National Library Week - 2009

April 12-18, 2009 is National Library Week, an annual celebration of libraries and librarians. This year's theme is "Worlds connect @ your library."

Each year, a famous celebrity chairs the celebration. This year, New York Times best selling author and actress Jamie Lee Curtis is the Honorary Chair of National Library Week 2009. The American Library Association has created downloadable print and radio public service announcements (PSA), sample letters-to-editors, press releases, proclamations and more. For more information, contact NLW Campaign Coordinator Megan McFarlane.

NJ Library Video: Job Hunting

The New Jersey State Library created a 30 second video on how people are turning to the library for help in seeking new jobs. YouTube Video is called "Job Hunting". Nancy Dowd actively markets libraries in the state. Well done!

Libraries as a solution: job hunting, Internet access

Haves, Halves and Have-Nots: School Libraries and Student Achievement

It’s about equity. Strong school libraries help give our students the best chance to succeed says Dr. Doug Achterman in “Haves, Halves and Have-Nots: School Libraries and Student Achievement.”

California schools are making their lists of where to cut, so they can give the legally required pink slips so employees know their positions might be eliminated. March 15 is Pink Slip Day for many schools. Teacher Librarians (and music, reading, special ed, sports, and other at-risk teachers, administrators, and employees) are making their cases for keeping themselves on the payroll. It is a sad and desperate time. Doug's doctoral research and handy one-page document is timely. Below is Doug's findings:

California’s School Libraries Make a Difference
California public schools with strong school library programs outperform those without such programs on the state’s STAR tests. This is true regardless of the school community’s parent education and poverty levels, ethnicity, and percentage of English language learners. Increases in the following library program elements correspond to increased STAR test scores at the elementary, middle school and high school levels:
· Total hours library open
· Total technology available through the library
· Total services provided by library staff
· Offering a program of curriculum-integrated information literacy instruction
· Informally instructing students in the use of resources
· Providing teachers with information about new resources
· Providing reference assistance to students and teachers

A strong school library program is one that provides
· A full-time teacher librarian and a full time paraprofessional.
· A robust, up-to-date collection of digital, print and media resources with a budget to support it.
· Liberal access to the library’s facilities, technology, and resources.

Greater Staffing = Stronger Impact
Our research shows that the strongest relationship between school libraries and STAR test scores occurs at the high school level, which has, as a percentage, over 3 ½ times more fully-staffed libraries (a full-time teacher librarian and a full time clerk) than the middle schools, and over 25 times more fully staffed libraries than the elementary schools.

The school library program is a better predictor of scores on the high school English Language Arts STAR test than other school variables such as teacher experience and teacher salary. On the U.S. History test, the library program is a better predictor of scores than both school variables and community variables, including parent education, poverty, ethnicity, and percentage of English language learners.

Nearly every element of a high school library program positively correlates with STAR test scores, including all of the elements listed above, as well as
· Teacher librarian staffing levels
· Total staffing levels
· Budget
· Collection size
In elementary, middle school and high school libraries, teacher librarian staffing and total staffing are strongly related to the level of services provided. What’s more, increases in library services are related to higher STAR test scores. Staffing is key in creating strong school libraries.

The bottom line? It’s about equity. Strong school libraries help give our students the best chance to succeed.

See Ph.D. dissertation by Doug Achterman, “Haves, Halves and Have-Nots: School Libraries and Student Achievement,” University of North Texas, December, 2008.

Advocating for Libraries with the Obama Administration

At the American Library Association's Mid-Winter Planning Meeting, Stephanie Vance of AdvocacyGuru.com listed three points to remember when advocating for libraries with members of the Obama administration:

1. The economy. The economy. The economy.
2. The idea of Loving Libraries and library values.
3. Citizen advocacy. Citizen communications with elected officials.

I agree with the above three, adding that it would be good to keep up a campaign that points to libraries as solutions. Here are a few examples of issues and library solutions:

1- No home Internet access? Want to contact the President, Governor, or your Representatives? Your library has Internet workstations and probably wireless access too.

2- Money's tight? No or few books at home? Want to read to your baby? Your library has books for every age and interest. Borrow, browse, or read at your library. XYZ Public Library’s Project READ links volunteers with new readers.

3- Looking for a job or starting a new business? Your library has online and web-based resources and a quiet place to research and do business. ABC Public Library’s Business collection is top-notch!

4- Want to do more for the planet? Libraries are “green”. READ Green. Borrow a Library Book!

5- Worried about student cybersafety? Online ethics? Cyberbulling? Teacher Librarians provide the cybersafety instruction mandated in California AB 307. Teacher Librarians teach students how to do research so they will be better learners through school, college, careers, and life. Advocate for strong school libraries! Become a “Best Seller” for libraries.

6- School budget reduced, training budget eliminated? California School Library Association 2.0 Team and the California Technology Assistance Project have joined forces to offer a free, online course on web 2.0 tools, “Classroom Learning 2.0”.

The list could go on and on. Libraries provide tons of services. Position services as solutions to specific issues of the day. Don't keep them a secret.

California Young Reader Medal Award - Tony's Pages

Livingston H.S. Teacher Librarian Tony Doyle has updated his California Young Reader Medal web site. He is sure it is the only place on the web where you can see all nominees and winners from every year of the program. He welcomes interesting stories about CYRM and encourages submissions for inclusion on the Testimonials and Anecdotes page.

Tony's site is particularly welcome at this time of year, when many California schools and students are learning about the program, considering participating, or already actively engaged. The deadline for voting is April 1, 2009.

Here is some background:

• The program encourages recreational reading of popular fiction.
• Students nominate, read, and vote on their favorite books.
• This is a California book award, sponsored by four California Associations: California School Library Association, California Library Association, California Teachers of English, and California Reading Association.

This is an all-volunteer run program, so special thanks and cheers go to the many state and local planners, organizers, and readers. I first learned about the California Young Reader Medal Award when my family moved to California, our children began school, and I started hunting for good childrens' stories to read. Read on at Tony's pages to learn which books are nominated for each of five categories for 2009/2010. Enjoy.