[Libs-Or] School Library Staffing in Oregon, 1980-2011

Wed Nov 20 16:44:13 PST 2013

while we're at it, why do we wait until high school--in most public
schools--to teach foreign languages?

On Wed, Nov 20, 2013 at 3:44 PM, Valerie Hauser <vhauser at ccrls.org> wrote:

> This has been a very interesting and enlightening conversation.
> Unfortunately, I haven't observed that decision-makers for education care a
> fig about studies. If they did, there wouldn't be a long summer vacation (I
> mean, really, how many students are working in the fields during the
> summer?) and classes for high school kids would start several hours later
> in the day when they are more alert. We will all keep up the good fight,
> but don't expect logic to prevail any time soon.
>
> Valerie Hauser
> Jefferson Public Library
>
>
> On Wed, Nov 20, 2013 at 1:58 PM, Trott, Garrett <GTrott at corban.edu> wrote:
>
>>  If I could add my two cents to this conversation…
>>
>>
>>
>> I work in an academic library at a private university, however I am also
>> on my local school board – the North Santiam School District, which is
>> comprised of Stayton, Sublimity, Mehama, and Lyons.  I will be the first to
>> admit that school libraries are suffering, I completely agree with the
>> stats.  However, the fact that they are struggling is just one part of the
>> bigger picture.  Public schools, as a whole, are struggling financially.
>> There are several reasons for this – stagnant property value (some of the
>> income schools get is typically based on property taxes), mandated (and
>> currently unfunded) all-day kindergarten approaching in 2015, disproportion
>> of allocated funds, and PERS.  I am by no means an expert in any of these,
>> nor am I suggesting that every school district manages their funds
>> adequately, but schools are struggling financially to meet all the state
>> and federal mandates (which again are often unfunded).  I am not suggesting
>> that there is no correlation between a strong school library program and
>> student success, but there are many issues that make a school successful,
>> and when funding is short, what will take precedence in the mind of a
>> school board member?  I think it would be a new classroom and a new teacher
>> to lower student:teacher ratio (which I assume also has a high correlation
>> with student success) – and makes more sense to someone not familiar with
>> these studies that suggest the correlation between student success and
>> libraries.
>>
>>
>>
>> It is our responsibility as librarians and as public citizens to educate
>> our community on the value of libraries – public, academic, and K12.  If a
>> lack of K12 librarians is an issue of concern the place where they need to
>> be heard is at school district board meeting.  At our board meetings, we
>> always have a platform for public participation – and we greatly value
>> anybody who takes time out of a busy schedule to share their concerns.
>> However, we rarely have anybody come to the platform to share a concern.
>> Or an even better way to advocate for this in public schools is to run for
>> a school board, or advocate for a person running who will support K12
>> libraries.
>>
>>
>>
>> I do agree that funding needs to be increased for K12 libraries, but the
>> public (including school board members) needs to be educated on the value
>> libraries bring (including K12 libraries) to their learning communities.
>>
>>
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>>
>>
>> Garrett Trott
>> Reference/Instruction Librarian
>> CORBAN UNIVERSITY
>> 5000 Deer Park Drive SE
>> Salem, Ore.
>> Voice -- 503-589-8116
>>
>> Text/SMS -- 503-551-7690
>> Fax -- 503-375-7196
>> gtrott at corban.edu
>>
>> Web Site: www.corban.edu
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* Libs-Or [mailto:libs-or-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us] *On
>> Behalf Of *Jennifer Maurer
>> *Sent:* Wednesday, November 20, 2013 1:21 PM
>>
>> *To:* libs-or at listsmart.osl.state.or.us
>> *Subject:* Re: [Libs-Or] School Library Staffing in Oregon, 1980-2011
>>
>>
>>
>> Yes, there have been a large number of school library impact studies that
>> demonstrate positive correlations between student achievement and strong
>> school library programs run by licensed librarians. Several sites are
>> trying to collect them, including
>> http://www.lrs.org/data-tools/school-libraries/impact-studies/.
>>
>> Oregon's study was done by Keith Curry Lance and two others in 2001. My
>> favorite finding is this:
>>
>>     Whatever the current level of development of a school’s library media
>> (LM) program, these findings indicate that incremental improvements
>>     in its staffing, collections, and budget will yield incremental
>> increases in reading scores (
>> http://www.davidvl.org/LanceStudies/ORStudy.pdf).
>>
>> I've heard rumblings from OASL and others that maybe it's time for
>> another Oregon study. In my personal opinion -- that of a school librarian
>> who was RIFed from school library jobs two times in her first three years
>> in Oregon because of budget cuts -- I'm not convinced that another study to
>> show school and district administrators would convince them to change their
>> minds. I lean towards trying to identify "new approaches that
>> connect/resonate with our intended audience." All that being said, as the
>> School Library Consultant, I'll support folks as I am able.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Jen
>>
>>
>>
>> Jennifer Maurer
>> School Library Consultant
>> Oregon State Library
>> 250 Winter St NE
>> Salem, OR 97301
>> 503.378.5011
>> jennifer.maurer at state.or.us
>>     ------------------------------
>>
>> *From:* Libs-Or [libs-or-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us] on behalf of
>> Candice Watkins [CWatkins at clatsopcc.edu]
>> *Sent:* Wednesday, November 20, 2013 10:42 AM
>> *To:* Carol Dinges; Tony Greiner; libs-or at listsmart.osl.state.or.us
>> *Subject:* Re: [Libs-Or] School Library Staffing in Oregon, 1980-2011
>>
>> There have been quite a few studies on this topic over the years. One of
>> the most recent, very thorough, studies is the article, “Creating 21stcentury learners: A report on Pennsylvania’s public school libraries,”
>> http://www.elc-pa.org/Creating21stCenturyLearners_LibraryDataReport.10.17.12.pdf.
>> This study shows the dramatic correlation between a strong library program
>> and student success, particularly between having a full time credentialed
>> librarian on staff and increased test scores in reading and writing. This
>> study was also one of the first, if not the first, to tie in and consider
>> the Common Core Standards and AASL standards into the research.
>>
>>
>>
>> I read somewhere recently that since the 1960s, there have been 50 or so
>> similar research studies done that show the strong correlation between
>> professional K-12 librarians and student success. It is very frustrating
>> that, as Carol points out, those that hold the purse strings, except in
>> rare instances, do not seem to listen to this research. That said, it
>> doesn’t mean that we should stop pursuing this avenue. Perhaps a new
>> research study for Oregon is in order? We’ll also need to find new
>> approaches that connect/resonate with our intended audience. That’s the
>> trick is figuring out what those new approaches will look like.
>>
>>
>>
>> Just some of my thoughts on this issue. Thanks for bringing it up!
>>
>>
>>
>> Candice Watkins
>>
>> Library Director
>>
>> Clatsop Community College
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* Libs-Or [mailto:libs-or-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us<libs-or-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us>]
>> *On Behalf Of *Carol Dinges
>> *Sent:* Wednesday, November 20, 2013 8:52 AM
>> *To:* Tony Greiner; libs-or at listsmart.osl.state.or.us
>> *Subject:* Re: [Libs-Or] School Library Staffing in Oregon, 1980-2011
>>
>>
>>
>> As one of the former school librarians, I used to feel optimistic that
>> the indisputable research connecting academic achievement to students’
>> access to quality library programs staffed with licensed librarians would
>> resonate with decision-makers.  Unfortunately, I no longer believe that
>> legislators, school boards, and others who hold the power care at all about
>> anything but cutting costs.  They may put on a show of concern for
>> students’ learning opportunities – nodding like bobble-heads – but their
>> actions indicate profound apathy.
>>
>>
>>
>> Carol Dinges
>>
>> Lebanon Public Library
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* Libs-Or [mailto:libs-or-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us<libs-or-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us>]
>> *On Behalf Of *Tony Greiner
>> *Sent:* Tuesday, November 19, 2013 9:08 PM
>> *To:* libs-or at listsmart.osl.state.or.us
>> *Subject:* Re: [Libs-Or] School Library Staffing in Oregon, 1980-2011
>>
>>
>>
>> I would be very interesting to compare the horrendous decline in school
>> librarians with the concomitant decline in SAT and OAKS scores. If it shows
>> what I think it will show, that could be a real tool to getting librarians
>> back in schools, books in kids hands, and more readers in the early grades.
>>
>>
>>
>> Tony
>>
>> **tony_greiner at hotmail.com**
>>
>> > From: libs-or-request at listsmart.osl.state.or.us
>> > Subject: Libs-Or Digest, Vol 122, Issue 32
>> > To: libs-or at listsmart.osl.state.or.us
>> > Date: Wed, 24 Apr 2013 12:30:38 -0700
>> >
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>> >
>> > Today's Topics:
>> >
>> > 1. History of School Library Staffing in Oregon: 1980 to 2011
>> > (Jennifer Maurer)
>> >
>> >
>> > ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>> >
>> > Message: 1
>> > Date: Wed, 24 Apr 2013 19:30:35 +0000
>> > From: "Jennifer Maurer" <jennifer.maurer at state.or.us>
>> > To: "'libs-or at listsmart.osl.state.or.us'"
>> > <libs-or at listsmart.osl.state.or.us>
>> > Subject: [Libs-Or] History of School Library Staffing in Oregon: 1980
>> > to 2011
>> > Message-ID:
>> > <
>> B60CC3E64AD0D941AA792F1955E3D5C337DF1A1C at OSLEXCHANGE.osl.state.or.us.local
>> >
>> >
>> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>> >
>> > Please pardon the cross posting.
>> >
>> > The State Librarian has tracked the number of full-time equivalent
>> (FTE) licensed school librarians employed in Oregon public schools since
>> the 1980-81 school year. Recently we also started tracking the number of
>> FTE school library support staff. For figures and a chart related to the
>> 31-year span, see the attached PDF. Here is brief snapshot:
>> >
>> > School Year
>> >
>> > FTE Library Support Staff
>> >
>> > FTE Licensed Librarians
>> >
>> > Percent Change from 1980 to 2011
>> >
>> > No. of Students Per Licensed Librarian
>> >
>> > Percent Change from 1980 to 2011
>> >
>> > 1980-81
>> >
>> > n/a
>> >
>> > 818
>> >
>> > n/a
>> >
>> > 547
>> >
>> > n/a
>> >
>> > 2010-11
>> >
>> > 682
>> >
>> > 308
>> >
>> > n/a
>> >
>> > 1,822
>> >
>> > n/a
>> >
>> > 2011-12
>> >
>> > 697
>> >
>> > 203
>> >
>> > -75%
>> >
>> > 2,763
>> >
>> > +405%
>> >
>> >
>> > The information comes from the Oregon Department of Education. As of
>> the last few years, some of the figures were pulled from the Oregon
>> Statewide Annual Report Card<
>> http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/page/?id=1821>. Note that the staffing
>> chart on PDF page 15 of the 2011-12 report card<
>> http://www.ode.state.or.us/data/annreportcard/rptcard2012.pdf> (and for
>> some previous years) combines figures for school library licensed and
>> support staff. When we pointed out that this could be confusing since there
>> is a separate row for support staff, ODE added a note to the bottom of the
>> chart. We seek clarification from ODE staff about the separate figures for
>> licensed versus support staff.
>> >
>> > Questions? Please ask.
>> >
>> > Thanks,
>> > Jen
>> >
>> > Jennifer Maurer
>> > School Library Consultant
>> > Oregon State Library
>> > 250 Winter Street NE
>> > Salem, OR 97301
>> > 503.378.5011
>> > jennifer.maurer at state.or.us<mailto:jennifer.maurer at state.or.us>
>> >
>> > OSLIS || www.oslis.org
>> > Learn to research. Research to learn.(c)
>> >
>> > [SLM20132border]
>> >
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-- 

rich.wandschneider at gmail.com
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