AASL: School Libraries Count!

Transcription

1 AASL: School Libraries Count!

2 AASL Research and Statistics Committee ( ) Chair: Gail Dickinson, Old Dominion University Elizabeth Friese Meghan Harper, Kent State University Rebecca Hunt, Northern Illinois University Sung Un Kim, The Catholic University of America Sue Kimmel, Old Dominion University Robin Moeller Barbara Schultz-Jones, University of North Texas Andre Maria Taylor, Jones International University AASL Board Liaison: Nancy Everhart, Florida State University AASL Staff Liaison: Allison Cline AASL Board of Directors ( ) Table of Contents Survey Overview...3 President: Carl Harvey, North Elementary School, IN President-Elect: Susan Ballard, Simmons College Treasurer: Karen Lemmons, Detroit School of Arts Past-President: Nancy Everhart, Florida State University Members: Sara Kelly Johns, Lake Placid Middle/High School Carl Jay Bansbach, Maryland State Department of Education Louis Greco, Saint Johns County Schools Audrey Church, Longwood University Sally Daniels, Cicero North Syracuse High School Valerie Diggs, Chelmsford Public Schools Valerie Edwards, Monona Grove High School Karen Egger, Fay Herron Elementary School Susi Grissom, Travis Vanguard & Academy Dorcas Hand, Annunciation Orthodox School Bonnie Kelley, Pinellas County Schools Deborah Christensen, Central Academy of Technology & Arts Linda Roberts, Retired David Sonnen, Sherwood Elementary School Deborah Svec, Palm Beach Gardens High School Ex-Officio Member: Julie Walker, AASL Executive Director Analysis and Highlights...4 Detailed Findings Staff Activities...5 Hours and Staffing...6 Collection Size...8 Technology... Visits... Expenditures... Supplemental Report on Filtering...3 Research conducted by KRC Research, 7 3th Street, 8th Floor, Washington, DC 5. by the American Library Association. All rights reserved except those which may be granted by Sections 7 and 8 of the Copyright Revision Act of 976. AASL: School Libraries Count!

3 Methodology AASL s School Libraries Count! annual longitudinal survey is an online survey that is open to all primary and secondary school library programs to participate. The survey was launched on January 4th and closed on March th. The survey was publicized through various professional organizations and events and through word of mouth. Respondents AASL has received a high participation rate during the six years this survey has been offered. In 7 there were 4,57 respondents, 8, 6,998 respondents, 9, 5,84 respondents,, 5,9 respondents,, 4,887 respondents, and in the most recent year,, there were 4,385 respondents. School Enrollment Size < students...% -499 students...5% students...4% students...%,-,999 students...6% >, students... 4% Location Metropolitan...58% Non-metropolitan...4% School Level Margin of Error The estimated margin of error among school libraries that responded: percentage points at the 95% confidence interval 8 +. percentage points at the 95% confidence interval percentage points at the 95% confidence interval +.4 percentage points at the 95% confidence interval +.4 percentage points at the 95% confidence interval +.5 percentage points at the 95% confidence interval Elementary...4% Jr. High/Middle...9% High...6% Combined...3% Region Northeast...% Midwest % South...49% West % AASL Membership Member...39% Not a member...6% AASL: School Libraries Count! 3

4 Analysis applied to results The results were analyzed in two ways, first analysis was in changes overall for each statistic at three key percentiles: the 5th, the, and the. As in previous reports, the purpose of reporting these three figures is to describe the better half of responding school libraries. The 5th percentile, or median, is the figure that divides the respondents in half half reported this figure or above, half a lower figure. The percentile is the figure below which three-quarters of the respondents fall and one-quarter above. The percentile is the figure at or above which only five percent of the respondents fall. The second level of analysis was in changes in the average response overall and by subgroups, including school type, level and size of enrollment, region, and two pieces of data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): Overall Highlights In the major areas of reporting these changes were reported between the and data. American school libraries are in a steady state with hours open, average number of hours worked by total staff and overall staffing levels consistent with. While the number of visits, both individual and group remains consistent compared to, the average number of computers outside of the library with networked access to library services has increased significantly from to. Expanded access is on the upswing with schools continuing the trend to increase remote access to their library licensed databases. Locale (either Metropolitan, from a city or surrounding suburb, or non-metropolitan). Poverty status (broken into high, or more than average, and low, or below average number of students eligible for government-funded lunch programs). Other factors did not yield sufficient numbers of cases to look more closely at specific types of schools (e.g., charter, special education, vocational-technical, alternative, and magnet). 4 AASL: School Libraries Count!

5 5 5 Total Total number of of hours available for for flexible schedulingeach week week Overall the staff activities remained consistent between and reporting years Hours per hours week per per week week spent spent delivering delivering instruction instruction of hours the library is open DETAILED FINDINGS: STAFF 5 er of hours available for flexible ach week In the mean number of hours spent planning showed a slight decrease across schools compared to last year, although this change is not significant. Though there were no significant changes, a slight decrease between and did not follow the trend of instruction hours increasing from 7 to. There were no reported changes in administrative time spent on budgeting. 5 5 Number of of Teach-Librarians && hours Hours per week spent meeting with teachers hours to per plan week instructional meeting with units teachers to plan 5th hours AASL: per School week spent Libraries delivering Count! 5 instruction 7 8 5th Hours per week spent working hours on per per the week week budget spent working on on budget number of books 5th ACTIVITIES KEY: number of periodical

6 Year-over-year school libraries remain consistent in hours open, flexible hours and staffing levels. Total number of hours the library is open Total number of hours the library is open each week The mean hours of operation remain generally consistent with, but have declined slightly in schools with more than, students. The average number of hours worked by school librarians decreased slightly across schools, although this change was not statistically significant. The only exception is schools in the Midwest, which showed a slight increase in mean work hours, though the difference between and is not significant. 5th KEY: 8 9 DETAILED FINDINGS: HOURS & STAFFING Total number of hours available for flexible schedulingeach week 6 AASL: School Libraries Count!

7 5 Total number of hours available for flexible schedulingeach week Total number of hours available for flexible scheduling 5th 5 Total number of hours available for flexible schedulingeach week 5 Number of Teach-Librarians & hours Number of School Librarians Number of Teach-Librarians & hours Number of Teach-Librarians Number of & Hours hours Worked by School Librarians th th 3 4 hours per week spe h instruction hours per 38 week spent delivering 38 instruction Number of Hours Worked by Other hours 5 5 Staffper week spent working on b 5th hours per week spen AASL: School Libraries Count! 7 5

8 The average number of books in school library collections increased significantly from to (:,989; : 3,57). This change was driven by regular public schools, schools with -999 and schools with + students. While the average number of audio material remains consistent from to, schools in the Northeast report a significant increase (: 93.; : 4.). Overall average copyright dates, remained steady since last year, though schools in the West reported an increase in average copyright dates from 995 up to 997. Schools in metropolitan areas, the South and low poverty areas also reported significant increases in the number of books. The average number of periodical subscriptions remains consistent in. The average number of video materials is similar to, although it is directionally lower since 9. Summary of changes in collections 8 9 Change Average number of books,67 3,86,74,989 3,57 58 (4%) Average number of periodical subscriptions (-4.9%) Average number of video materials (-5%) Average number of audio materials (4.7%) DETAILED FINDINGS: COLLECTION SIZE Average copyright year for the Dewey range 6-69, health and medicine No change 8 AASL: School Libraries Count!

9 number of books number of audio materia ch-librarians & Number hours number of Books of (excluding books hours per week spent working on budget bound volumes of periodicals) number of audio materials number of video materials Number of video materials (i.e., VHS cassettes, DVDs) 5th,65,888,55,, 5, 5,494 5,5 5,55 5, Number of current periodical number of periodical week meeting subscriptions with teachers to plan (i.e., magazines, number newspapers) of books number of periodical 5th number of of audio computers materials in the library number of computers in the library r week spent delivering number of periodical AASL: School Libraries Count! 9 n number of video materials 3,864 5, 4, 4, 4,,67 3,86,74,989 3, th ,5,,47,5, number of computers in Number of audio materials (i.e., audio books, CDs, music on tape) 5th KEY: number of computers located elsewa

10 While the average number of computers in libraries remains steady, school computers with network access to library services is on the rise. While the average number of computers in libraries in is comparable to (9.9 and 7.9 respectively), the overall number of library and librarynetworked computers has increased significantly from. in to 37.5 in. Additionally, the average number of computers outside of the library with networked access to library services has increased significantly from 93.4 in to 8. in. The change was driven by many cohorts, including all elementary, middle, and high school levels, public schools, and schools with enrollment of less than 999 have seen a significant uptick in the average number of computers outside libraries with networked access. Schools are continuing the trend to increase remote access to their school library s licensed databases. Over eight in ten report that students can access their library s resources remotely. The increase is attributed across the board: elementary schools, public schools, schools with enrollment of less than and -999, schools in the Midwest and South, non-metro areas, and areas of low poverty. Summary of changes in Technology Installation 8 9 Increase Average number of computers in libraries (5%) Average number of school computers outside library, with network access to library services (7.6%) Total of library and library-networked computers (7.4%) Percentage Able to Access database remotely DETAILED FINDINGS: TECHNOLOGY Yes No 6% 4% % 8% 6% 74% 76% 79% 8% 84% 8 KEY: 8 9 AASL: School Libraries Count!

11 Overall library usage is comparable to, with a slight down tick. On average, the number of individual and group visits to school libraries remains consistent with. The average number of individual and group visits to libraries overall are largely unchanged compared to last year (33.3 individual and.9 group visits per week in and 35. individual and 3.3 group visits per week in ). Across all subgroups no significant change occurred among the average number of individuals and group visits to libraries. Number of individual visits per typical week (only those visiting alone, not those visiting as part of a class or a smaller group) of books books number number of of audio audio materials materials number number of of individual individual visits visits in in a typical a typical week week KEY: 8 9 5th ,,57,55,, of periodical periodical number number of of computers computers in in the the library library 8 8 Number of group visits per typical week (i.e., number of whole classes or smaller groups, NOT the number of individuals number number of of group in group such visits visits groups) in in a typical a typical week week 5th DETAILED FINDINGS: VISITS of video video materials materials AASL: School Libraries Count! number number of of computers computers located located elseware elseware in in the the school school average average spent spent on on informational resourses resourses

12 5 7 8 video materials Library expenditures on information resources are consistent with previous years. number of computers located elseware in the school On average, schools are spending $,87 on information resources in compared to $,937 in, a slight down tick but not significant. 5 Average Spent on Information Resources (i.e., print and non-print materials, licensed databases, and other electronic access to information) average spent on informational resourses 5th $7, $6,5 $6, $6, $5,5 $3,5 $,477 $, $, $, $35, $35,7 $3, $,9 $8, 5 DETAILED FINDINGS: school LIBRARY Expenditures KEY: 8 9 School Library Budgeting All amounts are in dollars ($) 8 9 Change All schools (average),39 3,55,,937,87 -, (-8.5%) 5th percentile 7, 6,5 6, 6, 5,5-5 (-8.3%) percentile 3,5,477,,, -, (-3.3%) percentile 35, 35,7 3,,9 8, -,9 (-9.3%) All elementary schools (average) 6,7 7,77 8,8 8,55,,776(.8%) 5th percentile 5, 5, 4,93 4,97 4, -77 (-4.4%) percentile 8,8 8, 8, 8, 7,5-5 (-6.%) percentile 7, 6, 8, 7,44 5, -,44 (-3.9%) All middle schools (average),73,89,64 8,944 7,64 -,3 (-4.5%) 5th percentile 8, 7, 6,9 6,5 6, -5 (-8.%) percentile 3,,,,45, -,45 (-.6%) percentile 7, 5, 5,,5, -,5 (-6.9%) All high schools (average) 8,55 3,679 9,9 4,66 8,9-6,5 (-5.3%) 5th percentile 3,8,,5,, -, (-.9%) percentile 4,48 3,,, 8, -, (-%) percentile 5, 5, 46,737 5, 4, -8, (-6%) $,39 $3,55 $, $,937 $,87 AASL: School Libraries Count!

13 Survey Background In 7, the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) initiated an annual survey of school library programs. The development of this longitudinal survey project was mandated by the AASL Board as part of the association s strategic plan with the goal to provide research and statistics to be used at the national, state and local levels when advocating for School Library Programs. The survey was developed through the AASL Research & Statistics committee with AASL Board review and final approval. In addition to annual survey questions, starting in 8 AASL began adding a series of questions that change annually and address a current issue within the school library field. In AASL focused these questions on Filtering. marked the sixth year of AASL s School Libraries Count! survey, with 4,385 respondents. The results represent a +.5 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. Key Highlights Filtering of online content is nearly universal across schools or school libraries. Filtering is used most frequently for social media and entertainment purposes, and used much less for news and education consumption. Social networking sites and IM/online chatting (88% and 74%) are among the top items identified as currently being filtered. Second tier mentions include gaming (69%) and video services like YouTube (66%). Least likely to be filtered are newsgroups (7%) and professional development tools for education (9%). AASL: School Library Count! 3

14 8 Among schools that report filtering, 88% are filtering content for staff as well. A slight majority of schools apply the same level of filtering to staff and students (56%), and three quarters use the same level of filtering for all grades of students (73%). CONTENT FILTERED ONLINE IF FILTER: Which of the following items are currently filtered in your school? (select all that apply) All Social networking sites 88% IM/online chatting 74% Gaming 69% Video services (including YouTube, SchoolTube) 66% Personal accounts 4% Peer-to-Peer File Sharing (used for downloading and sharing files) % FTP (File Transfer Protocol, used for downloading large files) 3% Newsgroups 7% Professional development tools for education (including e-binders, Google Docs) 9% None of the above % Other 7% Schools use a variety of methods to filter content including filtering software, an acceptable use policy and supervision of students when accessing the internet. The most common types of filtering software are URL based (7%) and key word based filtering (%). How does your school filter online content Types of Filtering Software Used URL based 7% Keyword based % Blacklists Dynamic categorization Whitelists Other % Nearly all schools can request to unblock a site, but the decision is most often made at the district level and within varying time periods. About a third of librarians say their request takes within one to two days (35%), while only 7% report their request is addressed immediately or within a few hours. in 5 say it takes more than a week to unblock a site (%). 8 7% 3% 47% How long does it take for a site to be unblocked after a request? Filtering software 94% Immediately or within a few hours 7% Acceptable use policy 87% Within one to two days 35% Supervision of students while accessing the internet Limiting access to the internet Allow student access to the internet on a case-by-case basis Other 3% 8% 7% 73% More than two days, but less than a week One week or more 7% % AASL: School Libraries Count!

15 At what level is the decision to unblock a site made? District % Building Other Not sure What impact have filters had within your school or school library program? 5% 5 9% Acceptable Use 48% Policy Impeded Decreased Discounts Decreased the Impeded Allowed Other Log on through 47% student the number social aspects need for direct continued research school network research when of potential of learning 5supervision collaboration curriculum topic or key distractions outside of to yield more No internet 9% word searches face-to-face relevent connectivity are filtered opportunites results Use limited to classroom teacher 8% discretion Log into guest Among schools that allow portable electronic devices, half indicate their school has network 6% a filtering mechanism in place to control content viewed on these devices. Other the 6% Those that have a filtering mechanism for personal devices most commonly filter personal devices by implementing an acceptable use policy and making students log on through school networks (48% and 47% respectively) % 7% 5% 7% 4% 34% 5% 3% AASL: School Libraries Count! 5 5 Portable electronic devices allowed 53% E-readers 49% 39% 36% How are personal devices filtered? 3% 6% 3% Cell Laptops MP3 Netbooks Portable Other None of phones players game the above players 5 6%

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