School libraries play an important role in developing 21st century learner skills and supporting student academic achievement. Quantitative studies show positive correlations between various school library measures (e.g. staffing, collections, visits) and reading scores. Qualitative research finds students receive help from libraries to complete schoolwork, develop research skills, and pursue interests. Further research is needed to better understand the costs and infrastructure required for modern school library programs.

1. 21 st
Century Learning &
The Future of School Libraries
Keith Curry Lance

2. Outline
• 21st Century Learner Skills &
school libraries
• How much do libraries matter?
(quantitative studies of academic
achievement)
• How do libraries matter?
(qualitative studies of student
learning)
• Further research needs

3. AASL’s 21st Century Learner Standards
• Inquire, think critically, and gain
knowledge.
• Draw conclusions, make informed
decisions, apply knowledge to new
situations, and create new
knowledge.
• Share knowledge and participate
ethically and productively as
members of our democratic society.
• Pursue personal and aesthetic
growth.

4. How much do libraries matter?
Quantitative Studies
2
2
4

5. Quantitative Studies Timeline
CO2 IA
AK NM [FL] ID CO4
PA1 OR MI IL IN CO3 SLJ PA2
’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05 ’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 ‘12
MA TX MN1 [FL] MN2 ON1 CA ON2
MO WI NY
NC
Other Researchers
Related Events

6. Library Predictors of
Academic Achievement
• Hours & scheduling
• Staffing
• Information resources
• Visits
• Expenditures

7. Flexible Scheduling
Definition Related Issues
• Library has no set daily or • School schedule
weekly schedule for classes • Planning time for teachers
to visit. • Collaboration between
• Classes scheduled as result librarians & classroom
of collaborative planning to teachers
integrate classroom &
library activities.
• Library as classroom;
provides access to resources
and teaching of 21st Century
Learner skills.

8. ID Administrator Assessments of
ICT Standards by Flexible Scheduling
100% 85%
79% Essential
75% 65%
59% Less than essential
50% 42%
35%
25% 21% 15%
0%
Excellent Less than Excellent Less than
excellent excellent
ICT Literacy Teaching Social Responsibility Teaching

9. Advanced Percent of HS Students by
ID Administrator Value on Flex Scheduling
40%
35%
Essential
30% 27%
Less than essential
20% 18%
12%
10%
0%
Reading Language arts

10. School Library Staffing
Key Staff Variables Related Issues
• State-certified school • Librarians lacking
librarians (aka teacher librarian certification
librarians) • Support staff in place of
• Support staff librarians—certified or
• Selected staff activities not
• Impact of librarian’s
certification status on
interaction with teachers

11. CSAP Reading Scores by Library
Staffing, 2011
15%
Advanced 12%
11% 11%
Unsatisfactory
10% 9%
8%
6% 5%
5% 5%
0%
1 FTE+ < 1FTE 1 FTE+ < 1FTE
Endorsed librarian Non-endorsed library assistant

12. How ID Librarians & Teachers Interact Differently
Based on Librarian's Certification Status
Fixed vs flex schedule 59%
83%
Teachers join students in library 49%
41%
Librarian provides resources 37%
30%
Teacher asks for resources 36%
22%
Librarian invites to learn new skills 12%
3%
Teacher asks to learn new skills 12%
4%
Librarian initiates collaboration 10%
3%
Certified
Teacher initiates collaboration 8%
2% Not certified
0% 25% 50% 75% 100%
Percent of Librarians Reporting Activity At Least weekly

13. CO Public Schools by Advanced Reading Levels by
Endorsed Librarian Trends, 2005-2011
Librarian Librarian 2005 & No librarian No librarian 2005
2011, not '05 '11 2011, librarian '05 & '11
0%
33.3% 29.2%
25% 49.1% 44.9%
14.7% 17.8%
50%
20.0% 18.6% 14.6%
18.2%
12.3%
75% 14.5%
33.3% 38.5%
18.2% 22.8%
100% Lower scores, lower increase Lower scores, higher increase
Higher scores, lower increase Higher scores, higher increase

14. Percent Change in 4th Grade NAEP Reading
Scores by State, 2004-05 to 2008-09
4.0%
2.8%
2.0% 1.8%
2.0% 1.5% 1.7%
0.5% 0.5%
0.2% 0.0%
0.0%
More librarians
-2.0%
Fewer librarians
-2.8%
-4.0%
All students Poor Black Hispanic English
students students students Language
Learners

15. Library Information Resources
Research To Date Rapidly Evolving
• Print collections Environment
• Computers in library • Smartphones
and elsewhere providing • Tablets
access to Internet & • Apps & widgets
licensed databases • Social networking
• E-books, other e-
documents, & e-readers
• Remote & Wifi access

16. IL 5th Graders Meeting / Exceeding Reading
Standards by Size & Age of Print Collection
75% 71% 67% 71% 71%
66% 66%
50%
25%
Median +
< median
0%
Print volumes/100 Subscriptions/100 Average copyright
students students date

17. IL 8th Graders Meeting / Exceeding Reading
Standards by Access to Networked Computers
75% 70% 70%
65% 66%
50%
Median +
25%
< median
0%
Library computers per 100 Other computers per 100
students students

18. Library Visits
• Whole-class instruction • Individual, pair, and
– Librarian & teacher co- small-group activities
teach, 21st Century skills – Book talks
integrated – Homework help
– Librarian works – Reading partners
alone, 21st Century skills
coordinated with – Scavenger hunts
classroom curriculum – Self-guided library tours
– Self-selected reading
– Study partners / small
groups
– Tutoring

19. IN 3rd Grade Combined Passing Results by
Teacher Reports of Class Visits on Flex Schedule
100%
75% 72%
64%
50%
25%
0%
Monthly + < monthly

20. CO3 3rd & 5th Reading Scores by
Individual Library Visits per Week
75% 71% 15%
67%
13%
50% 11% 10%
25% Proficient or advanced 5%
Unsatisfactory
0% 0%
Median + < median

21. School Library Expenditures
School Library Issues
Expenditures • Accounting for school
• Usually include: library spending
– Books • Overlaps between
– Periodicals library & technology
– Licensed databases programs
– DVDs, audio books • School overhead costs
– Computers
– Supplies

22. IL 8th Graders Meeting / Exceeding
Reading Standards by Library Expenditures
75% 71%
65% 64%
57%
50%
Median +
25%
< median
0%
Reading Writing

23. CO Reading Performance by
School Library Expenditures
100% 25%
Proficient or advanced : median or above Proficient or advanced : below median
Percent scoring proficient or advanced
Unsatisfactory : median or above Unsatisfactory : below median
80% 20%
72% 72%
68%
Percent scoring unsatisfactory
66% 67%
62%
60% 14% 14% 15%
12%
10% 10%
40% 9% 10%
20% 5%
0% 0%
3rd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade

24. Control Variables
• Community characteristics
– Poverty (% students eligible
for Free & Reduced-price
Meals program)
– Racial/ethnic demographics (%
students per group)
• School characteristics
– Per pupil spending
– Teacher-pupil ratio

25. Why Do Libraries Matter So Much?
• Poverty highly correlated with
other control variables.
• Library programs not highly
correlated with poverty.
• Quality of library programs
depends on:
– Quality of librarian
– Principals & site-based management
– Teacher background & experience
with school libraries

26. How do libraries matter?
(Qualitative studies of student learning)
• Ohio (2003)
• New Jersey (2005)
• Delaware (2006)

27. CISSL Impact Study Model
Kinds of Help Surveys
• Getting needed info • Students
• Using info to complete school • Faculty
work Help Scale
• With school work generally • Most helpful
• Using computers • Quite helpful
(library, school, home)
• Some help
• With general reading
interests • A little help
• When not at school • No help

28. Teachers Identifying Ways Library
Helps Students Get Info They Need
100% 88% 88% 84%
75%
50%
25%
0%
Know steps in Find different Feel good
finding / using sources about asking
info for help

29. Teachers Identifying Ways Library Helps
Students Use Info to Complete School Work
100%
86% 83% 81%
75%
50%
25%
0%
Know research takes workuseBecome more interested in t
Know how to different sources

30. Teachers Identifying Ways Library Helps
Students with School Work Generally
100% 90%
82%
75% 72%
50%
25%
0%
Learn more facts about topics about topics don't understa
Get first facts When they

31. Teachers Identifying Ways Library Helps Students
Use Computers in Library, at School, and at Home
100%
86% 86% 85%
75%
50%
25%
0%
Do school work Find info in / out library Internet better
better Search

32. Teachers Identifying Ways Library Helps
Students with General Reading Interests
100%
81% 80% 78%
75%
50%
25%
0%
Find stories they like Read more Enjoy reading more

33. Teachers Identifying Ways Library Helps
Students When Not at School
100%
82%
75% 67%
54%
50%
25%
0%
Discover interesting topics
Use public library library website
Use

34. Supporting Infrastructure Needs of
21st Century School Library Programs
• Latest PA study, funded by IMLS
• First quantitative study to address 21st Century
Learner standards and Common Core
Standards
• Also includes qualitative research with
administrators, teachers, and librarians
• Findings to include estimated costs of funding
21st Century school library programs

35. What Else?
• What else do we need to know about how and
how much school libraries matter?

36. For More About
School Library Impact Studies
• Library Research Service’s School
Library Impact Studies page
http://www.LRS.org/impact.php
• Mansfield University’s School Library
Impact Studies Project
http://library.mansfield.edu/impact.a
sp
• Rutgers’ Center for International
Scholarship in School Libraries’s
Impact Studies page
http://cissl.rutgers.edu/joomla-
license/impact-studies