The Impact of Library Media Specialists on Students and How It Is Valued by Administrators and Teachers: Findings from the Latest Studies in Colorado and Idaho

Abstract

School library media specialists wear many hats within their school libraries, classrooms, and districts. Whether these roles are formally acknowledged or not, library media specialists (LMSs) are functioning as co-teachers, curriculum designers, website managers, technology troubleshooters, administrators, and in-service staff development providers. In an era of decreased funding and increased budgettrimming, however, positions for qualified LMS librarians are especially vulnerable. This article presents the result of a multistate survey of administrators and teachers perceptions with regards to their impact on the school's learning process.

Reimagining the Role of School Libraries in STEM Education: Creating Hybrid Spaces for Exploration

“…Since the 1960s, the affects of school library media programs on student learning have been the subject of discussion. The body of literature on school library programs has found a consistently positive and significant correlation between school library resources and student achievement in the United States [52][53][54][55]. The majority of these studies showed a correlation between the school library media programs that are offered and the improvement of reading and language arts scores in student but has never attempted to demonstrate a relationship to mathematics or science learning.…”

The Inside, Outside, and Upside Downs of Children's Literature: From Poets and Pop-ups to Princesses and Porridge

“…In other studies, the school library is a consistent factor in standards-based assessment and library media specialists have a quantifiable, positive impact on student achievement (Francis & Lance, 2011).…”

Professional self-efficacy and role perception of school librarians and their impact on the development of students' information literacy

“…Taken together, it is clear that students today possess inadequate IL skills. Impact studies indicate that school libraries can significantly promote the learning skills and achievements of students by providing a powerful and diverse resource centre while professionally collaborating with teachers and headteachers (Todd and Kuhlthau 2005;Lance et al 2005;Ofsted 2006;Lance et al 2007;Klinger et al 2009;Francis and Lance 2011). Extending the involvement of the school librarian beyond the traditional role (for example by requiring librarians to provide information services to school headteachers, to support teachers' working groups or to share their teaching responsibilities) thus increases the positive influence of the library on students and improves their achievements (Lance and Lorertscher 2001).…”