TLs+make+a+difference

There is in fact quite a lot of evidence that says "credentialled" library professionals make a difference.

__School Libraries Work!__ a summary of the research to 2008.

“When staffed by qualified professionals trained to collaborate with teachers and engage students meaningfully with information that matters in the real world, school libraries become sophisticated 21st-century learning environments that offer equal opportunities for achievement to all students, regardless of the socio-economic or education levels of the community.” (//School Libraries Work!)//

School Libraries Make a Difference to Student Achievement: Links to Recent Studies to 2008

Iowa: reading test scores rise with the development of school library programs. The relationship between library program development and test scores is not explained away by other school or community conditions at the elementary level.(Rodney, Lance and Hamilton-Pennell, 2002)

Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) reading test scores rise with the extent to which the state’s school library programs are headed by certified library media specialists. (Rodyney, Lance, and Hamilton-Pennell, 2003)

Minnesota: Twice as many schools with above-average scores had full-time library media specialists. (Baxter and Smalley, 2003)

Oregon: Whatever the current level of development of a school’s library program, these findings indicate that incremental improvements in its staffing, collections, and budget will yield incremental increases in reading scores.(Lance, Rodney, and Hamilton-Pennell, 2001)

Pennsylvania: For all three tested grades, the relationship between adequate school library staffing and Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) reading scores is both positive and statistically significant. (Lance, Rodney, and Hamilton-Pennell, 2000)

Ontario, Canada: Schools with professionally trained school library staff could be expected to have reading achievement scores that were approximately 5.5 percentage points higher than average in grade 6 EQAO results (Klinger, 2006)

Illinois: Increased library staffing is linked to higher reading performance for all grade levels,(Lance, Rodney and Hamilton-Pennell, 2005)

All summarized in School Libraries Work! (Scholastic, 2008) [|//http://www2.scholastic.com/content/collateral_resources/pdf/s/slw3_2008.pdf//]

A recent study involving over 13000 students in Ohio found that CREDENTIALED TLs make a difference. “Student Learning through Ohio School Libraries revealed that 99.4% of students in grades 3 to 12 believe school libraries and their services help them become better learners. The study showed that an effective school library, led by a credentialed library media specialist, plays a critical role in facilitating student learning for building knowledge” (Todd, Kuhlthau, and Oelma, 2004).