Research supports full-time certified librarians in schools

Once again, the latest research shows that students in schools with full-time certified librarians consistently do better on standardized reading tests - and the most significant impact shows up in students who are economically disadvantaged and those with IEPs.

Overall, the greatest impact on student test scores was seen from having a full-time, certified librarian.

• Students who have access to a full-time, certified librarian scored higher on the PSSA Reading Test than those students who do not have such access. This finding is true for all students, regardless of their socio-economic, racial/ethnic, and/or disability status.

• For several student groups that tend to experience achievement gaps—economically disadvantaged, Hispanic, Black, and those with IEPs (Individualized Education Programs)—Reading and Writing results are markedly better when those students attend a school with a librarian and library support staff, according to the research. In fact, they benefit more proportionally than the general student population.

The latest research also showed that having a full-time certified librarian had a significant impact on writing scores as well.

To read about this study - go to http://www.elc-pa.org/schoollibraryresearch_alert.html .

To read a summary of all previous studies concerning the impact of school libraries on student achievement, go to http://library.mansfield.edu/impact.asp .