Kindergarten–Middle School 6–12

TALKING POINTS

When the act of reading extends beyond the schoolroom and becomes part of daily life, ongoing literacy is on its way to becoming a reality.—Donahue, Patricia L. et al. The Nation’s Report Card: Fourth Grade Reading 2000. Washington, D.C: U.S. Department of Education, April 2001.

Public library programming and books for children make a difference. Public libraries provide engaging programs and amazing collections that help students from all backgrounds become excited and enthusiastic readers. | more
Students who read for fun develop positive, lifelong reading habits that reinforce literacy skills. | more
Students begin to connect reading and are motivated to read, thanks to entertaining group activities planned by well-trained library staff. | more

Students whose library media specialists played [an instructional] role—either by identifying materials to be used with teacher-planned instructional units or by collaborating with teachers in planning instructional units—tend to achieve higher average test scores.—Lance, Keith Curry, Lynda Welborn, and Christine Hamilton-Pennell. The Impact of School Library Media Centers on Academic Achievement. Colorado Department of Education, State Library and Adult Education Office. Prepared for the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Educational Research & Improvement Library Programs. September 1992. p. 97.

Students learn 21st century learning skills through state-of-the-art school library media programs. | more
The school library media program plays an important role in helping students get an overall conception of the information seeking process with all the different steps it contains. | more
Interactions with a school library media specialist aid children and teens in becoming confident, competent, and independent learners. | more