A Summary of the School Libraries Master Plan
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The Future of Delaware School Libraries A Summary of the School Libraries Master Plan August 2017 Specifically, a South Carolina study discovered This policy brief by the Institute for that the presence of a certified librarian positively Public Administration was prepared for affected English Language Arts test scores as well the Partnership for Public Education as the development of research and writing skills and summarizes the key findings and (Lance, Rodney, and Schwarz, 2014). Research such recommendations of the Delaware School as this emphasizes the importance of a full-time Libraries Master Plan. The Master Plan certified librarian. However, other assets of a quality examines years of scholarly research that library also lead to student success. A 2012 study cites the linkage between quality school in Pennsylvania found that schools with quality libraries and student success. Student success libraries were two-to-five times more likely to have refers to higher reading and writing tests students receive an “advanced” score on the state’s scores, increased literacy skills, and higher standardized writing test than ones that did not graduation rates. The Master Plan addresses (Lance and Schwarz, 2012). In addition, a study the disparities between the impact school titled Certified Teacher Librarians, Library Quality libraries could have and the impact they are and Student Achievement in Washington State Public currently having in the state. The Master Plan Schools ranked school libraries using a library quality concludes by examining the state of Delaware scale (LQS), which took into account factors such as school libraries and making recommendations staffing, collection, and scheduling. The study found on how Delaware can maximize the positive that schools with libraries that scored higher on the effects school libraries can have on the LQS had higher graduation rates (Coker, 2015). students in the state. The Current State of A Look at School Libraries Delaware School Libraries Nationally After reviewing relevant literature, the Delaware School Libraries Master Plan team found that a A well-educated population is vital to America’s quality school library requires: workforce, but only 37 percent of high school • A full-time certified/qualified librarian at the graduates across the nation are deemed “college- building level. ready” (National Assessment of Educational Progress, 2015). More than 60 studies conducted • Adequate support staff1 to enable the over two decades show school libraries can have librarian to perform professional duties such a positive impact on student learning outcomes 1 Delaware School Libraries Master Plan defines this as the following: 0.5 (Gretes, 2013). FTE for 300-999 students; 1.0 FTE for 1,000- 1,599 students; 2.0 FTE for 1,600 or more students. 1 as developing and managing educational positions increased to 70. Even in districts where programs, enhancing collaborative teaching the number of positions is growing, the benefits practices, collection development, teaching of a certified librarian cannot be fully experienced. information and reading literacy, and serving School librarians are juggling a wide variety of as an educational resource for school staff and tasks from performing clerical duties to covering students. absent teachers. As a result, librarians have little time for professional tasks, collaboration with • Adequate expenditures for new resources other librarians and teachers, and professional to ensure student access to recent, relevant development. content. • High level of collaboration between librarians Under-Supported Financially and and teachers as well as librarians and students. Administratively • Flexible scheduling that enables the librarian Currently, school librarians have little representation to interact with teachers and students. in the Delaware Department of Education to oversee • Access to up-to-date technological equitable access to resources, manage collaboration infrastructure and online resources. among librarians, and advocate for quality school libraries. The lack of centralized oversight has led to • Access to professional development and inequities in school libraries throughout the state. networking opportunities for library staff. At the local level, librarians often do not receive support from their administrations. There are no Currently, many school libraries in Delaware are resources allocated to data collection to report missing some of these characteristics. Data gleaned library statistics, which could help reduce the through surveys, focus groups, site visits, and service gap and improve overall library quality. interviews found that school libraries in the state are predominantly “understaffed, underfunded, The lack of support also is evident in the amount and unequipped of up-to-date collections.” of money librarians have to spend on the collection. A study of libraries in 2004 in Delaware Insufficient and Inequitable Staffing recommended school libraries should spend $12–15 per student (Todd R.J., 2006). National A full-time certified librarian is the most important data supports this expenditure. A South Carolina attribute of a high-quality school library. study found that spending $11 per student Unfortunately, the number of librarians in relation increased student performance (Lance, Rodney, to the number of students in a school is decreasing. and Schwarz, 2014). However, recent data shows School libraries are supported by discretionary that school libraries in Delaware spend on average funding, and therefore, funding is not always stable. about $6.50–$7.50 per student, a vast difference Notably, librarians are being cut disproportionately from the 2004 recommendation (Delaware School in districts with significant low-income populations. Library Study Survey, 2015). Districts with more students from low-income households would benefit most from high-quality Out-of-Date Collections libraries (Neuman & Moland, 2016). Districts in which more than 40 percent of students were from According to survey data, on average each library low-income households, experienced decreases in only purchases 460 new items per year, which the number of librarian positions. In 2005–2006, equates to about 3.7 percent of the collection there were 66 librarian positions. In 2015–2016, (Delaware School Library Study Survey, 2015). the number decreased to 50 positions. Conversely, Therefore, it will take 27 years to completely replace districts in which less than 40 percent of students the collection, making many materials obsolete. In were from low-income households saw increases fact, the Delaware School Libraries Council found in librarian positions. In 2005–2006, these districts in 2013 that nearly 90 percent of STEM books were had 57 librarian positions. In 2015–2016, the over the recommended number of years old. One 2 area in which Delaware has the potential to excel 5. Establish specific governance responsibilities is through providing access to high-quality online for coordination and oversight of school databases. The UD Lib/Search tool needs to be libraries. The Delaware Department of leveraged to ensure high levels of resource sharing. Education and Division of Libraries can facilitate The state has also looked into expanding the coordination among school libraries and with Delaware Library Catalog, a tool that allows access the public library system. This collaboration to all participating public libraries’ collections. allows Delaware’s libraries to leverage existing A current pilot program adds some school resources and create equitable opportunities libraries into the catalog to leverage Delaware’s for libraries throughout the state. current resources. 6. Examine and address systematic issues that inhibit the development of high-quality Recommendations school library programs. Libraries need to be sufficiently funded, evaluated, managed, and To improve library quality, the Delaware School supported for students to reap the benefits of Libraries Master Plan recommends results-oriented a quality school library. approaches. The recommendations are divided into four categories: staffing, content and access, 7. Leverage Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) governance and infrastructure, and assessment funding to strengthen school libraries. ESSA’s and accountability. Together they provide a recognition of the importance of school libraries comprehensive plan for improving the quality of is an opportunity for Delaware’s libraries to Delaware’s school libraries. The ten changes include: receive federal funding. 1. Require a school library, a certified librarian, 8. Implement flexible scheduling for school and an appropriate level of support staff in libraries. Flexible scheduling can lead to every school. Various studies identify a full- coordination between teachers and librarians. time certified librarian as the most important If completely flexible scheduling is not factor to a high-quality library. It is also vital feasible, schools should at least implement a that the librarian has adequate support staff combination of fixed and flexible scheduling. who can aid with clerical tasks, giving librarians 9. Design and implement an ongoing program more time to develop a high-quality library. of data collection, management, and 2. Seek funding for and implement a pilot project assessment of school libraries. Collecting in nine schools to determine the impact that basic data and library statistics allows Delaware quality school libraries have on student