This study examines possible factors related to school library programs that correlate with student academic achievement. Analyzing library programs as a system, the investigator adapted the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) principles for library media programs in conjunction with standardized tests. For the population examined (60 southern California schools), the measure that correlated most closely with library program principles was standardized reading scores. Specifically, the degree to which information access/delivery principles were implemented correlates significantly with student reading scores. The study results identified key indicators within the library program that impact student academic achievement: access to high-quality library facilities and resources, and collaborative planning with professional library staff.
Aaron, S. (1983) ‘A Review of Selected Research Studies about School Library Media Programs, Resources, and Personnel. January 1972–December 1980’ , School Library Media Annual1: 303–385 .
2.
American Association of School Librarians and Association of Educational Communications and Technology (1988) Information Power: Guidelines for school library media programs. Chicago: American Library Assn .
3.
American Association of School Librarians and Association of Educational Communications and Technology (1998) Information Power: Partners for Learning. Chicago: American Library Assn .
4.
American Association of School Librarians (AASL) (1999) A Planning Guide for Information Power. Chicago: American Library Association .
5.
Barlup, J. (1991) Whole language, the librarian, and children's literature beyond the basal reader.Doctoral dissertation, University of Pittsburgh.
6.
Barron, D. (1998) ‘So What Does the Research Say about School Library Media Concerns?’School Library Media Activities Monthly14: 47–50 .
7.
Baumbach, D. (2004) Making the Grade: The Status of School Library Media Centers in the Sunshine State and how they Contribute to Student Academic Achievement. San Jose, CA: Hi Willow .
8.
Bell, J. (1990) Elementary school climate factors and personality and status variables associated with school library media specialists chosen by classroom teachers for cooperation on instructional problems.Doctoral dissertation, University of North Texas.
9.
Bingham, J. (1994) A comparative study of curriculum integrated and traditional school library media programs. Doctoral dissertation, Kansas State University.
10.
Bishop, K. (1992) The roles of the school library media specialist in an elementary school using a literature-based reading program.Doctoral dissertation, Florida State University.
11.
Bruning, M. (1994) ‘Is Money Spent on Libraries a Wise Investment?’ , Ohio Media Spectrum46: 18–20 .
12.
California Department of Education . Library Services . (2003) Research related to school libraries. Sacramento: California Dept. of Education . URL (consulted February 2005): http://www.cde.ca.govx/ci/cr/lb/research.asp
13.
Didier, E. (1982) Relationships between student academic achievement in reading and library media programs and personnel.Doctoral dissertation, University of Michigan.
14.
Dorrell, L. and Lawson, V. (1995) ‘What are Principals' Perceptions of the School Library Media Specialist?’ , NASSP Bulletin79: 72–80 .
15.
Easun, S. (1994) ‘Beginner's Guide to Efficiency Measurement’ , School Library Media Quarterly22: 103-103 .
16.
Edwards, K. (1989) ‘Principals’ Perceptions of School Libraries: A Study’ , School Library Journal35: 28-31 .
17.
Farmer, L. (2000) An Examination of the State of School Libraries and the Relationship to Perceptions held by School Site Personnel towards Library Media Program Principles. Long Beach: California State University .
18.
Farmer, L. (2003) Student Success and Library Media Programs: A Systems Approach to Research and Best Practice. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited .
19.
Gaver, M. (1963) Effectiveness of Centralized Library Service in Elementary Schools.2nd edn.New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers .
20.
Gehlken, V. (1994) The role of the high school library media program in three nationally recognized South Carolina blue ribbon secondary schools.Doctoral dissertation, University of South Carolina.
21.
Goodin, M. (1991) ‘The Transferability of Library Research Skills from High School to College’ , School Library Media Quarterly20: 33–42 .
22.
Hamilton-Pennell, C. et al. (2000) ‘Dick and Jane go to the Head of the Class’ , School Library Journal46: 44–47 .
23.
Harada, V. and Yoshima, J. (1997) ‘Improving Information Search Process Instruction and Assessment through Collaborative Action Research’ , School Libraries Worldwide3: 41–55 .
24.
Hartzell, G. (2003) ‘Why Should Principals Support School Libraries?’ , Teacher Librarian31: 21–23 .
25.
Haycock, K. (1992) What Works: Research about Teaching and Learning through the School's Library Resource Center. Seattle, WA: Rockland Press .
26.
Haycock, K. (1995 Summer) ‘Research in Teacher-Librarianship and the Institutionalization of Change’ , School Library Media Research23 (4). URL (consulted 27 January 2006): http://archive.ala.org/aasl/SLMR/slmr_resources/select_haycock.html/
27.
Illinois School Library Media Association (1999) Linking for Learning, pp. 27–35. Canton, IL.
28.
Impact of school libraries (2000) Syracuse, NY: ERIC . URL (consulted March 2005): http://www.eduref.org/cgi-bin/printresponses.cgi/Virtual/Qa/archives/Librarianship/School_Libraries/libraryimpact.html
29.
Jones, J. (1994) The teacher-librarian partnership in a literature-based approach.Doctoral dissertation, Arizona State University.
30.
Kent, A. (ed.) (2002) Encyclopedia of Library and Information Science, Vol. 72, supplement 35. New York: Dekker .
31.
Krashen, S. (2001) ‘Current Research: The Positive Impact of Libraries’ , California School Library Association Journal25 (1): 21–24 .
32.
Kreiser, J. (2001) A comparative study of curriculumintegrated and traditional school library media programs. Doctoral dissertation, Kansas State University.
33.
Lance, K. (2002) ‘Impact of School Library Media Programs on Academic Achievement’ , Teacher Librarian29: 29–34 .
34.
Lance, K. and Loertscher, D. (2005) Powering Achievement: School Library Media Programs make a Difference.3rd edn.San Jose, CA: Hi Willow .
35.
Lau, D. (2002) ‘What Does your Boss Think of You?’ , School Library Journal48: 52–55 .
36.
Library power program evaluation (1999) School Libraries Worldwide,5 (2): issue.
37.
LRS school library media impact studies(2001) Denver: Library Research Service . URL (consulted 30 March 2005): http://www.lrs.org/impact.asp
38.
Lumley, A. (1994) The change process and the change outcomes in the development of an innovative elementary school library media program.Doctoral dissertation, Kansas State University.
39.
Minor, B. (1985–94) ‘Research Studies Dealing with School Library Media Centers’, School Library Media Annual.
40.
National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) (2002) ALA/AASL Standards for Initial Programs for School Library Media Specialist Preparation. Washington, DC: NCATE .
41.
Nolan, J. (1989) A comparison of two methods of instruction in library research skills for elementary school students. Doctoral dissertation, Temple University.
42.
Orange County Department of Education (2000) Libraries Lead Learning. Santa Ana: Farmer .
43.
Pitts, J. (1994) Personal understandings and mental models of information.Doctoral dissertation, Florida State University.
44.
Smith, E.G. (2001) Texas School Libraries: Standards, Resources, Services, and Students' Performance. Austin, TX: Texas State Library and Archives Commission .
45.
Stewart, L. , Heller, F. and Alberty, E. (1957) Improving Reading in the Junior High School: A Library and a Core Teacher Work Together. New York: Appleton .
46.
Van Deusen, J. (1991) Effects of fixed versus flexible scheduling on curriculum involvement and skills integration in elementary school library media centers.Doctoral dissertation, University of Iowa.
47.
Yarling, J. (1968) ‘Children's understanding and use of selected library-related skills in two elementary schools, one with and one without a centralized library’. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Ball State University.
