The document discusses the history and development of school libraries and standards that have impacted them. It provides details on several important standards and guidelines released by organizations like the American Library Association between 1920-1998. These helped define the school library's role and pushed for improvements. The document also shares some interesting national and regional statistics that show a rise in schools having libraries and librarians from the 1950s to 2000s. Overall it examines the progression of school libraries and how standards have helped shape and advance them over the decades.

1. HMMMM… Interesting
fact!!
School libraries are,
“essential to history class,
and invaluable in the
study of literature, the
possession of a collection
of books by the school
has often been
instrumental in
broadening and changing
the course of study in
these subjects (Greenman,
1913).
School library. [Photographer]. Retrieved from Encyclopædia Britannica
ImageQuest. http://quest.eb.com/images/115_2674197

2. STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES AND THEIR
SIGNIFICANCE ON SCHOOL LIBRARIES
1920- First ALA standards, the Certain Standards, for school libraries: Standard library
organization and equipment for secondary schools of different size (Called Certain Standards for C.
C. Certain, the chair of the ALA committee), ALA
Significance
•
•
•
School library as separate entity
School library should meet the reading interests of school’s students
Provided first reference point upon which to build philosophy establish goals, and implement
practices
1945 – ALA standards revised: School Libraries for Today and Tomorrow, ALA
Significance
•
•
•
Broadened definition of school library “as and active service agency integrated with the learning
program of the school not as an adjunct to it”
Students encourage to become discriminating users of print and audiovisual materials
No implementation ideas provided (Jeffus, 2002, pg. 12).

3. STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES AND THEIR
SIGNIFICANCE ON SCHOOL LIBRARIES
1960 – New ALA guidelines: Standards for School Library Programs, AASL
Significance
• Enlarged scope of collections and professional staff: recommended that the librarian have teacher
training as minimum standard
• Moved toward quantitative and qualitative standards
• Helped create a surge of interest in school libraries
1969 - Standards for School Media Programs, (AASL and Department of Audiovisual Instruction of
NEA)
Significance
• New Term: library media specialist
• Centered on people and programs rather than on materials and their arrangement
• FOCUS : access to materials
1975 - Media Programs: District and school, AASL and AECT
Significance
• Acknowledged necessity of strong district-level support services
• New benefits of networking
• No qualitative descriptors (Jeffus, 2002, pg. 12).

4. STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES AND THEIR
SIGNIFICANCE ON SCHOOL LIBRARIES
1977 - Guidelines for California Library Media Programs: School, District, County, State, CASL and
CAEMAT
Significance
• 1975 National standards adapted for California
• Linked to California laws
1988 – Information Power: Guidelines for School Library Media Programs, AASL, and AECT
Significance
• Defined roles of library media teacher as teacher, instructional
• Recognized that success or failure of library media program is dependent on the library media
specialist
1998 – Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning, AASL and AECT
• Reaffirmed the 1988 mission
• Emphasized information literacy as an essential skill; standards defined
• Expanded roles of library media teacher: teacher, instructional partner, information specialist,
program administrator
• Affirmed importance of library program throughout the curriculum
• No quantitative standards (Jeffus, 2002, pg. 12).

5. Yes, I have wondered…Did you know, “that not
only is there no comprehensive published
history of school libraries, but that school
libraries are inadequately covered in the
general histories of education and
librarianship” (Clyde, 1999, pg. 1).
Have you ever
wondered about the
history of school
libraries?
Flying magazines. [Photographer]. Retrieved from Encyclopædia Britannica
ImageQuest. http://quest.eb.com/images/115_2674171

6. IMPORTANT DATES THAT HAVE IMPACTED
SCHOOL LIBRARIES
• 300 BC- Schools with libraries were in existence
• 1800• 1876• 1876• 1914•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Library of Congress established
Melvil Dewey’s classification system first issued
Library Journal founded
American Association of School Librarians begins as the School Library section of
American Library Association
1915California School Library Association formed
1958NDEA (National Defense Education Act) passes
1963Knapp School Libraries Project introduced
1967Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), Title II established
Late1960s- Educational philosophy of individualized instruction increased
1970Standards for the Development of School Media Programs in California (CAASL and
AVEAC) adopted
1977Guidelines for California Library Media Programs prepared by a joint
committee representing the California Association of School Libraries and California
Association for Educational Media and Technology.
1986CDE publishes The Crisis in California School Libraries
1988Library Power (Dewitt Wallace Reader’s Digest Fund) established
1989California changed professional library credential title to Library Media Teacher
(Jeffus, 2002, pg. 13).

7. IMPORTANT DATES THAT HAVE IMPACTED
SCHOOL LIBRARIES
•
•
•
•
•
19861988198919911993-
• 1994• 1994• 1996• 1998• 1998• 1999• 2001• 2002• 2002-
CDE publishes The Crisis in California School Libraries
Library Power (Dewitt Wallace Reader’s Digest Fund) established
California changed professional library credential title to Library Media Teacher
National Goals established (a.k.a. Goals 2000)
California Public School Library Protection Fund and tax check off legislation carried
by Assemblymember Delaine Eastin and Senator Craven
Term “information literacy” formalized
California Department of Education grants LSTA funding to create CDE school library
consultant position
California legislature designates $12 million for school libraries
California Public School Library Act of 1998 dedicates $158.5 million for school
library collections
CDE publishes Check It Out! Assessing School Library Media Programs
California Classroom Library Materials Act 1999 designates $25 million for literature
in K-4 classrooms
No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 rewrites ESEA; includes $12 million nationally
Improving Literacy through School Libraries program
California budget $24 billion short; California Public School Library Act of 1998 saved
form block grant fate; amount decreased severely
California Classroom Library Materials funds absorbed by instructional materials
block grant (Jeffus, 2002, pg.13).

8. School Library. [Photographer]. Retrieved from Encyclopædia Britannica
ImageQuest. http://quest.eb.com/images/115_2675820

9. National
INTERESTING STATISTICS –
NATIONAL AND REGIONAL LEVEL
The United States had approximately 129,000 public schools in 1953–54 and 84,000 in
1999–2000. At the same time, in 1953–54, approximately 27.7 million students attended
public schools in the United States. In 1999–2000, the number of students attending the
nation’s public schools was about 45.0 million.
· In 1953–54, 36 percent of all public schools had library media centers, but these schools
contained 59 percent of all public school students. In 1999–2000, 92 percent of all public
schools had a school library; these schools contained 97 percent of all public school students.
· In 1953–54, 40 percent of public schools in the United States had a librarian. In 1999–2000,
86 percent of public schools had a librarian.
· The percentage of schools with library media centers ranged from 22 percent in 1953–54 to
94 percent in 1990–91 (Michie & Holton, 2005, pg. 17).
Regional – Southern
· The percentage of public schools with library media centers ranged from 43 percent in
1953–54 to 98 percent in 1985–86.
· In 1953–54, 62 percent of students attended schools with libraries; in 1999–2000, 98
percent of students were in schools with libraries.
· Forty-two percent of schools had a librarian in 1953–54; in 1999–2000, 93 percent of
schools had a librarian (Michie & Holton, 2005, pg. 29).

10. Food for thought, “In 1953–54, 38
percent of public schools had a
librarian; in 1999–2000, 92 percent
of public schools had a librarian
(Michie & Holton, 2005, pg. 125).
Holton, 2005, pg. 29).
.
Photograph of fourth grade library period, Longfellow School, 1940. Council Bluffs,
Iowa. http://www.flickr.com/photos/cbpl/5473692449/sizes/o/

11. “As Library people, knowledge of past events shapes our
interpretation of contemporary issues, thus influencing
today’s actions and tomorrow’s plans” (Jeffus, 2002, pg. 12)
Nilgiri Hills Library, Ooty, India.. [Photography]. Retrieved from Encyclopædia
Britannica ImageQuest. http://quest.eb.com/images/137_333016
0

12. REFERENCES
Clyde, L. A. (1999). The schole lybrarie: Images from our past. School Libraries Worldwide, 5(1), 1-16.
Retrieved from
https://elearn.mtsu.edu/d2l/le/content/5110870/viewContent/28655608/View
Flying magazines. [Photographer]. Retrieved from Encyclopædia Britannica ImageQuest.
http://quest.eb.com/images/115_2674171
Greenman, E. D. (1913). The development of secondary school libraries. Library Journal, 38, Retrieved
from https://elearn.mtsu.edu/d2l/le/content/5110870/viewContent/28655607/View
Jeffus, B. (2002). “What's past is prologue”: A timely look at school libraries. CSLA Journal, 26(1), 11-14.
Retrieved from
http://eds.b.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.mtsu.edu/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=df863541c2a2-4a23-8beb-a6c5aebfcef7@sessionmgr111&vid=2&hid=106
Multi-ethnic children studying in school library. [Photography]. Retrieved from Encyclopædia
Britannica ImageQuest. http://quest.eb.com/images/154_2897737

13. REFERENCES
Nilgiri Hills Library, Ooty, India.. [Photography]. Retrieved from Encyclopædia Britannica
ImageQuest. http://quest.eb.com/images/137_3330160
Photograph of Fourth Grade Library Period, Longfellow School, 1940. Council Bluffs, Iowa.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cbpl/5473692449/sizes/o/
School Library. [Photographer]. Retrieved from Encyclopædia Britannica ImageQuest.
http://quest.eb.com/images/115_2674197
School library. [Photographer]. Retrieved from Encyclopædia Britannica ImageQuest.
http://quest.eb.com/images/115_2675820

14. That’s all Folks!
Multi-ethnic children studying in school library. [Photography]. Retrieved from
Encyclopædia Britannica ImageQuest.
http://quest.eb.com/images/154_2897737