International Association of School Librarianship Conference Proceedings
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The Impact of School Librarianship on College Success
No full textWhile numerous studies establish a relationship between the presence of a teacher librarian in K-12 schools with increases in student performance in reading and information literacy (Lance & Kachel, 2018; Lance & Maniotes, 2020; Library Research Service, 2013), the evidence that those skill improvements translate to success in college is still tenuous due to the lack of studies looking at the transition from high school to college. Building on the work of Farmer and Phamle (2021) which found a correlation between the presence of at least a half-time teacher librarian in high school and student GPA in their first year at the university, this study examines credits earned, which are a more important measure of students’ progress to successful completion of their college degrees. We limited our data tofirst-time, first-year students at California State University Northridge (CSUN) under 21. Due to limited data, we excluded students from outside of California, including international students. The independent variable of interest is the staf ing level at the student’s high school library, including both teacher librarians and other staf , counted in the number of full-time positions. Other control variablesinclude whether the student is eligible for Pell Grants; the student’s gender; whether the student’s ethnic group has been traditionally underserved in higher education; and whether the student is the first generation in their family to attend college.There were two significant findings:1. The more library staffing at the California public high school they attended, the better the GPA of first year college students. The effect of a full-time library staff member is small (about 0.2 on a 4.0 scale) but highly significant, even when controlling for other aspects of the students’ lived experiences.2. The more library staffing at the California public high school they attended, the more credit hours students earned in their first semester at college. The effect of a full-time library staf member is small (about 0.6 credit hours) but highly significant, even when controlling for other aspects of the students’ lived experiences
Bolts from the Blue: Surprise Findings in School Librarians\u27 Evidence Gathering
No full textThis study explores secondary school librarians\u27 current engagement with and challenges experienced when implementing evidence-based practice. Data were collected from focus group interview discussions with 25 middle and high school librarians from 19 states. One preliminary finding revealed that participants tended to focus on evidence as either qualitative or quantitative, but not holistically. Another surprise finding was student involvement in parts of or the entire evidence-based practice process. Participants also shared that they used evidence to celebrate "wins" or successes in their libraries. A fourth unexpected finding was that many participants chose to participate in focus group interviews to learn from other school library participants. 
2024 IASL Best Conference Paper: Investigating the Proposed Theory of School Librarian Leadership in Practice
No full textThis research examines the concepts and propositions of the proposed theory of school librarian leadership as presented by Everhart and Johnston (2016) in their Proposed Theory of School Librarian Leadership through investigating the leadership practices of school librarians in a real-world context. The question that drives this research is: To what extent do the self-perceived leadership practices of school librarians align with the core concepts and propositions of the proposed theory of school librarian leadership? Exploring the leadership practices of school librarians can provide important insights for school librarian educators as they prepare school librarians to enact a leadership role in their schools
Creating and Facilitating a Successful Study Away Program
No full textThis paper presents information to support facilitating a study away program for students. Many non-traditional students cannot easily take an entire semester to experience an internship experience. Therefore, the study away opportunity allows students to have the experience of in-depth experiential work while also taking a break from their otherwise very busy lives. It allows them to engage with the knowledge and skills they have been learning in course work, that they have been building theory behind foundational growth, and then put this into practice. This paper explains how to set up a study away program, the common challenges associated with study away programs, the benefits of a study away experience, a description of some of the student experiences, lessons learned and looking ahead
Communication of Croatian High School Libraries on Instagram
No full textOne of the school librarian\u27s goals is to communicate the mission, vision and role of the school library. The goal of this research is to investigate the use of Instagram for this purpose in Croatia. The research questions are: What percentage of grammar schools with a school library have a profile on Instagram compared to high schools with a school library that do not?; What is the percentage of text posts by which grammar schools and school libraries communicate the mission, vision, and role of the school library on Instagram according to the keywords book, literacy and reading?; and, What is the ratio of text posts with positive sentiments compared to those with neutral and negative sentiments to text posts on the Instagram profile of a grammar school with a school library, which communicate the mission, vision, and role of the school library? The methodology used a quantitative and sentiment method were used. There are a total of 1,249 primary and secondary school libraries in 21 counties in Croatia, and a total of 361 high schools with school libraries, of which 85 are grammar schools. Findings indicate that 55 grammar schools have Instagram profiles. In the period from the creation of these profiles on Instagram until January 31, 2024 a total of 12,312 posts were created. Sentiment analysis (positive, negative, anger, anticipation, disgust, fear, joy, sadness, surprise, trust) showed that a total of 2738 posts contain sentiments
Analyzing California Student Media Festival Winning Videos
No full textThe researcher conducted an extensive examination of winning student videos from the California Student Media Festival (CSMF) spanning the years 2009 to 2023. This content analysis aimed to gauge the quality of these videos and shed light on the diverse participation of schools in the festival. By scrutinizing high-quality videos across dif erent school levels and years, the researcherssought to identify common technical and content factors, particularly those that reflect media and information literacy. The analysis also examined the patterns of participating schools. The analyzed videos not only provided insights into the evolving interests and agendas of students but also showcased their adeptness in embracing emerging technologies and employing a variety of digital tools. Notably,the presence of media assignments and teacher guidance underscored the vital role of school support and instruction in nurturing students\u27 media production skills. However, the study also revealed that there remains untapped potential for growth in the realm of media literacy education
The High School Library as a Safe Space for Student Wellbeing
No full textPost-pandemic, schools are seeking ways to support wellbeing, from adding counselors to implementing Social Emotional Learning to hiring Wellness Directors. The research question is To what extent does the high school library facilitate wellbeing by serving as a safespace for students? The methodology included an exploratory phase using an anonymous student survey analyzed using thematic coding and beta-tested prototypes which were analyzed them via quantitative, observational, and focus group (n=18) measures. Findings from the survey included that 67% of students visit the library at least once a week and 93% of students said the school library is a safe space. Factors that contribute to making the library a safe space included: purposeful academic environment; positive atmosphere; physical comfort; quiet; solitude; sense of community; wide range of resources for learning about diverse topics; privacy; personal space; versatility of spaces and student choice. Four prototypes were beta tested: cuddle buddies; fidget toys; capacity system; and self check-out station. Surveying, beta testing, and collecting student feedback systematically will ensure that the library will remain avital team player in the school ecosystem in supporting student wellbeing
The Role of School Libraries in Fostering Community Engagement and Collaboration Among In-School Adolescents in Nigeria
No full textThis study investigated the role of school libraries in promoting community engagement and collaboration among in-school adolescents in Nigeria. It demonstrates how school libraries can act as hubs for social interaction by providing instruction in digital literacy and community-based activities meant to improve community engagement. The barriers Nigerian school libraries encounter, includinginadequate infrastructure, constrained financial resources, and a shortage of skilled staf , were explored, hindering their capacity to function as community-oriented institutions. A quantitative method research design was employed for the study, and practical recommendations were made for teachers, policymakers, library professionals, parents, and students. It intends to establish thetransforming power of school libraries as essential pillars of community engagement and collaboration in Nigeria by presenting empirical data and reliable recommendations
Community Connections: School and Public Library Collaboration in Australia
No full textSchool and public libraries share an objective in supporting lifelong learning and literacy development of young people in their communities. This study sought to answer the following research questions: Are there examples of current partnerships and collaborations between school and public libraries in providing services to children?; What do school and public librarians perceive as their role in providing services to children?; What do school and public librarians understand is the relationship between school andpublic libraries in providing services to children? Two questionnaires designed for staff in school libraries and the other for public library staff were distributed. The survey found that activities of public libraries with school libraries include mobile library visits,outreach programs with literacy/event focus, and early childhood literacy programs. Examples of activities of school libraries with public libraries include teacher librarians encouraging students to seek resources the school is unable to provide, shared author visits, and research sessions for senior students. Further analysis will explore how public and school library staff perceptions have evolved
Principals and Librarians: Partners for Quality Education
No full textLibrarians understand that the impact of the school library on student achievement and well-being is influenced by the leadership of the school principal. Both librarians and principals need to appreciate each other’s domains and understand how they might collaborate for the benefit of their students and their communities. A new book, School Librarians and Principals Leading Together: International Perspectives, forthcoming in August 2025, focuses on principals’ perceptions of librarians, the ways that principals can support libraries, and how librarians and library programs can be evaluated. In this paper, five contributors to the new book share chapter highlights