1993
Colorado: "Impact of School Library Media Centers on Academic Achievement" by Keith Curry Lance, Lynda Welborn, and Christine Hamilton-Pennell.
This study was the first to demonstrate that higher test scores are a result of increased spending for library media programs that include more and better qualified staff, more time for staff-teacher collaboration, and larger and more diverse collections. The study includes an annotated bibliography on this topic up to 1993.
1999
Pennsylvania: "Measuring Up to Standards: The Impact of School Libraries & Information Literacy in Pennsylvania Schools" by Lance, Marcia J. Rodney, and Hamilton-Pennell.
Sponsored by Pennsylvania Citizens for Better Libraries and the Pennsylvania Department of Education, this report collected information from 435 different schools across the state. It concludes that reading scores on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment have increased in those schools that have good library staffing, access to information technology, and integration of information literacy into the curriculum. As in other studies, researchers determined the increase in test scores could not be explained away by other school or community factors.
Entire study (Acrobat PDF)
2000
Alaska: "Information Empowered: The School Librarian as an Agent of Academic Achievement in Alaska Schools" by Lance, et. al.
This report explores how school library media programs contribute to academic achievement in Alaska. Specific aspects that impact student achievement include the level of staffing, hours of operation, training of staff, teacher-librarian collaboration, and student use of school library programs, the study concluded.
Executive summary (Acrobat PDF)
Colorado: "How School Librarians Help Kids Achieve Standards: The Second Colorado Study" by Lance, et al.
This study found that reading scores on the Colorado Student Assessment Program increase with investments in library program development, information technology, increased teacher-media specialist collaboration, and individual visits to the library media center.
Executive summary (Acrobat PDF)
Iowa: "Making the Connection: Quality School Library Media Programs Impact Academic Achievement in Iowa" by Lance, et al.
Iowa's Reading Test Scores rise alongside the development of strong library media programs, the study concludes. Findings show that strong library programs have a greater effect on student achievement than other factors within the school, yet tend to have a weaker influence than at-large community differences. Other findings suggest that the use of technology, good staffing, training, funding, and collaboration are all keys to a successful school library program.
Entire study (Acrobat PDF)
2001
Minnesota: "Check it out! Results from the School Library Media Census Program," a Metronet project funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services
In September 2001, Metronet received a federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant to collect and analyze data based on the standards for all Minnesota public school library media programs. Metronet then used this data to determine the condition of school library media programs statewide and to assess their impact on student achievement. The study found that a well-funded, well-staffed school library media center can have a positive impact on student achievement, regardless of the economic and social factors in the school and community at large.
Executive summary (Acrobat PDF):
Entire study
Oregon: "Good Schools Have Good School Librarians: Oregon School Librarians Collaborate to Improve Academic Achievement," by Lance, et al.
Published with funds from the Oregon State Library through a federal LSTA grant and in association with the Oregon Educational Media Association, this report concluded that reading test scores in Oregon rise with the continued development of school library media programs. Whatever the current state of a school's library program, the study shows that incremental improvements in its staffing, collection, and budget will have a positive effect on students' reading scores.
Executive summary (Acrobat PDF)
Texas: "Texas School Libraries: Standards, Resources, Services, and Students' Performance" by Ester G. Smith and EGS Research and Consulting.
Based in part on the studies done by Lance, this Texas study attributes higher scores on the reading portion of the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) to schools with trained librarians. The Texas study demonstrated higher TAAS performance at all educational levels in schools with librarians than in schools without librarians. Results also indicated that socio-economic variables such as the percentage of white students, Hispanic students, and economically disadvantaged students explain most of the variance in TAAS performance at all educational levels.
Entire study
2003
North Carolina: "An Essential Connection: How Quality School Library Media Programs Improve Student Achievement in North Carolina" by Robert Burgin and RB Software and Consulting.
This research project was designed to collect data on school library media programs in North Carolina in eight areas: staff activities; service hours; library usage; library technology; internet access; operating expenditures; management; and school demographics. According to researchers, the study found that school library programs in North Carolina elementary, middle, and high schools have a significant impact on student achievement as measured by scores on standardized reading and English tests. In fact, scores tended to increase when school library staff worked longer hours and when libraries were open longer hours, had newer books, spent more money on books per student than other print materials such as magazines and newspapers, spent more money per student on electronic access to information, and subscribed to online periodical services and CD-ROM resources.
Entire study
