Getting the Most out of Your School

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Getting the Most out of Your Schools Library
Program
A model for the GECDSB
Susan Moroz Martha Martin Liz Golden Liz Geier
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Paradigm Shift
Is your School Library Resource Centre
timetabled as an Administrative Tool
or Educational Asset ???
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School Library Information Centre The most
essential facility in your school
40 years of research has proven time and again
that student achievement on standardized tests
can increase by 3 to 15 if the School Library
Information Centre (SLIC)

• Is staffed by a full-time, qualified TL
• Is open to students at any time during the school
  day
• Has a TL who collaboratively plans and
  facilitates instructional units with teachers
• Has a TL who teaches information literacy skills
• Has a TL who provides in-service to other
  teachers

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The Media
School Libraries a Valuable Resource Toronto Star
July 3, 2003 ...a new study claims that provinces
are ignoring a proven method for improving
student literacy school libraries. The study is
the first Canadian in-depth look at the
educational impact of school libraries.
Decline in School Libraries Worrisome Toronto
Star July 6, 2003 "Increased student visits to
the library correlates with higher test scores,"
he wrote. "Student achievement is higher in
schools where the library is open all day and the
teacher-librarian is on duty full-time."
The Missing Link Globe and Mail June 21,
2003 Studies show that an old-fashioned
educational tool -- the school library -affects
students' marks more than we think.
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Elementary Library Resource Initiative
The Elementary Library Resource Initiative (ELRI)
project has provided you with the resources to
have a basic library program.

• An automated circulation system
• an updated collection of resources
• PD for your TL
• A model for improving your SLIC to increase
  student achievement

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The Model

• Qualified TL
• Time
• Money
• Collaboration
• Info skills

Prior to ELRI
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Diamond in the Rough
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Bronze
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Silver
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Gold
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Polished Diamond
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Ascending the Pyramid

• Do I have the right person in the TL position?
• Qualified, or motivated to become qualified
• Curriculum leader
• Knowledge of childrens literature
• Computer literate
• Very positive relationship with staff and students

• Do I give the the TL the full budget allotment
  and the autonomy to spend it on maintaining the
  collection?

• Do I maximize my TL staffing allotment to ensure
  adequate time in the SLIC?

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Paradigm Shift
Is your School Library Resource Centre
timetabled as an Administrative Tool
or Educational Asset ???
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Quotations to Think About
The most reliable indicator of a schools
quality is how much is spent on the
library. Todays Parent Magazine March 2003
Public Schools that have well-stocked,
well-funded libraries run by professionals
and that involve the library in curriculum
development, produce students that do
significantly better in standardized
testing. Globe and Mail June 10, 2002
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