NCCU SLIS professors Robert Burgin and Pauletta Brown Bracy have completed a study of the impact of North Carolina school libraries on student achievement. The study (“An Essential Connection: How Quality School Library Media Programs Improve Student Achievement in North Carolina") collected data on school library media programs in North Carolina in eight areas: staff activities; service hours; library usage; library technology; Internet access; operating expenditures; management; and school demographics.

The study found that school library programs in North Carolina elementary, middle school, and high schools have a significant impact on student achievement – as measured by scores on standardized reading and English tests.

Scores on standardized reading and English tests in the schools included in this study tended to increase when libraries in the schools:

• Were staffed more hours during the school week
• Were open more hours during the school week
• Had newer books
• Spent more money per 100 students on books and other print materials like magazines and newspapers
• Spent more money per 100 students on electronic access to information (e.g., online database searching, Internet access)
• Were more likely to subscribe to online periodical services
• Were more likely to subscribe to CD ROM services

These findings are consistent with those of earlier studies in Alaska, Massachusetts, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Texas, Iowa, and California, all of which found similar links between student achievement and the quality of school library programs.

• The study (Adobe PDF format -- 306K)
  
• Presentation at ALA Toronto, 2003 (Adobe PDF format -- 72K)