Southeastern Region

In the middle schools, FCAT scores are higher where:

In the middle schools, FCAT scores are higher where: There are more certified, university-trained school library media specialists and the library media center is staffed more hours per week. More materials are circulated. There are more videos in the collection and more reference materials on CD-ROM. More computers in the library media center provide access to the Internet.
Reference: 
Making the grade : the status of school library media centers in the sunshine state and how they contribute to student achievement

In Florida’s elementary schools, FCAT scores are higher where

In Florida’s elementary schools, FCAT [Florida's Comprehensive Assessment Test] scores are higher where:There is a certified, university-trained library media specialist.The total number of paid staff is higher and there are more hours per week of staffing.Circulation is higher.Schools have access to the library media center catalog through the school’s computer network.There are more books and videos.There are more computers in the library media center and those computers provide Internet access.There are more non-print materials purchased from the school budget.
Reference: 
Making the grade : the status of school library media centers in the sunshine state and how they contribute to student achievement

Middle schools with higher library staffing received higher scores

At the middle school level, in higher scoring schools, 53.9% of middle schools with more than 80 HPW [hours per week] of library staffing scored at grade level or better while only 46.1% passed in schools with poorer staffing.
Reference: 
Making the grade : the status of school library media centers in the sunshine state and how they contribute to student achievement

Test scores higher in elementary schools where library staffing is at 80 hours per week

Test scores are more than 20% higher in elementary schools where library media staffing is at 80 hours per week or more than in schools with less than 60 hours per week.
Reference: 
Making the grade : the status of school library media centers in the sunshine state and how they contribute to student achievement

FCAT and ACT scores are significantly higher where there is increased library usage

Both high school FCAT [Florida's Comprehensive Assessment Test] and ACT scores are significantly higher where there is increased library usage (visits by individuals to the library media center).
Reference: 
Making the grade : the status of school library media centers in the sunshine state and how they contribute to student achievement

FCAT scores are higher where:

In Florida high schools, FCAT [Florida's Comprehensive Assessment Test] scores are higher where:The library media center is staffed more hours per week.There are more certified library media specialists.There are more paid library media staff members.There are more interlibrary loans provided to other schools in the district.There are more visits to the library media center to use technologyThere are more networked computers in the school and more computers with Internet access.There are more computers in the library media center and more computers have Internet access.
Reference: 
Making the grade : the status of school library media centers in the sunshine state and how they contribute to student achievement

High schools showed improved test scores where there was better library staffing

High schools showed even larger differences in test scores where there was better staffing:55.1% of students passed the FCAT [Florida's Comprehensive Assessment Test] reading test in higher scoring schools with library media staffing of 80 HPW [hours per week] or more, while only 37% passed in schools with poorer staffing.
Reference: 
Making the grade : the status of school library media centers in the sunshine state and how they contribute to student achievement

Benefit to cost ratio of Florida's public libraries

The B/C (Availability) of Florida's public libraries is 10.8 to 1 where the benefit to the state in terms of availability of Florida's public libraries is the total cost to use alternatives of $4.3 billion divided by the cost of $668 millions (includes cost of multi-type cooperative support to public libraries). The B/C (REMI Wages) is 7.5 to 1, where the benefit to the state in terms of wages is $21.8 billion and the cost is $2.9 billion. The B/C (REMI GRP) is 5.1 to 1, where the benefit to the state in terms of GRP output is $14.9 billion and the cost is $2.9 billion.
Reference: 
Taxpayer return on investment in Florida public libraries

Taxpayer return on investment in Florida's public libraries since 2004

Overall, Florida's public libraries return $8.32 for every $1.00 from all sources. The total revenue investment in Florida's public libraries was $661.5 million in 2008. Based upon an analysis of what would happen if public libraries ceased to exist, the total economic return attributable to the existence of public libraries is $6.23 billion. For every $3,491 spent on public libraries from public funding sources in Florida, one job (in the economy, not just in libraries) is created. For every dollar of public support spent on public libraries in Florida, Gross Regional Product (the value of all goods and services produced in the state) increases by $10.57. For every dollar of public support spent on public libraries in Florida, income (wages) increases by $22.97.
Reference: 
Taxpayer return on investment in Florida public libraries

Libraries' usefulness for economically impacted Americans

Eighty-one percent (81%) of economically impacted Americans have a library card compared to 68% for Americans who have not been impacted. Economically impacted Americans are 50% more likely to visit their library at least weekly (18% vs. 12%) and are nearly a third more likely to visit at least once a month (36% vs. 27%). More than a third (37%) of economically impacted respondents said they are using the library more often than they did before the economic downturn. Increased library use is substantially higher than any other lifestyle activity increase measured.
Reference: 
Perceptions of libraries, 2010 : context and community : a report to the OCLC membership