ILA Reaffirms Support for School Librarians in CPS, and Illinois
October 22, 2019
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Diane Foote
Executive Director
dfoote@ila.org
(312) 644-1896
As negotiations between the Chicago Teachers Union and Chicago Public Schools continue, the Executive Board of the Illinois Library Association reaffirms the association’s support for the vital role of licensed school librarians in every school.
Research shows that school library media educators and school librarians have a demonstrable positive impact on student achievement. According to School Library Impact Studies: A Review of Findings and Guide to Sources, prepared for the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation in 2013, "More than 60 studies from across the country confirm that student achievement is higher—from standardized test scores to digital proficiency to graduation rates—in schooIs with a dedicated, professional librarian.[1]
Consider a Pew Research Center study[2] in which 83% of teachers indicated that students are overwhelmed by the quantity of information available online, and 60% said the increasing array of technologies makes it more difficult to locate credible information. That second finding was echoed in a recent Stanford University study[3] that found nearly 80% of high school students struggle to verify the credibility of a source.
Licensed school librarians are experts in teaching literacy: digital, information, media, and traditional literacy. They are essential partners to classroom teachers and families in preparing students for success in a highly digital, information-rich world.
Questions? Contact Diane Foote, ILA Executive Director, dfoote@ila.org
[1] https://www.baltimorelibraryproject.org/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2013/09/Library-Impact-Studies.pdf
[2] http://www.pewinternet.org/2012/11/01/how-teens-do-research-in-the-digital-world/
[3] https://sheg.stanford.edu/upload/V3LessonPlans/Executive%20Summary%2011.21.16.pdf
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