School Library Media Specialists (SLMS)

1
School Library Media Specialists (SLMS)

• Why Westerville Needs Them!

2
School Librarians

• Impact student success
• Contribute to a positive performance on the state
  report card
• Better prepare students for college and
  post-graduation workforce

Image taken from free-extras.com
3
SLMS

• Serve as both teachers of students and
  in-service providers for teachers
• Serve a key role in expanding access to
  information technology beyond the library
• White House Conference on School Libraries (2002)

4
Troy, Michigan opened a new library, and as part
of the festivities, asked a bunch of writers at
the time to write letters about libraries to the
town's children.
5
Research shows that school libraries are a
stronger indicator of student success than class
size, experience of teacher, number of computers
or location of school. Carolyn, Foote. "To
Raise Student Achievement, Invest in Libraries."
Huffington Post Education 27 Oct. 2010 Huff
Post Education. Web. 14 Jan. 2010.
6
The size of a school librarys staff and
collection is the best predictor of academic
achievement. Pennsylvania study (conducted by
Lance), Measuring Up to Standards The impact
of School Library Programs Information Literacy
in Pennsylvania Schools
7
Average number of staff per library/media centers

Elementary Schools (by number of students)
Less than 150 150 to 499 500 to 749 750 or more
1.28 1.58 1.73 1.89
Westervilles current average .50 Westervilles
budget reduction proposal .30 19 of average
(150 to 499 students)
Source U.S. Department of Education, National
Center for Education Statistics, Schools and
Staffing Survey (SASS) Public School Library
Media Center Questionnaire, 2007-2008.
8
Average number of staff per library/media centers

Secondary Schools (by number of students)
Less than 500 500 to 749 750 to 1,499 1,500 or more
1.59 1.78 2.18 2.94
Westervilles current average 1.0 Westervilles
budget reduction proposal 1.0 46 of average
(750 1,499 students)
Source U.S. Department of Education, National
Center for Education Statistics, Schools and
Staffing Survey (SASS) Public School Library
Media Center Questionnaire, 2007-2008.
9
Elementary School150-499 StudentsTypical Day

• An average of 150 students visit the library
• An average of 400 books are checked in
• An average of 340 books are checked out.

10
Parent Volunteers

• Even though parent volunteers are greatly
  appreciated, there are several concerns with
  counting on parent volunteers in the library
• Not every school is fortunate to have parent
  volunteers.
• Most parent volunteers often rotate out every
  year.
• Volunteers are not expected to cover a 2nd-grade
  classroom, music classroom, or art classroom and
  should not be counted on to cover the library
  classroom.

11
The SLMS Leadership Role

• Regularly meets with administration
• Serves on standards committee
• Participates in faculty meetings
• Meets regularly at building level

12
The SLMS Collaboration Role

• Cooperatively plans with teachers
• Identifies materials for teachers
• Teaches information literacy to students
• Provides teacher in-service training
• Manages information technology

13
The SLMS Literacy Role

• Identifies recommends reading materials
• Promotes and encourages reading
• Matches students with the right books
• Brings guest authors to the school
• Coordinates book fairs
• Manages the print and nonprint collection
• Administers Programming

14
The introduction of books and being read aloud
to at an early age are the building blocks for
childs ability to effectively develop language,
vocabulary, speech, comprehension, and attention
span. Ultimately this minimizes the need for
added basic skills and in-class support staff.
 Fate or Future of School Libraries http//www.you
tube.com/watch?vtE44PS4pPuAfeaturerelated
15
For students reading skills to improve, they
need to read. They need to have lots of access
to books and technology. They need to feel
comfortable around books, talk about books, and
associate books with positive interactions.
Carolyn, Foote. "To Raise Student Achievement,
Invest in Libraries." Huffington Post Education
27 Oct. 2010 Huff Post Education. Web. 14 Jan.
2010. Image taken from walworthseely.blogspot.com
16
Research shows that if kids are not reading on
grade level by the end of third grade they are
more likely to continue to struggle in school,
repeat grades, act out, and eventually drop out
of school.
http//www.successforall.org
17
School library users and non-users and young
peoples reading enjoyment, self-reported reading
ability and reading frequency
School Library Users Non School Library Users
Consider themselves as being a reader 76.4 50.2
Enjoying reading either very much or quite a lot 68.9 31.2
Rating themselves to be not very good readers 4.6 8.9
Reading outside of class every day 38.4 21.6
Clark, Christina and (England) National Literacy
Trust, (.(2010). Linking School Libraries and
Literacy Young Peoples Reading Habits and
Attitudes to Their School Library, and an
Exploration of the Relationship between School
Library Use and School Attainment. National
Literacy Trust (2010) ERIC. Web. 10 Jan 2012.
18
School library users and non-users and their
attitudes towards reading ( agreement)
School Library Users Non School Library Users
Reading is more for girls than boys 11.0 15.8
Reading is boring 12.6 33.3
Reading is hard 7.7 10.5
Clark, Christina and (England) National Literacy
Trust, (.(2010). Linking School Libraries and
Literacy Young Peoples Reading Habits and
Attitudes to Their School Library, and an
Exploration of the Relationship between School
Library Use and School Attainment. National
Literacy Trust (2010) ERIC. Web. 10 Jan 2012.
19
Percentage of young people who read below or at
or above the expected level and whether they are
a school library user or not (N4,503)
School Library Users Non School Library Users
Below expected level for their age 35.9 64.1
At expected level for their age 72.4 27.6
Above expected level for their age 77.7 22.3
Clark, Christina and (England) National Literacy
Trust, (.(2010). Linking School Libraries and
Literacy Young Peoples Reading Habits and
Attitudes to Their School Library, and an
Exploration of the Relationship between School
Library Use and School Attainment. National
Literacy Trust (2010) ERIC. Web. 10 Jan 2012.
20
School Library Users Non School Library Users
I cannot find anything to read that interests me 25.2 34.4
I only read in class 11.1 24.6
I only read when I have to 19.8 39.5
I do not read as well as other pupils in my class 25.2 30.3
Reading helps me find what I need/want to know 73.0 54.8
Clark, Christina and (England) National Literacy
Trust, (.(2010). Linking School Libraries and
Literacy Young Peoples Reading Habits and
Attitudes to Their School Library, and an
Exploration of the Relationship between School
Library Use and School Attainment. National
Literacy Trust (2010) ERIC. Web. 10 Jan 2012.
21
.. most young people use the school library.
They use it because it gives them easy access to
books, because it is a friendly space and because
they believe that the school library, and by
default reading, will help them do better at
school.
Clark, Christina and (England) National Literacy
Trust, (.(2010). Linking School Libraries and
Literacy Young Peoples Reading Habits and
Attitudes to Their School Library, and an
Exploration of the Relationship between School
Library Use and School Attainment. National
Literacy Trust (2010) ERIC. Web. 10 Jan 2012.
22
What message do we send to students about
literacy when we close their libraries?
Carolyn, Foote. "To Raise Student Achievement,
Invest in Libraries." Huffington Post Education
27 Oct. 2010 Huff Post Education. Web. 14 Jan.
2010.
23
The SLMS Technology Role

• Thoughtfully chooses subscription databases
• Trains teachers to make the best use of online
  tools
• Helps teachers integrate technology into the
  curriculum
• Maintains librarys automated catalog
• Serves and/or chairs the schools technology
  committee
• Teaches media literacy to students

24
Todays Students are Digital Natives
Before leaving elementary school, most students

• Text
• Have interacted with family and friends around
  the globe via video chat
• Look forward to completing homework and playing
  games on their iPads

Image taken from holyroodpark.net
25
Reaching the 21st Century learners means teachers
MUST

• CAPTURE STUDENT INTEREST !!!!!
• by
• Knowing how to use education technology tools,
  and
• Enhancing the learning environment

26
Technology Survey Results 31 Robert Frost
Pointview Teachers
Have a classroom website 30
Have a classroom blog 3
Communicate with parents via paper (flyers, newsletters) 90
Students spend lt 1 hr. in typical week using the Internet 75
Students spend 1-3 hrs. in a typical week using the Internet 25
Teachers attended 2 or less Professional Development sessions in technology over the past two years 64
Teachers interested in attending technology mini-lessons in the morning before school. 73
27
"Kids achieve higher scores when they're skilled
at seeking, finding, and using information
available to them on the World Wide Web." Keith
Lance, director of Library Research Service at
the Colorado State Library Minkel, Walter.
"Library Technology Raises Test Scores, Too ."
School Library Journal. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Jan.
2012. lthttp//www.schoollibraryjournal.comgt.
28
The Problem Information Overload!
Garbage in.. Garbage out!
McKenzie, Jamie. The Cartoon Gallery. From Now
On, The Educational Technology Journal. FNO
Press. Web 12 November 2010.
29

• In 2007 the Educational Testing Service (ETS)
  provided these results from 2006 Study.

30
Students adept at using computer for
entertainment BUT

• Ability to access, manage and evaluate
  information is weak
• Only 50 can judge objectivity of a website
• Only 40 knew how to use multiple terms to narrow
  search
• Study included 1,016 high-school students, 753
  community college students, and 4,585 four-year
  college and university students.

31
Difficulties Steps During Research Process
From Eisenberg, Michael B. and Alison J. Head.
How College Students Evaluate and Use
Information in the Digital Age. Project
Information Literacy. University of Washington
Information School, November 1, 2010. Web. 11
November 2010.
32
80 of future jobs will require skills in
effectively using information -Department of
Labor SCANS (Secretary's Commission on Achieving
Necessary Skills
33
(No Transcript)
34
Ohio

• Early Childhood Education A-
• College Readiness D-
• Chance For Success, School Years C
• Overall Grade C

Image taken from tvsafety.gov
"Education Week Quality Counts 2012 - State
Report Cards." Education Week American Education
News Site of Record. Web. 14 Jan. 2012.
lthttp//www.edweek.org/ew/qc/2012/16src.h31.html?c
mpENL-EU-NEWS1intcEW-QC12-ENLgt.
35
D.C. Denison, Boston Globe
The Internet may be the world's greatest
library, but let's face it - all the books are
scattered on the floor. 
Image taken from http//thebookwormsdiary.blogspot
.com/
36
Neil Gaiman, author of Sandman and Neverwhere
Google can bring you back 100,000 answers, a
Librarian can bring you back the right one.
Image taken from http//amusingathenaeum.blogspot.
com/2010_07_01_archive.html
37
Linton Weeks, Washington Post
In the non-stop tsunami of global information,
librarians provide us the floaties and teach us
how to swim.
38
A few things kids will miss if they dont have a
Librarian in their school

• Special programs and speakers
• Author visits
• Reading contests and prizes
• Book Fairs
• A knowledgeable, interested adult with whom to
  discuss books.

• Acquiring 21st Century skills
• A quiet place to learn
• Using information ethically
• Digital literacy
• Teachers who extend learning experiences beyond
  the classroom.

39
If you want to help your school succeed, perhaps
libraries are the best place to start. Monies
spent on libraries have a big payoff in terms of
student achievement, and benefit every single
student in a school. Carolyn, Foote. "To Raise
Student Achievement, Invest in Libraries."
Huffington Post Education 27 Oct. 2010 Huff
Post Education. Web. 14 Jan. 2010.
40
Westerville Schools Library Media Staff
Full Time Equivalents High School Middle School Elem. School
Beginning of 2011-2012 school year 3 4 16
End of 2011-2012 school year 3 4 8
Budget Reduction Proposal beginning 2012-2013 school year 3 2 4
Net change between 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 school years (beginning) 0 -50 -75
41
Library Media Staff Budget Reduction ProposalFY
2013

• 212,000 savings for Media Clerks RIFd in
  December 2011
• 200,000 (estimated) savings for 2 retired SLMS
  and 1 whom has already left the district (savings
  through attrition) This dollar amount is more
  than the cost savings proposed by the district.
• 3 HS librarians continue servicing the 3 high
  schools. Remaining 5 elementary librarians stay
  employed and EACH cover 2 of the 14 remaining
  elementary schools - leaving 4 elementary schools
  not covered (assuming Longfellow Central
  College close).
• 2 middle school librarians move down to the
  elementary level and EACH cover 2 each of the
  remaining 4 elementary schools
• OR
• Each of the 4 middle school librarians pick up 1
  elementary school to cover.

42
If the March levy passes
It is recommended that 3 SLMS and 8 Media Clerks
be added at the elementary level.
43
Walter Cronkite, Broadcaster
Whatever the cost of our libraries, the price is
cheap compared to that of an ignorant nation. 
Image taken from http//allthingsd.com/20090718/wa
lter-cronkite-thats-the-way-it-was-and-should-be/
44
by Jean Trimble, School Library Media
Specialist Westerville City School District 2012