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The Role of School Librarians in Primary and Secondary Education in the 21 st Century

The Role of School Librarians in Primary and Secondary Education in the 21 st Century Paul Whitsitt, Director Libraries and Information Services Chicago Public Schools. Discussion Outline. Overview of CPS Libraries Current Data on the Impact of School Libraries on Student Achievement

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The Role of School Librarians in Primary and Secondary Education in the 21 st Century

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  1. The Role of School Librarians in Primary and Secondary Education in the 21st Century Paul Whitsitt, Director Libraries and Information Services Chicago Public Schools

  2. Discussion Outline • Overview of CPS Libraries • Current Data on the Impact of School Libraries on Student Achievement • The School Librarian’s Role Going Forward

  3. Chicago Public Schools District Information • CPS Web site www.cps.k12.il.us/ • 650+ Schools, 410,000 Students • Approximately 550 libraries and 500 librarians • CPS Department of Libraries web site www.cps.k12.il.us/aboutcps/departments/libraries/

  4. CPS Student Demographics • Student Racial Breakdown(FY2007-08) • 46.5% African-American • 39.1% Latino • 8.0% White • 3.3% Asian/Pacific Islander • 2.9% Multi-Racial • 0.2% Native American

  5. Student Demographics, cont. Additional Student Information (FY2006-07) • 84.9% of students from low-income families • 18.8% of Illinois public school students attend CPS • 14.4% are limited-English-proficient • 94.0% attendance rate for elementary schools • 84.3% attendance rate for high schools • 91.3% citywide attendance rate

  6. CPS Department of Libraries Vision Statement All students and staff in the Chicago Public Schools are effective users of ideas and information, competent and enthusiastic readers, independent learners, and positive contributors to the school community and to society.

  7. Role of the CPS Department of Libraries • Area Library Coordinators • Professional Library • Resources, Professional Development • Grants and Program Administration • Recruitment

  8. Area Library Coordinators Connie Amon - 1, 2, 3 and Automation KC Boyd - 16, 17, 18 and Mayor Daley Book Club Dorsey Chambers - 11,14,15 and Battle of the Books Francelia M. Herron - 10,12,13 and Recruitment Grants (IMLS) Maria Rodriguez – 7,8 and Budget Merril V. Stegall - 4, 6, 9 and Certification / Placement Lisa E. Perez, All High Schools, Professional Library, HS MDBC

  9. Snapshot of CPS Librarian Workforce • Approximately 100 high school and 400 elementary librarians • 20 have achieved National Board Certification in Library Media (about half of the total NBCT librarians in Illinois) • State requires teaching certificate and librarian “endorsement”; CPS HS librarians have MLIS • However, almost half of CPS elementary librarians lack library endorsement

  10. Keith Curry Lance Marcia J. Rodney Christine Hamilton-Pennell RSL Research Group

  11. Illinois Study • Available online at the Illinois School Library Media Assn website • www.islma.org • Shapes the work of our department

  12. Building Blocks of the Study • Illinois School Library Survey (657 participant schools) • Data • Test scores • ISAT Reading & Writing, 5th & 8th • PSAE Reading & ACT, 11th • Other school data • Community data

  13. Flexible scheduling Staffing Staff activities Collection Educational technology Expenditures Usage Library Predictors of Test Scores

  14. More library staff → higher test scores

  15. More library-connected computers → higher test scores

  16. More spent on libraries → higher test scores

  17. New Standards for the 21st Century Learner • AASL unveiled in October 2007 • “Framework” for learning • Emphasizes the changing information demands, sources, and access methods • Focus on ethical behavior, social context, personal growth • acrl.org/ala/aasl/aaslproftools/learningstandards/standards.cfm

  18. School Librarians are Critical Guides for 21st Century Learning • Responsibility for teaching information literacy skills rests with us, especially as complexity increases • We need to be valued partners in fostering strong reading skills • Library as “place” – our role in providing a safe, welcoming learning environment with equitable access to resources

  19. CPS Efforts to Enhance Librarian Impact on Student Achievement • Librarian Learning Communities • Centralized automation with collaborative teaching tools • Collaboration training for librarian / teacher teams (we can’t work successfully in isolation) • Exploring new technologies (Second Life) for professional development • Creating school leaders (curriculum, technology, literacy, etc.) • Expansion of Mayor Daley Book Club reading motivation programs

  20. Paul Whitsitt Director Libraries and Information Services Chicago Public Schools 773-553-6210

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