 866 6940 – e-mail [email protected] – URL http://www.LRS.org
For more information…
Visit http://www.lrs.org/Impact_study.htm
Contact Keith Curry Lance Tel.: 303-866-6737 Fax: 303-866-6940 E-mail: [email protected]
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