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To: School Library Media Center Supervisor

From: Suzanne Miller
State Librarian/Director

Re: First Annual School Library Media Center Report

Your school library media program is critical to the success of students and teachers as they strive to master the new information and technology literacy skills currently being embedded in the Minnesota academic standards. Studies in many states continue to show a link between strong library media center programs and student achievement. The Department of Education, Division of State Library Services will assess the impact of Minnesota public school library media centers regarding student academic achievement and lifelong learning through information and technology literacy. We need your support in this project.

One method of assessment is to collect core statistical data about Minnesota school libraries annually. The 2007-08 school year begins this crucial examination. The Minnesota collection instrument is modeled after national survey instruments used by the National Center for Education Statistics and the American Association of School Librarians. This will facilitate our ability to evaluate Minnesota against national results, identifying our strengths and weaknesses against a national standard.

The data collected this year will provide a baseline of data clearly showing the status of school libraries at this time. It will help raise awareness among elected state and local officials and other policy makers of the contributions made by school library media centers to student achievement. Additionally, the report will provide the information school boards need to determine how much financial and resource support library media centers require to successfully fulfill their responsibilities. Library staff can use the report to assist in determining strengths and weaknesses of library media centers and staff in order to improve service to their students.

The lead person on this project is Bruce Pomerantz, library development specialist. Since 1998, he has coordinated collecting public library statistics, reports of which have been filed in Minnesota beginning in 1895. Since last summer, he has been drafting data elements (questions) and conferring with school librarians to create the instrument that is included in this package. He also worked with MDE staff to cross-reference data already collected by the department to avoid repetition. The report will be altered in subsequent years, as necessary, based on library media staff critiques of the report process, national collection efforts, and educational developments.

Again, please support this project and encourage your school library staff to complete the report in a timely fashion. Instructions on completing the report are included in this packet.