Last year, on a whim, I initiated a We Want a Librarian on GLEE! Poll.  Almost immediately, the more devoted librarian-viewers of the show wrote to inform me that there had already been one or two quite forgettable portrayals of … Continue reading →

In 2011, school libraries throughout Pennsylvania responded to a survey commissioned by the state legislature.  The survey asked questions about school library staffing, staff activities, collections, technology, hours and access, visits, expenditures, and more.  As the first part of Pennsylvania’s … Continue reading →

Yesterday, it was an honor to speak at the School Librarians in Rhode Island (formerly Rhode Island Educational Media Association) conference in Warwick.  The day began with a breakfast presentation to administrators followed by a keynote address followed by a … Continue reading →

According to the Denver Post, Peyton Manning will be paid $96 million for 5 years as the Denver Broncos quarterback.  That’s $19.2 million per year. Here’s a Colorado public library perspective on that figure based on 2010 public library data … Continue reading →

The surveys of librarians, teachers, and principals and other administrators in connection with Pennsylvania’s IMLS-funded 21st Century School Library Infrastructure study are off to a great start.  In barely 24 hours, here’s what the response rate looks like: Librarians:   … Continue reading →

School Library Journal just published a news item on the fourth Colorado school library impact study, Change in School Librarian Staffing Linked with Change in CSAP Reading Performance, 2005 to 2011. Find the new SLJ news item here. In addition to confirming … Continue reading →

This Friday, March 9, is the official deadline for Pennsylvania school librarians to volunteer themselves and to nominate administrators and teachers to participate in surveys for the Supporting the Infrastructure of 21st Century School Library Programs research project.  At this … Continue reading →

A lot of progress is being made on this project.  Here are a few updates: At this writing, 448 Pennsylvania school librarians have responded to our appeal that they volunteer themselves and nominate (or recommend) up to 3 administrators and … Continue reading →

Hot off the press: a new study of New Jersey school libraries by Drs. Ross Todd, Carol Gordon, and Ya-Ling Lu of Rutgers University’s Center for International Scholarship in School Libraries.

Congratulations to the Jefferson County Public Schools librarians and their advocates, who successfully defended school librarian positions at elementary and middle school levels from recommended cuts.  It was a great example of old-fashioned, face-to-face advocacy coupled with social-media advocacy.  For … Continue reading →