Access to books key to academic achievement

A recent piece of research featured in Donalyn Miller's Book Whisperer blog describes how growing up in a home with books confers a distinct advantage...

Family scholarly culture and educational success: Books and schooling in 27 nations by: M. D. R. Evans, Jonathan Kelley, Joanna Sikora, Donald J. Treiman in
Research in Social Stratification and Mobility (10 February 2010)

Abstract : Children growing up in homes with many books get 3 years more schooling than children from bookless homes, independent of their parents’ education, occupation, and class. This is as great an advantage as having university educated rather than unschooled parents, and twice the advantage of having a professional rather than an unskilled father. It holds equally in rich nations and in poor; in the past and in the present; under Communism, capitalism, and Apartheid; and most strongly in China. Data are from representative national samples in 27 nations, with over 70,000 cases, analyzed using multi-level linear and probit models with multiple imputation of missing data.

and here is a link to The Book Whisperer's blog (see May 23rd post) with the official press release from the University of Nevada, UCLA and Australian National University study.

Of course, for families without books in their homes, this is where libraries come in, and in particular, school libraries...

"At the moment that we persuade a child, any child, to cross that threshold, that magic threshold into a library, we change their lives forever, for the better. It's an enormous force for good." Barack Obama

Library Research Service reports

The (USA) Library Research Service http://www.lrs.org/impact.php generates library statistics and research for library and education professionals, public officials, and the media.
One of the topics of continuing interest to the LRS and its clients is the impact of school librarians on student achievement.

From this site you can download articles, research findings, powerpoints and pdf planning sheets with information about libraries and student achievement, the key roles of library staff, library advocacy, the need for evidence based practice, next steps for research etc...

Here is one example of advice on increasing the school librarians' profile :

10 easy leadership ideas to help school librarians become leaders on their campuses :

1. Meet regularly with your principal.
2. Attend all faculty meetings.
   
3. Serve on curriculum and standards committees.
   
4. Present professional development for teachers and librarians.
   
5. Engage in collaboration with teachers and the technology staff.
   
6. Meet with school library colleagues.
   
7. Visit other school libraries.
   
8. Link to initiatives that are implemented on your campus or in the district.
   
9. Give recognition to others for their successes.
   
10. Attend and participate in district, state, and national associations and conferences.

by Nance Nassar, Colorado Department of Education, School Library Senior Consultant