Statistical Studies of School and Other Libraries

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General Studies of Libraries, Reading, and Media Use

The State of America's Libraries 2024 - From the American Library Association. Another year of challenges.
The State of America's Libraries 2023 - From the American Library Association. "A year of unprecedented challenges"
The State of America's Libraries 2022 - From the American Library Association. The emphasis here is on challenges to library books.
The State of America's Libraries, 2021 - From the American Library Association.
The State of America's Libraries 2020 - From the American Library Association.
The State of America's Libraries, 2019 - From the American Library Association.
Banned Book Statistics - From Words Rated, 2023
Key Findings About the Online News Landscape in America - From the Pew Research Center, Sept. 11, 2019.
What Kids Are Reading 2024 - a report from Renaissance Learning about the reading of students using Accelerated Reader.
The Condition of Education - From the National Center For Educational Statistics.
The Pew Research Center - Education - Here you will find the latest Pew research studies on education.
Teens and Social Media Fact Sheet, 2024 - From Pew Research.
Who Doesn't Read Books in America - 23% of Americans have not read a book in any form in the past year. Who are they? This is by Risa Gelles-Watnick and Andrew Perrin for the Pew Research Center, September 21, 2021
Three in Ten Americans Now Read e-books This article provides more extensive information about reading in America than the title indicates. From Pew Research, 2022
Podcasts as a Source of News and Information -"Almost half of Americans have listened to a podcast in the past year" This is from Pew Research, 2023.
Are Public School Libraries Accomplishing Their Mission - This is a study by the Cato Institute, in 2023. The Cato Institute Promotes Libertarian ideas. School librarians may find this document to be interesting reading.
Making the Case for School Libraries, Are You Up to Date on Research? - This is an article by John Chrastka In School Library Journal, Sept. 20, 2023

Studies of School Libraries in the United States

Research and Statistics Resources - From the American Library Association.
School Library Research - A refereed journal of the AASL presenting articles on research on school libraries in the US.
School Library Research Archive - Archive of most of the copies of articles from School Library Research.
The future of School Librarian Research Beyond 2019 - This is an article by Daniella Smith in Knowledge Quest, November, 2019. This is long list of questions which research can be used to answer.
Where are the School Librarians? - New study shows a decline of 20 per cent in the last decade. This is an article by Noble Ingram in EdSurge, July 19, 2021
Students Need Equity in School Library Programs - An article by Debra Kachel telling about the decline of school librarians in Pennsylvania.Philadelphia now has 4 librarians for over 200 schools. Scranton hasn't had a school librarian in any school since 2018. This article is dated May 17, 2021.
"It is Sad to See" - School libraries are increasingly being eliminated. An article by Kyle Morel in the New Jersey Herald, August 11, 2021
Average Book Prices 2022 - From School Library Journal, March 2, 2022
School Library Statistics - From the National Center for Educational Statistics. These are dated.
General School Library Statistics Prior to 2018 - This is a continuation of the above list.

US Studies by State

General comments on school library studies

School Library Research: Publication Bias and File Drawer Effect - this is an article by Joette Stefl-Mabry, et al in The Journal of Thought, fall/winter, 2019. This article questions research methods and author bias in studies of school libraries. Has evidence been presented to support what the authors want and have negative results been consigned to the file drawer?
How Can School Libraries Support Student Wellbeing? Evidence and Implications for Further Research - This is an article by Margaret Merga in The Journal of Library Administration, Vol 60, 2020. More research studies are needed, and library statistical studies should be published in journals where they may be read by educators rather than just in school library journals.

The Studies

Information Empowered: The School Librarian as an Agent of Academic Achievement in Alaskan Schools - Study published in 1999.
Ed-Facts, School Libraries - From the California Department of Education, March 15, 2021. Statistics on use and facilities.
Haves, Halves, and Have-Nots: School Libraries and Student Achievement in California - This is a doctoral dissertation by Doug Achterman, 2008. "This descriptive, non-experimental study examines the strength of the relationship between California school library media programs and student achievement, using data from California criterion-referenced state-wide tests, publicly available school and community demographic data, and a state survey of school library programs.".
Colorado School Library Statistics - Statistics collection started in 1998 and continuing to the present.
Distribution of School Librarians in Colorado - The number of school librarians in Colorado has risen, but the increase is greater in metropolitan areas than in non-metropolitan areas. This study was done in 2008. It is in pdf format.
Colorado School Libraries and the Use of Web Technologies, 2011-2012
The Future of Delaware School Libraries - A master plan. Libraries are understaffed and underfunded. August, 2017
The Delaware School Library Study - April, 2006
Florida Library Media Survey 2018
Idaho School Library Impact Study - 2009
The Status of School Library Programs in Illinois by Lou Ann Jacobs. This is a snapshot of the results in a special issue of Illinois Libraries, Fall, 2006. This issue is dedicated to school libraries and is in pdf format.
2018 Status Report on Indiana School Libraries One half of Indiana students have no certified teacher librarian in their school.
The Study of Reading in Indiana Middle, Junior and High Schools - There is a section in this report on school libraries. 2004
Make the Connection: Quality School Library Programs Impact Academic Achievement in Iowa - Study by Marcia J. Rodney, Keith Curry Lance and Christine Hamilton-Pennell, 2002. The survey found that "Iowa reading test scores rise with the development of school library media programs". The study is available in pdf format.
The Massachusetts School Library Study - Report of Findings and Recommendations of the Special Commission On School Library Services in Massachusetts, March, 2018.
MCAS and School Libraries: Making the Connection - The Simmons study by James C. Baughman and Mary Eldringhoff, 2000, of the impact of school libraries upon student achievement on the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment test scores. Available in pdf format.
The Impact of Michigan School Librarians on Academic Achievement - 2003. This is a pdf file.
The New Jersey School Library Survey - 2011
The Impact of New York's School Libraries on Student Achievement and Motivatation: Phase I - An article by Ruth V. Small, Jaime Snyder, and Katie Parker in School Library Media Research, Vol. 12, 2009,
What Happens to Literacy Rates as Librarians Disappear - an article in Digital Education by Ann Doss Helms, Nov. 9, 2015. This describes library staffing in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools in North Carolina.
The Pennsylvania School Library Project - You will find links to research studies in Pennsylvania here.
South Carolina Study Shows Link Between School Librarians and Higher Test Scores An article by Karen Gavigan and Keith Curry Lance in School Library Journal, July, 2016.
This is the form to submit data for the current survey in South Carolina
Certified Teacher-Librarians, Library Quality and Student Achievement in Washington State Public Schools. - The Washington State school impact study, April, 2015. "Students who attend schools with certified teacher-librarians and quality library facilities perform better on standardized tests and are more likely to graduate, even after controlling for school size and student income level."
Student Learning Through Wisconsin School Library Media Centers: Library Media Specialist Survey Report -2006 Report prepared for the Division for Libraries, Technology and Community Learning, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.
Wyoming School Libraries Surveys
School Library Impact Studies - Conducted by Library Research Services.

Statistical Studies in countries other than the United States

World Wide

Recent School Library Research: Impact Studies - From the Internation Association of School Librarians. There are links to studies in many countries.

Australia and New Zealand

The 2019 Australia, New Zealand Asia Pacific School Library Survey Report
School Library Research - Links to articles and research studies from Students Need School Libraries.
School libraries hit by the loss of a dying breed as teacher librarians enter 'survival mode' - An article by Rebecca Carmody for ABC news, Sept. 15, 2019.
The School Library Work Force in Australia - Australian Library and Information Association, 2016.

Canada

The Value of School Libraries - This site from the British Columbia Teacher's Federation has links to research studies on Canadian school libraries.
Research on School Libraries and Reading - by People for Education, Ontario, Canada.

India

School Libraries in India: A Statistical Review - From the Indian School Library Association.

United Kingdom

School Libraries - A literature review of current provision and evidence of impact. A report from the National Literacy Trust. By Anne Teravainen and Christina Clark. June, 2017.
Too Many School Libraries Face Cuts and Closure - by Judith Burns for BBC Education, April 7, 2016.

Statistical Methods

Library Statistics Program - of the Institute of Educational Statistics which is part of the US Department of Education. There are statistical studies of many types of libraries.
Library Research Service - Research and Statistics about Libraries.
Statistics and Statistical Measures - A list of relevant web sites by The Researching Librarian.
Library Statistics - International library statistics, and links to other statistical information. By the International Federation of Library Associations.

General Library Statistics Prior to 2018 - This is a continuation of the above list.

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This site is maintained by Linda Bertland, retired school librarian, Philadelphia, PA. Please address any comments, additions, or corrections to info@sldirectory.com.