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 lance_k@cde.state.co.us – 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 lance_k@cde.state.co.us – 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 lance_k@cde.state.co.us – 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 lance_k@cde.state.co.us – 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 lance_k@cde.state.co.us – 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 lance_k@cde.state.co.us – 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 lance_k@cde.state.co.us – 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 lance_k@cde.state.co.us – 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 lance_k@cde.state.co.us – 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 lance_k@cde.state.co.us – 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 lance_k@cde.state.co.us – 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 lance_k@cde.state.co.us – 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 lance_k@cde.state.co.us – 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 lance_k@cde.state.co.us – 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 lance_k@cde.state.co.us – 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 lance_k@cde.state.co.us – 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 lance_k@cde.state.co.us – 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 lance_k@cde.state.co.us – 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 lance_k@cde.state.co.us – 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 lance_k@cde.state.co.us – 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 lance_k@cde.state.co.us – 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 lance_k@cde.state.co.us – 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 lance_k@cde.state.co.us – 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 lance_k@cde.state.co.us – 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 lance_k@cde.state.co.us – 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 lance_k@cde.state.co.us – 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 lance_k@cde.state.co.us – 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: lance_k@cde.state.co.us