IASL Research Abstracts: 321

Kaplan, A. G. (2010). School Library Impact Studies and School Library Media Programs in the United States

Abstract: Since 1993, studies in the United States and Canada have reported a positive relationship between strong school library media programs and student achievement. These studies have been seen as useful tools for promoting the need for school library media programs and full time school library media specialists in K-12 schools if the information is disseminated to the decision makers in schools, districts, and government, such as school administrators, school board members, and local and federal legislators. This study was conducted to see how the information about school library impact studies was disseminated to decisions makers and whether that dissemination process has been effective. An examination of the effect of school library impact studies, conducted in 16 states of the United States from 1993 to 2005, suggests that the information about the studies was not effectively disseminated to decision makers and thus the school library impact studies had minimal effect on decisions and legislation related to the support of school library media programs and personnel.

Subject categories: 1, 5, 6, 14, 17

Abstract Submitted by Angela Austin, Florida State University