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Using Data to Prove the

Worth of the School Library

Jennifer LaGarde February 2020

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Let’s Connect!

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@jenniferlagarde

@jennlagarde

Jennifer LaGarde

librarygirl.net

jennifer@librarygirl.net

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Link to today’s session:

bit.ly/TCEA_20

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“People lose their way when they lose their why.”

  • Gail Hyatt

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My Journey

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My Journey

  • Middle School Librarian
  • High School Librarian
  • Lead Librarian | 42 Schools
  • Digital Teaching and Learning Specialist | 42 Schools
  • “Librarian on Loan” | State of NC
  • PT Lecturer Rutgers University
  • Consultant In Residence Evergreen Public Schools

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My Journey

  • Middle School Librarian
  • High School Librarian
  • Lead Librarian | 42 Schools
  • Digital Teaching and Learning Specialist | 42 Schools
  • “Librarian on Loan” | State of NC
  • PT Lecturer Rutgers University
  • Consultant In Residence Evergreen Public Schools

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Librarian on Loan

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Librarian on Loan

  • 2 years
  • 86/118 School Districts
  • 70,000 miles
  • 6 dongles
  • Countless Libraries

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A Nation Without School Librarians

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2008

  • 20% of workforce
  • Oregon: 144/1250
  • California: < 10%

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Data from more than 34 statewide studies indicate that students earn better standardized test scores (in reading and math) in schools that have strong library programs, led by certified school librarians.

(Lance et al 2018)

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27 countries/20 year study

500 Book Access

>

Educational Level of Parents

(Evans 2010)

Reading

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Reading

Children who read for pleasure make more progress in vocabulary, spelling, and math than those who rarely read.

(Sullivan & Brown, 2013)

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Academic Achievement

Higher Education

Financial Security

Empathy

Philanthropy

Healthier Relationships

Physical Well Being

Longevity

Reading

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We’re Creating A Generation of Non-Readers Who…

See reading’s only

purpose as assessment.

Do little/no reading beyond what is assigned.

Develop skills as “fake readers” to fool teachers.

Have to take remedial

reading and writing in college.

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“Failing to graduate a populace that values reading has long-term consequences for everyone.”

- Donalyn Miller, Reading In The Wild

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Rethinking The “Elevator Pitch.”

  • Doesn’t Consider:
    • Context
    • Audience
    • Nuance

One size NEVER fits all.

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Ways To Share

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Data Walls

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Data Walls

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Data Walls

  • Authentic Learner Need
  • Authentic Teacher Need
  • Formative Assessment
  • Curricula/Learning Targets
  • Admin Goals
  • Their Work VS Our Work

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Annual Reports

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Annual Reports

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Annual Reports

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Other Formats

  • Audience
  • Focus
  • Format
  • Length

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What To Share

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Circulation Data

“Why should I care about this?”

  • Connect to students
  • Connect to school wide goals

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Collection Data

“...we can remind children of color that they are beautiful and they are powerful, and we can provide literature that affirms them…. That’s the work we need to do right now.”

-Kim Parker | @TchKimPossible

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Collection Data

Can Diverse Books Save Us?

In A Divided World, Librarians Are On A Mission

          • SLJ, 2018

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Collaboration Data

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Facilities Data

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Instructional Data

Laurie Hnatiuk | @lhnatiuk

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Qualitative Data

Michelle Annett | @Cascade Library

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Qualitative Data

Michelle Annett | @Cascade Library

  • How does reading make you feel?
  • What the last book you read from start to finish?
  • Do you read outside of school?
  • What makes you want to read?

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Student Specific Data

  • Learning differences
  • Discipline
  • Frequent Absences
  • Marginalized
  • NON Readers

Tara Celustka| @TaraCelustka

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Stories Connect Us

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  • Joy
  • Frustration
  • Accomplishment
  • Hope
  • Despair

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What Story Do You Want To Tell

  • Be Intentional
  • Remember your WHY
  • Collect & Curate
  • Connect

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Making Them Care

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“As librarians, we can offer the very best hammer in the world, but if your principal, your teachers or your parents really need and want a wrench, a screwdriver or a hacksaw, having a hammer, no matter how wonderful, is simply immaterial. They get “it” that you have a great hammer - it just isn’t relevant or important to them. Even if you think it darned well should be.”

-- Doug Johnson

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Your “It”

Their “It”

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A Back To School Challenge

Can you name your _________________’s top three priorities?

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A Back To School Challenge

Can you name your _________________’s top three priorities?

  1. How are you going to find out?
  2. How are you going to share that your work helps to solve these problems?

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Boosting Your Signal

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  • Find your people

  • PSTA

  • Social Media

  • Blogs & Webpages

  • Cross posts

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YOU GOT THIS

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CURATE

CONNECT

SHARE

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Thank you!

Link to this session: bit.ly/TCEA_20

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@jenniferlagarde

@jennlagarde

Jennifer LaGarde

librarygirl.net

jennifer@librarygirl.net

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