Demonstrating the Importance of School Libraries

These sites are useful when it becomes necessary to have a chat with your administrator about the role of the library.

Talking to the Principal

Closing School Libraries Would Harm the Students Who Need Them Most - This is an article by Roger Chesley in the Virginia Mercury, April 6, 2023. In Spotsylvania County, Virginia, two school board members championed book burning, and a school principal wants to cut school libraries to save money.
School Libraries Impact on Reading and Learning - From the American Library Association. This will give you links to relevant articles and talking points for your talk with the principal.
Librarians Help Students Students Navigate an Age of Misinformation But Schools are Cutting Their Numbers - An article by Karen Gavigan in The Conversation, Nov. 5, 2021
How School Librarians Are Evolving - Your role as librarian involves teaching digital and information skills as well as using books for research and reading. This is an article by Annie Galvin Teich in Tech and Learning, Oct.4, 2021
The First thing I Invested in was the School Library - This is an article by a former headteacher who saw the benefits of a good school library. This is an article by Richard Gerver in Headteacher Update, Feb, 2021
The Future of Primary School Libraries - From the National Literacy Trust, Great Britain, November, 2021
What's Next for School Librarians - Librarians and libraries are being cut. This is an article by Alecia Mouhanna in Perspectives on Reading, July, 2021
The Nonnegotiable Role of School Librarians - by Scott Beck, posted to the blog of the National Association of Secondary School Principals, Feb. 6, 2020.
The Importance of School Libraries in the Google Age - If we have Google why do we need libraries and librarians? An article by Kay Oddone.
A Pre-service Toolkit for Principles and Teachers - From the AASL. A list of resources to inform principals and teachers about the functions of the school librarian. March, 2016.
Why School Librarians Matter: What Years of Research tell us. An article by Keith Curry Lance and Debra E. Kachel in the Phi Delta Kappan, March 28, 2018
Creating a Culture of Literacy - A handbook for principals to assist in the development of literacy in their middle and high schools. This handbook is in pdf form.
Average Book Prices 2022 - From School Library Journal, March 2, 2022

School Library Program Health and Wellness Toolkit - "If sharing information about your program is outside of your comfort zone, remember, you are not tooting your own horn; you are advocating for students and student learning. This is not about you; this is for the children of your school district. You are being a student advocate. Do it". From the American Association of School Librarians.

Strong Statements About the Importance of School Libraries

The Philadelphia Alliance to Restore School Libraries. Philadelphia has 217 schools and one full time school librarian. This alliance is working to get librarians back in Philly's schools.
Roles of the School Librarian: Empowering Student Leaning and Success - A study of the importance of the school librarian. This is by the Northeast Comprehensive Center, the New York State Library, and the New York Education Department. The report was issued on November 12, 2019.
The Importance of School Librarians - an article by Nader Qaimari in Publishers Weekly, Jun 15, 2018. Mr. Qaimari is president of Follett School Solutions.
Without Foundations, We Can't Build, Information Literacy and the Need for Strong School Library Programs - a very informative article by Cara Berg, Darby Malvey, and Maureen Donahue, March, 2018.
Students Need School Libraries - An Australian organization promoting school libraries.
Advocacy and and the School Librarian - Article from Ebsco.
More on Advocacy and Promotion - From the Resources for School Librarians web site.

The Data

School Libraries Work - A compilation of research on school libraries by Scholastic, 2016. This is in pdf format.
School Library Impact Studies - There is a useful infographic on the effectiveness of school library programs and links to many research studies. By Library Research Service.
AASL Position Statements - On diversity, library staffing, the role of the school librarian, and others.
AASL Toolkits - Materials which will help you to promote your library.
Studies on the Effectiveness of School Libraries - Many studies have been done on the effect of school libraries on student achievement.
Student Achievement and the School Library Media Program - Facts at a glance by School Library Systems Association of New York State, 2006. This is in pdf format.
The Laura Bush Foundation for America's Libraries

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This site is maintained by Linda Bertland, retired school librarian, Philadelphia, PA. Please address any comments, additions, or corrections to info@sldirectory.com.