What the research is saying
There is a great deal of research that has been done about the value of professionally staffed school libraries and what is happenng to standards when school library staff is reduced or removed. The following collecton is designed to provide evidence-based information to support the need for and value of maintianing a well staffed and resourced library resource centre. The research has been categorised to distinguish information from different countries.
Australia
Australian School Library Survey 2019
The School Library Survey, conducted by Softlink on behalf of the school library sector, examines key trends and issues impacting school libraries. Points for analysis include annual school library budgets and staffing levels, as well as the use of digital devices and digital resources in school libraries.
School Libraries: The heart of 21st century learning (2019)
ACT Government: Education - A best practice guide in ensuring our school libraries and teacher librarians continue to support our students to be discerning users and creators of knowledge
Future learning and school libraries. Australian School Library Association (2013)
The School Library Survey, conducted by Softlink on behalf of the school library sector, examines key trends and issues impacting school libraries. Points for analysis include annual school library budgets and staffing levels, as well as the use of digital devices and digital resources in school libraries.
Australian School Library Survey 2019
The School Library Survey, conducted by Softlink on behalf of the school library sector, examines key trends and issues impacting school libraries. Points for analysis include annual school library budgets and staffing levels, as well as the use of digital devices and digital resources in school libraries.
School Libraries: The heart of 21st century learning (2019)
ACT Government: Education - A best practice guide in ensuring our school libraries and teacher librarians continue to support our students to be discerning users and creators of knowledge
Future learning and school libraries. Australian School Library Association (2013)
The School Library Survey, conducted by Softlink on behalf of the school library sector, examines key trends and issues impacting school libraries. Points for analysis include annual school library budgets and staffing levels, as well as the use of digital devices and digital resources in school libraries.
New Zealand
The importance of the school library in learning – the research
A comprehensive list of research that has been done around the value of school libraries.
The importance of the school library in learning – the research
A comprehensive list of research that has been done around the value of school libraries.
The United States/ Canada
School Libraries Build Strong Students - American Library Association (2013)
An infographic about the value of school libraries
AASL Toolkit for Promoting School Library Programs (2015)
A comprehensive tookit for promoting school library programs. Downloadable as a PDF.
School Libraries Work! (2016)
A research-based report that highlights the value of school libraries. A very useful document.
Together for learning: School libraries and the emergence of the learning common (2010)
This paper explores the value of re-imagining the library as a learning common.
Latest Study: A full-time school librarian makes a critical difference in boosting student achievement (2013)
This Pennsylvania study focused on the impact of library programmes on selected student groups that tend to experience achievement gaps. The benefits associated with larger staffing and collections and increased access to technology, databases, and to the library itself were found to be proportionally greater for students who are poor, black, Hispanic, and disabled.
Friends of Oakland Public School Libraries - Articles and Research
Read what experts are saying about school libraries.
The Impact of School Librarians and Library Programs on Academic Achievement of Students:
This page provides links to the Phase 1 and Phase 2 reports of the The South Carolina School Library Impact Study (2014).
Informational brief: impact of school libraries on student achievement (PDF) (2011)
A survey of US and Canadian research between 1993 and 2011 collectively known as the “School Library Impact Studies” highlights the relationship between school libraries and student achievement. It looks at demographic data, technology, budgeting, staffing, professional development, and collaboration. The survey concludes that school libraries have a positive impact on student outcomes, as they teach 21st century skills, promote achievement, and play a major role in closing the achievement gap.
School librarian staffing linked with gains in student achievement (PDF) (2012)
Lance, Keith Curry, Hofschire, Linda (2012). School librarian staffing linked with gains in student achievement, 2005 - 2011. Teacher Librarian. Oct. 2012, Vol. 39 Issue 6, p.15-19.
School Library Research Summarized (PDF)- Keith Curry Lance (2013)
School Libraries and Reading. People for Education.
Canadian research on school libraries and reading - various reports and articles.
School Libraries Impact Studies
An extensive range of reports about the impact of school libraries
The United Kingdom
The beating heart of the school: Improving educational attainment through school libraries and librarians (PDF) (2014) - CILIP
This provides a valuable look at the crucial role that school libraries and librarians play in providing an environment that enables educational attainment given their impact on children's literacy, education and wellbeing.
Impact of school libraries on learning
The beating heart of the school: Improving educational attainment through school libraries and librarians (PDF) (2014) - CILIP
This provides a valuable look at the crucial role that school libraries and librarians play in providing an environment that enables educational attainment given their impact on children's literacy, education and wellbeing.
Impact of school libraries on learning
Europe / World
IFLA School Library Guidelines (2nd revised edition) - Keep/ Move
www.ifla.org/files/assets/school-libraries-resource.../ifla-school-library-guidelines.pdf
IFLA School Library Guidelines (2nd revised edition) - Keep/ Move
www.ifla.org/files/assets/school-libraries-resource.../ifla-school-library-guidelines.pdf