Keith Curry Lance - Library Research Service - Colorado State Library & University of Denver Tel – fax – – URL Powering Achievement: The Impact of School Librarians on Academic Achievement Keith Curry Lance Library Research Service Colorado State Library & University of Denver

Keith Curry Lance - Library Research Service - Colorado State Library & University of Denver Tel – fax – – URL 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 Denver Tel – fax – – URL 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 Denver Tel – fax – – URL 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: 1 st 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 Denver Tel – fax – – URL Information Power Model  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 Denver Tel – fax – – URL 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 Denver Tel – fax – – URL 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 Denver Tel – fax – – URL 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 Denver Tel – fax – – URL States, Grades & Schools Studied Alaska4, 8/11211 Colorado (II)4, 7200 Massachusetts4, 8 & Pennsylvania5, 8 & Oregon5, 8 & Texas4, 8 & Iowa4, 8 & New Mexico4, 8 & Michigan4, 7 & North Carolina4, 8 & Florida3, 8 & 101,715

Keith Curry Lance - Library Research Service - Colorado State Library & University of Denver Tel – fax – – URL 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 Denver Tel – fax – – URL 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 Denver Tel – fax – – URL 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 Denver Tel – fax – – URL 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 Denver Tel – fax – – URL 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 Denver Tel – fax – – URL 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 Denver Tel – fax – – URL 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 Denver Tel – fax – – URL 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 Denver Tel – fax – – URL Comparing Best & Worst Library Programs  Sample findings from Colorado II about who meets standards: Best staffed, stocked & funded:  74% of 4 th graders (vs. 63%--18% improvement)  61% of 7 th graders (vs. 53%--15% improvement) Most collaborative librarians:  76% of 4 th graders (vs. 63%--21% improvement)  56% of 7 th graders (vs. 52%--8% improvement) Most hi-tech:  72% of 4 th graders (vs. 64%--13% improvement)  70% of 7 th graders (vs. 56%--25% improvement)

Keith Curry Lance - Library Research Service - Colorado State Library & University of Denver Tel – fax – – URL Controlling for Other School & Community Conditions  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 Denver Tel – fax – – URL Academic Achievement Predictors Ranked  Ranked by percent of test score variation explained: Poverty (NSLP eligibility): % 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 Denver Tel – fax – – URL 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 Denver Tel – fax – – URL 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 Denver Tel – fax – – URL 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 Denver Tel – fax – – URL 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 Denver Tel – fax – – URL 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 Denver Tel – fax – – URL Other Research Questions  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 Denver Tel – fax – – URL 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 Denver Tel – fax – – URL For more information…  Visit  Contact Keith Curry Lance Tel.: Fax: