School Libraries Count! 2009

AASL's National Longitudinal Survey
of School Library Programs

Download a PDF of these results 

Table of Contents

• Survey Overview
• Analysis and Highlights
• Detailed Findings
  • Staff Activities
  • Hours and Staffing
  • Collection Size
  • Technology
  • Visits
  • Expenditures
• Supplemental Report on English Language Learners
• About the Survey

Survey Overview    

Methodology

AASL's School Libraries Count! annual longitudinal survey is an online survey that is open to all elementary and secondary school library programs to participate. The 2009 survey was launched on January 30, and closed on March 22. The survey was publicized through various professional organizations and events, and through word of mouth.

Respondents
AASL has received a high participation rate during the three years this survey has been offered. In 2007 there were 4,571 respondents, in 2008 there were 6,998 respondents, and in the most recent year, 2009, there were 5,824 respondents.

In the current reporting year the respondents were primarily public schools (92%); however, the other demographic areas were quite diverse.

School Enrollment Size
<300 students. . . . . . . . . . 12%
300-499 students . . . . . . . 26%
500-699 students . . . . . . . 23%
700-999 students . . . . . . . 18%
1,000-1,999 students. . . . 16%
>2,000 students. . . . . . . . .  5%

Location
Metropolitan. . . . . . . . . 66%
Non-metropolitan . . . . . . . 34%

School Level
Elementary. . . . . . . . . . . . 41%
Jr. High/Middle. . . . . . . . 19%
High . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26%
Combined. . . . . . . . . . . . 14%

R egion
Northeast. . . . . . . . . . . . . 18%
Midwest. . . . . . . . . . . . . 16%
South. . . . . . . . . . . . . 42%
West . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25%

AASL Membership
Member. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38%
Not a member. . . . . . . . 62%

Margin of Error
The estimated margin of error among school libraries that responded:
2007 + 1.4 percentage points at the 95% confidence interval
2008 + 1.2 percentage points at the 95% confidence interval
2009 + 1.3 percentage points at the 95% confidence interval

Analysis and Highlights    

Analysis applied to 2009 results
The 2009 results were analyzed in two ways, first analysis was in changes overall for each statistic at three key percentiles: the 50th, the 75th, and the 95th.

• As in previous reports, the purpose of reporting these three figures is to describe the better half of responding school libraries.
• The 50th percentile, or median, is the figure that divides the respondents in half—half reported this figure or above, half
  a lower figure.
• The 75th percentile is the figure below which three-quarters of the respondents fall and one-quarter above.
• The 95th percentile is the figure at or above which only five percent of the respondents fall.

The second level of analysis was in changes in the average response overall and by subgroups, including school type, level and size of enrollment, region, and two pieces of data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES):

• Locale (either Metropolitan, from a city or surrounding suburb, or non-Metropolitan).
• Poverty status (broken into high, or more than average, and low, or below average number of students eligible for government-funded lunch programs).
• Other factors did not yield sufficient numbers of cases to look more closely at specific types of schools (e.g., charter, special education, vocational-technical, alternative, magnet).

Overal Highlights
In the major areas of reporting these changes were reported between the 2008 and 2009 data.

Hours and Staffing- The survey reveals that the roles of school libraries continue to grow modestly. School libraries are open, on average, one and a half hours more per week than in 2008. There was no increase in the average number of teachers who are also school librarians; however, there was an increase in the average number of hours worked by nearly one hour a week.

Budget- The survey showed that a majority of schools received less funding for information resources in 2009, compared to 2008.

Collections- In the 2009 data, school library collections continue to grow modestly, though in the periodical subscription area there was a large increase of 29%, or nearly seven subscriptions per library.

Technology- Compared to the 2008 data, 2009 results revealed that investment into networked computers with library access has slowed in the last year. Schools on average added seven percent more computers that could connect to the library, compared to a 20% increase the previous year. Likewise, the pace of school libraries adding remote access slowed, as there was a modest increase of two points last year, compared to a 10-point jump the previous year.

Detailed Findings    
Staff Activities

There was only a slight, though statistically significant, increase in the average number of hours spent each week on  planning. The average increased 0.1 hours per week, from 2.3 hours to 2.4 hours. In addition, significant increases were recorded among regular public schools, schools in metropolitan areas and in the Midwest.

• The average number of hours spent each week on instruction increased by 0.7 hours from 13.8 to 14.5. Significant increases were observed in time spent instructing students in elementary schools, public schools, schools with enrollment both under 300 students and 300-999 students, in the northeast and schools with low poverty levels.
• There was no change in the administrative time spent on budgeting.

Detailed Findings    
Hours and Staffing

The average number of hours that school library centers are staffed each week increased to 34 hours, an increase of more than an hour and a half from the last year (32.4 hours). While there were no changes at the 50th, 75th or 95th
percentile, there were slight, yet statistically significant, increases among most subgroups.

• There has been a slight increase of 0.6 hours in the number of flexible, unscheduled time in school libraries (an increase from 21.3 hours per week to 21.9). Significant increases in unscheduled time compared to last year have been observed at the high school level, among the largest schools with 2,000 or more students, and in schools in metropolitan areas.
• Compared to last year, there are slight increases in staffing of school libraries. The only subgroup with a statistically significant increase is among respondents from schools with combined levels. For these SLMC, the average total number of hours worked increased from 55 to 59.4.

Detailed Findings    
Collection Size

The average size of collections has grown in the number of books, video materials and audio materials- and, most notably, in the number of periodical subscriptions.

• The biggest increase was in the average number of periodical subscriptions, 29% over the last year (from 23.7 subscriptions to 30.6). The significant increases were among elementary schools, high schools, public schools, Midwest and low poverty.
• Overall there was a three point increase in the average number of books per school to 13,086, an average increase of 432 books from last year's 12,673. On average, there were statistically significant increases in libraries in elementary schools, in metropolitan areas and in the western region.

There was a five point increase in the average size collection of video materials, from 471.8 last year to 495.6. The only statistically significant increase in the average collection size was among elementary schools.

• The average size of audio collections increased nearly ten points, from 89.9 to 98.4. The only statistically
  significant increase in the average size of the audio collection was among schools located in metropolitan areas.
• There was no change in the average copyright year of health reference materials (stayed at 1994). The average copyright increased significantly among middle schools (one year) and schools in the northeast and south (one year).

Detailed Findings    
Technology

There were modest increases in the number of computers in schools that are connected to the library. Overall the average number of computers in libraries increased by seven points, from 23.9 to 25.6. The number of school computers outside of the library that can connect to the library increased by six points, from 168.4 to 178.4.

• Overall there was a slight 2 point increase in the number of schools that offer remote access to their school library's licensed database. The increase was statistically significant among high schools, where there was a four point increase from 84% to 88%.

Detailed Findings    
Visits

The average number of individual student visits per week remained steady from last year (301.4, in 2009 and 299.7 in 2008).
The two groups showing the most significant changes were:

Middle schools that saw fewer individual student visits per week (260 per week, down 44 per week from 304 in 2008).
Private schools that saw a significant increase from 332 visits per week in 2008, to 397 visits per week in 2009.

• There was a nine percent increase in the average number of group visits each week (29.8, up from 27.4 in 2008). Most significant increases were seen in:
  Elementary schools (from 24.9 to 27.5)
  High schools (from 35 to 39.3)
  Enrollment size 300-999 (from 24.7 to 27.4)
  Non-metropolitan schools (from 23.8 to 29.7)

Detailed Findings    
Expenditures

Most schools experienced a decrease in average expenditures for information resources (library collections and electronic access to information), though schools with the highest budgets saw increases.

There was a significant increase in the overall average of expenditures per school (an increase of 19%, from $11,390 last year to $13,525 this year).

However, there are only decreases at the 50th percentile; 75th percentile and 95th percentile levels compared to last year.

At the 50th percentile, average expenditures fell by $500, from $7,000 to $6,500. There was no change at the elementary school level, but the average annual expenditure was $1,000 lower in middle and high schools.

At the 75th percentile, the drop was $1,023 overall, and varied by grade level: $800 at the elementary school level, $1,000 for junior high and $1,418 among high schools.

At the 95th percentile, there were decreases in the average budgets by $1,000 (elementary schools), $2,000 (middle schools) and $2,000 (high schools).

This indicates that almost all schools experienced a decrease in funding for information resources except for a very small
percentage of schools that had significant increases over last year.

Supplemental Report on English Language Learners    

Survey Background
In 2007, the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) initiated an annual survey of school library programs. The development of this longitudinal survey project was mandated by the AASL Board as part of the association's strategic plan with the goal to provide research and statistics to be used at the national, state and local levels when advocating for school library programs. The survey was developed through the AASL Research & Statistics committee with AASL Board review and final approval.

In addition to annual survey questions, starting in 2008 AASL began adding a series of questions that change annually and address a current issue within the school library field. In 2009 AASL focused these questions on English Language Learners (ELL). This report summarizes those findings.

2009 marked the third year of AASL's "School Libraries Count!" survey, with 5,824 respondents. The results represent a + 1.3 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.

Key Highlights: Student Population

• ELLs are a sizable segment of the current US student population. Among 14% of responding schools, a student body with 25% or more ELL was reported. The highest concentration was reported in elementary schools where nearly one in five (19%) have 25% or more ELL students, with concentrations at this level dropping at middle (10%) and high (9%) schools.
• Subgroup categories that showed significantly higher percentages than other subgroup categories in relation to the student populations of ELL at 25% or greater included:
  Elementary school (19%)
  Public school (14%)
  West (region) (25%)
  Metropolitan (18%)

ELL Initiatives

One in four respondents (25%) rated free-choice reading as the most effective ELL initiative. However, nine out of ten respondents (91%) reported less than 5% of their collection is in a language other than English. For 16% of respondents, the only language available in the school's library is English.

ELL Collaboration Strategies

• More than half of respondents (51%) said they are most likely to promote reading by allowing students to select their own reading materials from a collection (independent reading initiative such as SSR or content-specific independent reading).
• One in four respondents (24%) said they design lessons that are rich in content without being too dependent on language.
• More than one-third of respondents (36%) said they don't use any of the ELL collaboration strategies listed.

About the Survey    

Research conducted by KRC Research, 700 13th Street, 8th Floor, Washington, DC 20005. ©2009 by the American Library Association. All rights reserved except those which may be granted by Sections 107 and 108 of the Copyright Revision Act of 1976.

AASL Research and Statistics Committee (2008–2009)
Chair: Marcia Mardis, Florida State University
Douglas Achterman, University of North Texas
Linda Diekman, Lake Bluff School District, IL
Phylllis Fisher, Retired
David Loertscher, San Jose State University
Richard Lord, Belmont Preparatory, NY
Anne Marie Perrault, University of South Carolina
Susan Williamson, Albuquerque Academy, NM
Connie Pierce, Falling Water Elementary, TN
AASL Board Liaison: Louis Greco, Saint Johns County School, FL
AASL Staff Liaison: Allison Cline

AASL Board of Directors (2008–2009)
President: Ann Martin, Henrico County Public Schools, VA
President-Elect: Cassandra Barnett, Fayetteville High School, AR
Treasurer: Floyd Pentlin, University of Central Missouri
Past-President: Sara Kelly Johns, Lake Placid Lake School, NY

Members:
Rosina Alaimo, Maple West Elementary School, NY
Alice Bryant, Harpeth Hall School Library, TN
Linda Collins, Curtis Junior High School, WA
Nancy Dickinson, Hillsboro Elementary School, TN
Gail Formanack, Omaha Public Schools, NE
Louis Greco, Saint Johns County Schools, FL
Carl Harvey, North Elementary School, IN
Marilyn Joyce, Brewer High School, ME
Allison Kaplan, University of Wisconsin
Karen Lemmons, Howe Elementary School, MI
Catherine Marriott, Orchard Park Central Schools, NY
Robbie Nickel, Sage Elementary School, NV
Sylvia Norton, Maine State Library
Barbary Ray, Northestern State University, OK
Paul Whitsitt, Chicago Public Schools, IL
Ex-Officio Member: Julie Walker, AASL Executive Director