School Libraries

School Library Standards

Information about and resources to support the Model School Library Standards for California Public Schools adopted by the State Board of Education in September 2010.

Library Evaluations

• CDE Online School Library Evaluation
  The annual online evaluation is now open to collect information from the individual schools about their libraries in 2022–23. The evaluation tool incorporates the California Model School Library Standards and assesses the type and extent of library services schools provide. Evaluation results from prior years are available anytime on the Evaluation Participation and Responses.
• Statistics About California School Libraries
  Number of books per student, staffing ratios, and more.
• School Libraries Count!
  American Association of School Librarians (AASL) "School Libraries Count" gathers annual data on changes in the field to gain understanding of the state of school library media programs nationally. Private schools are included. Note: This content has been archived. The following information may be outdated.

School Libraries and the Common Core State Standards

• Implementing the Common Core State Standards: The Role of the School Librarian
  An action brief developed by Achieve and the American Association of School Librarians as a starting point for school librarians to gain a deeper understanding of the standards and their implementation.

Library Funding

• School Library Funding
  California's new school funding formula, enacted in 2013.
• Awards and Grants from the American Association of School Librarians (AASL)
  The 2013 AASL Awards & Grants season is open. The AASL awards program will offer more than $50,000 in awards to AASL members in 2013. AASL’s 10 awards recognize excellence and showcase best practices in the school library field in categories that include research, collaboration, leadership and innovation. AASL personal members are required to fill out applications using AASL’s electronic awards database. Apply for all AASL awards and grants through the AASL electronic awards database. The deadline for most awards and grants is February 1, 2013. The deadline for the National School Library Program of the Year (NSLPY) Award is January 2, 2013.
• Improving Literacy Through School Libraries
  This federal grant program is no longer available though recipients and grant descriptions are still posted on this site. See Innovative Approaches to Literacy Program for an alternative.
• Innovative Approaches to Literacy Program Grants
  Grant opportunity. The Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) program supports high-quality programs designed to develop and improve literacy skills for children and students from birth through 12th grade within the attendance boundaries of high-need local educational agencies and schools. The U.S. Department of Education intends to support innovative programs that promote early literacy for young children, motivate older children to read, and increase student achievement by using school libraries, distributing free books to children and their families, and offering high-quality literacy activities. Applications are due by August 10, 2012.
• Laura Bush Foundation for America's Libraries
  Grant opportunity. The Laura Bush Foundation will make grants of amounts up to $5,000 to school libraries. Funds are to be used to update, extend, and diversify the book collections of those libraries.
• Lenski Covey Foundation grants for purchasing books
  Grant opportunity. The Lois Lenski Covey Foundation, Inc. annually awards grants for purchasing books published for young people preschool through grade 12. Grants for 2012 will range from $500 to $3000 and are specifically for children’s book purchases rather than administrative or operational uses. The Foundation gives to libraries or organizations that serve economically or socially at-risk children, have limited book budgets, and demonstrate real need. Only libraries or organizations within the United States, its territories, or commonwealths are eligible.
• NEA Foundation Grants
  Grant opportunity. The National Education Association (NEA) Foundation makes $1,000 awards to public schools serving economically disadvantaged students to purchase books for school libraries as part of Books Across America Library Book Awards. The NEA Foundation makes these awards in collaboration with the National Education Association. The new application process has not been announced. Other grants are available.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Library Frequently Asked Questions
  Information about state funding, additional funding sources, and staffing.

Research

Links to current research about the impact of a quality school library on student achievement.

• Research Related to School Libraries
  Current research about the impact of a quality school library on student achievement.
• California's School Libraries Make a Difference by Doug Achterman, University of North Texas, December 2008
• The School Librarian Investigation Decline or Evolution (SLIDE) an exploratory project submitted by Antioch University Seattle and funded by the Institute for Museum and Library Services. The research looks at the patterns in the continuing, national decline in school librarian positions and how school districts decide to staff library, learning resources, and instructional technology programs for K–12 students.

Library Collection Development

• Literature Links
  CDE recommended literature lists and more from libraries and educational associations.
• School Library Policies
  Sampling of resources for districts and schools for developing and revising policies for selection, intellectual freedom, acceptable use, privacy, and weeding.
  • Weeding the School Library (PDF)

Teacher Librarians

A teacher librarian is a person who possesses both a California teaching credential and a California Teacher Librarian Services credential. Other states frequently refer to this as "library media specialist." Find a program to become a Teacher Librarian.

Legislation to change credential title from library media teacher to teacher librarian became effective on January 1, 2008 (SB 132, Chapter 730, SEC 16).

Requirements as defined by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTCC).

• Teacher Librarian Services Credential (CL-562)
  (see "Service Credentials")

Statistics on Teacher Librarians

• Teacher Librarian Reporting & Statutory Requirements Webinar (Video: 1:30:42)
  A collaborative presentation with California School Library Association, California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System–California Department of Education (CALPADS–CDE), CCTC, and California School Information Services focusing on the why and how to accurately report teacher librarians in CALPADS.
  
  In the 2015–16 academic year, the CDE modified collecting teacher librarians as part of the Pupil Services job classification (considered a “non-classroom based or support assignment”). They are now collected as part of the teacher job classification. This webinar details why this decision was made, outlines the appropriate method to report teacher librarians in CALPADS, and CCTC reviews the credentialing requirements for teacher librarians. 
  
  
• DataQuest Report on Teacher Librarians
  Provides actual numbers within the state, a county or a district. Up through 2014-2015, construct search around staffing and pupil services by type.

Assessing Your School Library

Tools for assessing your school library.

• Looking at the School Library (PDF)
  

What does a good school library look like?

• Ask Me! LAUSD Teacher Librarians
  Produced by teacher librarians in the Los Angeles Unified School District, Ask Me! illustrates the changing role of the 21st century teacher librarian
  
  
• Teacher Librarians at The Heart of Student Learning (Video: 5:20)
  School library and information technology programs are a vital resource for student learning. This video highlights the essential role teacher librarians play in information and technology literacy instruction, reading advocacy, and information management. Produced by the Washington Library Media Association .
  
  
• 21st Century School Libraries
  School libraries are the hub of the school, librarians are heavily involved in education, and changing technology means the library is actually more relevant than ever.
  

School and Public Library Cooperation

Activities between school libraries and public libraries.

• "Joint Use" Public/School Libraries
  Public and School Libraries: Issues and Options of Joint Use Facilities and Cooperative Use Agreements, Christopher Berger, California State Library.
• Library of California
  A network of California libraries.

Key Connections

• Key Connections
  Professional library associations, research assistance, and CDE Web pages frequently used by the CDE library consultant.