Canadian School Libraries and Student Achievement

Kaelyn Shaw

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Haycock, K. (2011). Connecting British Columbia (Canada) school libraries and student achievement: A comparison of higher and lower performing schools with similar overall funding. School Libraries Worldwide, 17(1), 37-50.Retrieved from: http://web.ebscohost.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/ehost/detail?sid=63dd7f7e-3e89-4152-96fd-61559ce13e64%40sessionmgr12&vid=2&hid=10&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=llf&AN=503009234

Research over time has established associations between components of the school library and student achievement. This study was designed to investigate these associations in schools in British Columbia (Canada) where the government provides equitable funding of public schools while allowing individual school districts and schools to determine individual funding priorities. Findings replicated what numerous previous studies have shown: higher student standardized test scores were associated with a school library that is more accessible, better funded, professionally staffed, managed, stocked, integrated and used. Findings moreover pointed to higher student achievement in those schools where greater resources, from the same limited allocation were assigned to school libraries. Results of this study are of practical interest to policy makers, school and library administrators, and educators with a vested interest in student achievement and the future of school libraries.

I feel that this article provides valuable research in the field of education and librarianship. School libraries that provided more accessibility, (longer hours, an increase in qualified staff) for students created a higher achieving student body. This is a great article that promotes school libraries as an enhancement for student learning backed up by statistical data conducted by the author. Ken Haycock is a professor at San Jose State University, I have had him and this is what drew me to read and share this article.