Research Grant

Sponsored by Capstone

Monetary amount: up to $2,500 each for up to two research projects

Overview

The AASL Research Grant is given to up to two school librarians, library educators, library information science students, or education professors to conduct innovative research aimed at measuring and evaluating the impact of school library programs on learning and education. The study should have the potential to serve as a model for future school library research, and researchers should furnish documentation of the results of their work. Special consideration will be given to pilot research studies that employ experimental methodologies.

Criteria

The AASL Research Grant Committee will evaluate applications on the basis of the following criteria:

  1. Potential to measure and/or evaluate the impact of school library programs on learning and education.
  2. Originality of the research project and methodology
  3. Potential for replication
  4. Demonstrated ability of the applicant(s) to undertake and successfully complete the project
  5. Evidence that sufficient time and resources have been allocated to the effort
  6. Support and commitment (financial and otherwise) by institutions and organizations to the project
  7. Clarity and completeness of the proposal
  8. Personal resume of individual applicant attached
  9. Personal membership in ALA/AASL at the time of application by the applicant

Recipients of the AASL Research Grant will be invited to present the results of their projects at a concurrent session during the AASL National Conference in the year(s) following the year of their grant (e.g. if the grant is awarded in 2011 or 2012, the recipient(s) will present a program at the AASL 2013 National Conference). Recipients may also be invited to publish a summary of their findings in School Library Research and/or Knowledge Quest.

View the grant rating sheet.

Questions? Contact Meg Featheringham, 800-545-2433 x1396, Manager/Editor

Past Recipients

Year Recipient
2013 “The Principals’ Perspectives on the Value of School Librarians in Teaching and Learning Case Study” - Judi Moreillon and Teresa Starrett, Texas
  "Bark If You R.E.A.D. in School Libraries: Can School Librarians with Therapy Dogs and Reading Support Skills Be an Effective Part of a School's Literacy Intervention Team?" - Linda Robinson, Conn.
2012   “The Role of Teacher Unions in School Library Advocacy: A Case Study of the British Columbia Teacher-Librarians’ Association and the British Columbia Teacher’s Federation” - Ann Dutton Ewbank, Ariz.
  “An Examination of the Impact of Resiliency and School Organizational Structures on the Self-Perceived Leadership Behaviors of School Librarians” - Daniella Smith, Texas
2011   "Educating 21st-Century School Librarians to Help 21st-Century K-12 Students Learn" - Mary K. Biagini and Rebecca Morris, Pa.
  "Influence of School Library Resources on Student Learning in Rural Iowa Schools" - Karla Krueger and Jean Donham, Iowa
2010   "Leveraging Untapped Opportunities for Learning: Students with Disabilities and the School Library Media Program" - Anne Marie Perrault, N.Y.  
  "Science in the City: A Mixed-Method Cooperative Inquiry into Boosting STEM Achievement in the Houston Independent School District" - Janice Newsum, Texas
2007 - 2009   Award Not Sponsored
2006   "Partners in Achievement: Libraries and Students  (PALS)
Improving Student Achievement through Data Use  for Library Media Specialists" - Judith Dzikowski, N.Y.
2005   "School Virtual Libraries: The Influence of Best Practices on High School Students' Information Seeking" - Joyce Valenza, Pa.
2004   "More than just Comics: Graphic Novels and their Effect on Student Achievement" - Robyn Young, Ind.
  "Study of LMS's Attributes for Ongoing Program Assessment" - Kathy Latrobe and Rhonda Taylor, Okla.
2003   "Teachers' Perspectives and Influence on Use of Electronic Resources in the High School Media Center" - Bonnie Grimble, Ind.
2002   "Does Accelerated Reader Improve Children's Reading Ability and Achievement?" - Linda Jordan and Diane Stanley, Texas
2001 no grant awarded
2000 "Tenth Graders' Search Knowledge and Use of the World Wide Web" - Sharon Lea Vansickle, Ga.
1999 "Dialogic Journaling with Elementary Grade Students As a Means to Deeper Student Understanding of the Information Search Process" - Violet H. Harada, Claire Sato, and Joan Yoshina; Hawaii
1998 "Implementing Flexible Scheduling in Elementary School Library Media Centers" - Joy McGregor, Texas
  "Assessing Pre-Service Teachers' Knowledge of Library Media Programs: A Step to Improving Collaboration for Student Learning" - Linda L. Wolcott, Kimberly Lawless, and Deborah Hobbs; Utah
1997 "Motivational Aspects of Library and Information Skills Instruction" - Ruth Villency Small, N.Y.
1996 "Testing an Interdisciplinary Assessment Model" - Robert Grove, Jacqueline Lakin, Shelia Blume, and Carol Fox, Kan.
1995 no grant awarded
1994 "The Information Search Process: A Study of Cognitive Strategies for Teaching Higher Level Thinking Skills" - Kathleen Garland
  "Information Literacy Standards – Alternative Assessments" - Roberta Ponis, Dian Walster, and Lynda Welborn
1993 "Intuitive Understanding and Mental Models of Information: A Qualitative Study of Factors Associated with the Information Seeking and Use Behavior of Adolescents" - Judy Pitts
  "Scheduling Impact on Curriculum Involvement and Information Skills Instruction: Should We Switch to Flexible Scheduling?" - Julie Tallman and Jean Donham van Deusen