The Illinois Study

Powerful Libraries


Powerful Libraries Make Powerful Learners: The Illinois Study
This study of Illinois school libraries identified numerous positive and statistically significant
relationships between school library programs and student achievement. The complete Excutive
Summary of the report can be found at the Illinois School Library Media Association Web site.

Major Findings
At all grade levels, test scores (ISAT reading and writing scores for fifth-and eighth-graders,
PSAE reading and ACT scores for eleventh-graders) tend to be highter:

• Where access to school libraries is more flexible scheduled,
  
• Where school libraries are staffed more fully,
  
• Where school librarians spend more time collaborating with classroom teachers,
  
• Where larger collections are available,
  
• Where educational technology is more widely available to augment the local collection
  and, generally, to extend access to online resources into the classroom,
  
• Where school libraries are better funded, and
  
• Where students use school libraries, both individually and in groups, to learn and practice
  the information literacy skills they will need to excel on tests and as lifelong learners.
  

View slide presentation on findings.