Minnesota

Public Libraries are very important to communities

Seventy-eight percent of respondents reported that they or someone in their household used a public library in person or online in the year prior to the October/November survey (2010).Sixty-nine percent of respondents felt it was “very important” to have a public library in every community and almost 93% felt it was “somewhat important" or "very important”. Only 7% felt that having a public library in every community was "not very" or" not at all important."  

Schools with above average reading scores frequently have full-time media specialists

In Minnesota schools with above average student scores on the Grade 3, 5, and 8 reading tests, 66.8% were schools where the media specialist worked full-time. Twice as many schools with above average scores had full-time media specialists. Student reading achievement in elementary and secondary schools is related to increases in school library media program spending.

Statistic Relationship Between High Reading Scores and School Media Center Budgets

There is a statistically significant relationship between higher reading scores and larger school media center budgets. Students taking the reading tests in grades 5, 7, 8, and 10 scored between 3 and 6 points higher on those tests in schools with higher media center expenditures.