history

In April of 2000, a K-12 Library Summit was held to identify problems facing school libraries and to recommend actions to improve school libraries. This initiative is the direct outcome of the work at that Summit and about a dozen meetings held afterwards.

survey

One result of the Library Summit was a strong call for current data on the status and condition of school libraries in Washington State. A core group of library leaders designed a survey (based on library surveys from four other states) to access library media services including general information, service hours, staffing, usage, technology, budget, collaboration, and EALRS. Data collected in the web-based survey was to drive the development of the specific training and curriculum for approximately 1500 librarians across the state. The survey was completed by 50% of the 2,000 schools in the spring of 2001.

Why

In-depth surveys conducted in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, and Pennsylvania establish that there is a strong correlation between student achievement and strong school library programs in which the school librarian is an instructional leader.

Inconsistency characterizes K-12 library services across the state. Instruction, staffing, resources, and budgets vary according to local conditions and decisions. Providing a good school library program can override the potential negative effects of economic factors on learning.

Many librarians need to update their training. They also need a curriculum framework for connecting national and state information literacy standards. This framework would identify the most important skills that librarians should be helping students master.

What

The K-12 School Library Initiative will focus on improving curriculum development, collaboration, technology resources, leadership, advocacy, and evaluation. This initiative will also provide the tools and systems to collect and use data related to school library programs. The information collected sets the foundation for program advocacy and provides a focus for goal setting and decision-making at building, district, community, and state levels.