School Library Systems – Advocacy Toolkit

What Legislators Need to Know

School Library Systems were created by Education Law 282-284 in 1985 and is governed by the regulations of the Commissioner of Education §90.18

School Library Systems in New York:

REMEMBER THE LEARNER IN THIS EQUATION. ACCESS TO QUALITY INFORMATION RESOURCES = STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT IN 19 EMPIRICAL STATE STUDIES!

Deliver services to 3,000,000 students
Serve 4,779 school library media centers
Provide resources to 698 public and 546 nonpublic school districts statewide
Provide inter-library loan of information resources - 1,092,030 resources SHARED in 2002-2003
12,732,967 individual information resources were shared because of School Library Systems in 2003-2004
The average School Library has just 25 periodical subscriptions, but School Library Systems SHARE 29,052 titles, while NOVEL databases provided through School Library Systems offer thousands of full text newspapers and magazines to students and teachers, many with no other access to databases
Schools Library Systems SHARED a pool of 29,150,936 monographs in 2003-2004 School Library Systems provided 11,629,109 database searches in the same year, along with another 30,000 searches for teachers and librarians.
80,085,246 documents were retrieved by students and teachers using system supported databases.
One regional School Library System documented 1,000,000 database searches in one school year
Over 900,000 documents were retrieved from databases supported by just one System in 2003-2004
Over 260,000 resources were SHARED because of one School Library System in 2002-2003
17,374 SLMS and teachers participated in free or low cost in service training through School Library Systems, enhancing instruction and learner outcomes
The cost per transaction is only 48 cents, when the state funding for SLS is divided by just the number of interlibrary loans and database searches
Without the School Library System, every number on this page would be ZERO.
With low cost database offerings, connections to New York’s Online Virtual Electronic Library (NOVEL), and inter-library sharing, every dollar of public funding invested in School Library Systems returns $3.00 of resource value.

School Library Systems of New York CONNECT:

Students and teachers to shared, quality information resources
Students and teachers to online databases and encyclopedias
School Library Media Specialists across a region for professional awareness and development
School library media specialists with teachers optimizing collaborative curriculum design
Regional school libraries with each other and public, academic and special libraries
Resource based learning activities with ACCESS beyond the single school library
New York State's learners with information literacy standards
Learners with SUCCESS

Four fundamental BIG IDEAS about SLS:

1. Educational reform and technological innovation CONNECT through the services of School Library Systems.

2. Equity and success for every child are enhanced every day by access to information resources made possible by School Library Systems.

3. New York's Learning Standards embrace resource based learning, information problem solving, real world connections, life long learning tied to accessing, using, synthesizing, evaluating and communicating information.

4. Public funding expended for SLS services is optimized through: sharing of regional and statewide resources, cost effective access to databases and technology, training and support that enhances curriculum and instruction, and unique connections to inaccessible resources.

Learning Standards and Information Literacy

The educational standards reform in New York State has redirected teaching and learning to encompass active learning environments, relevance, connections beyond the real world, technology, and authentic process and products. The new learning standards embrace a framework for student achievement emphasizing information literacy and technology. The reason: engaging students in learning activities based on information problem solving correlates with enhanced student achievement. Fifteen recent studies in states across the country have demonstrated the degree to which information literacy and problem solving, based in the school library, is the number one indicator of student success.

ACCESS FOR ALL

INVESTING in School Library Systems is investing in learners, achievement, real world connections, thinking and ACCESS for all.

ACCESS to quality information resources and technology is the foundation for this success, in conjunction with the instructional role of professional school library media specialists. The role of the school library media specialist includes teaching students to select and access the BEST information tools for any information problem. Evaluating and synthesizing the best resources results in quality products and student achievement.

Two primary tools for access to information in the school library are also supported by School Library Systems:

Databases and other online information resources
Online public access catalogs which connect students to local and shared regional library holdings

The School Library System

1. Expands exponentially the opportunities of learners and teachers to access quality resources
2. Maximizes public funds by facilitating sharing, a premise underlying the creation of library systems
3. Supports collaboration that leads to student success.

EMPOWERING TEACHERS AND LEARNERS

The New York State Learning Standards have propelled classroom teachers across the state into new curricular initiatives, new expectations for learners, and new collaborative partnerships. The reform Core Curriculum and resource Guides, in every academic discipline, detail learner outcomes and competencies that must be addressed. A unified vision is clearly conveyed. Literacy reaches out its roots to gather thematic collections from regional libraries, special tools for young investigators exploring the world around them, and every conceivable manifestation of language for growing minds. Learners at every grade level solve problems, draw conclusions, analyze texts, and THINK.

The graduates of New York's schools must now demonstrate competencies in:

information problem solving
critical thinking
understanding of overarching ideas
use of data to draw conclusions
successful access of quality information sources
analysis and evaluation of that information
synthesis of information
and communication of that information to meaningful audiences.

A vision evolves of active learners succeeding in information environments, using technological research options, exploring all sides of arguments, supporting a thesis, and mastering information literacy.

IN SCHOOL LIBRARIES and CLASSROOMS TODAY:

Teachers move beyond the text.
Teachers move beyond the classroom.
Teachers incorporate literacy experiences that are built on BIG IDEAS, thematic concepts, resources that create understanding.
Teachers create new assessments and new learning experiences.
Teachers expect quality information use and analysis.
Teachers raise the standards, develop thinking.
Teachers find collaborative partners like school library media specialists to assist in planning and implementation of resource based units.
Teachers engage learners with technology in research and in presentations, increasing meaning for the learner.
Teachers frame activities that demand database access, thorough and in depth analysis, multiple sources from more than one library, and real world connections.

*Did you know that the NYS ELA and Early Literacy Learning Standards call for elementary students to master the synthesis of at least three information resources. By middle school synthesis of five or more information resources from multiple libraries is a benchmark. Commencement level competency in accessing and using information tools includes synthesis of up to ten information resources from up to three libraries. S.E.D. knows that regional sharing is the KEY!

Did you know that Math, Science, Technology Standard 2-Information Systems, Standard 7 Interdisciplinary Problem Solving, Social Studies core skills, ELA Standards 1 and 3, and other areas of the Learning Standards establish benchmarks for information problem solving and using technology to access, use, evaluate, synthesize, and communicate information. Commencement level outcomes could not be achieved without the resource sharing opportunities and database access supported by School Library Systems.


	School Library Systems - Advocacy Toolkit “It is not enough to care. You must act.” “In the budget equation, remember all learners.”


ALERT - Be part of the Sunflower Avalanche! ADVOCATE NOW! Sunflower Action Plan for School Library Systems 2008 ADVOCACY - Getting the ACTION started Introduction What are the Issues? Budget Hearing on Elementary and Secondary Education Contact NY Decision Makers How can I frame my message? School Libraries Do Make a Difference to KIDS Outcomes 21st Century Skills, the Workforce and School Libraries System Director's Legislative Visits Resources Brochures & Flyers Strategies Testimony Forms & Samples Advocacy Links AASL Standards for the 21st Century Learner Survey Results of School Libraries Count!		What Legislators Need to Know School Library Systems were created by Education Law 282-284 in 1985 and is governed by the regulations of the Commissioner of Education §90.18 School Library Systems in New York: REMEMBER THE LEARNER IN THIS EQUATION. ACCESS TO QUALITY INFORMATION RESOURCES = STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT IN 19 EMPIRICAL STATE STUDIES! Deliver services to 3,000,000 students Serve 4,779 school library media centers Provide resources to 698 public and 546 nonpublic school districts statewide Provide inter-library loan of information resources - 1,092,030 resources SHARED in 2002-2003 12,732,967 individual information resources were shared because of School Library Systems in 2003-2004 The average School Library has just 25 periodical subscriptions, but School Library Systems SHARE 29,052 titles, while NOVEL databases provided through School Library Systems offer thousands of full text newspapers and magazines to students and teachers, many with no other access to databases Schools Library Systems SHARED a pool of 29,150,936 monographs in 2003-2004 School Library Systems provided 11,629,109 database searches in the same year, along with another 30,000 searches for teachers and librarians. 80,085,246 documents were retrieved by students and teachers using system supported databases. One regional School Library System documented 1,000,000 database searches in one school year Over 900,000 documents were retrieved from databases supported by just one System in 2003-2004 Over 260,000 resources were SHARED because of one School Library System in 2002-2003 17,374 SLMS and teachers participated in free or low cost in service training through School Library Systems, enhancing instruction and learner outcomes The cost per transaction is only 48 cents, when the state funding for SLS is divided by just the number of interlibrary loans and database searches Without the School Library System, every number on this page would be ZERO. With low cost database offerings, connections to New York’s Online Virtual Electronic Library (NOVEL), and inter-library sharing, every dollar of public funding invested in School Library Systems returns $3.00 of resource value. School Library Systems of New York CONNECT: Students and teachers to shared, quality information resources Students and teachers to online databases and encyclopedias School Library Media Specialists across a region for professional awareness and development School library media specialists with teachers optimizing collaborative curriculum design Regional school libraries with each other and public, academic and special libraries Resource based learning activities with ACCESS beyond the single school library New York State's learners with information literacy standards Learners with SUCCESS Four fundamental BIG IDEAS about SLS: 1. Educational reform and technological innovation CONNECT through the services of School Library Systems. 2. Equity and success for every child are enhanced every day by access to information resources made possible by School Library Systems. 3. New York's Learning Standards embrace resource based learning, information problem solving, real world connections, life long learning tied to accessing, using, synthesizing, evaluating and communicating information. 4. Public funding expended for SLS services is optimized through: sharing of regional and statewide resources, cost effective access to databases and technology, training and support that enhances curriculum and instruction, and unique connections to inaccessible resources. Learning Standards and Information Literacy The educational standards reform in New York State has redirected teaching and learning to encompass active learning environments, relevance, connections beyond the real world, technology, and authentic process and products. The new learning standards embrace a framework for student achievement emphasizing information literacy and technology. The reason: engaging students in learning activities based on information problem solving correlates with enhanced student achievement. Fifteen recent studies in states across the country have demonstrated the degree to which information literacy and problem solving, based in the school library, is the number one indicator of student success. ACCESS FOR ALL INVESTING in School Library Systems is investing in learners, achievement, real world connections, thinking and ACCESS for all. ACCESS to quality information resources and technology is the foundation for this success, in conjunction with the instructional role of professional school library media specialists. The role of the school library media specialist includes teaching students to select and access the BEST information tools for any information problem. Evaluating and synthesizing the best resources results in quality products and student achievement. Two primary tools for access to information in the school library are also supported by School Library Systems: Databases and other online information resources Online public access catalogs which connect students to local and shared regional library holdings The School Library System 1. Expands exponentially the opportunities of learners and teachers to access quality resources 2. Maximizes public funds by facilitating sharing, a premise underlying the creation of library systems 3. Supports collaboration that leads to student success. EMPOWERING TEACHERS AND LEARNERS The New York State Learning Standards have propelled classroom teachers across the state into new curricular initiatives, new expectations for learners, and new collaborative partnerships. The reform Core Curriculum and resource Guides, in every academic discipline, detail learner outcomes and competencies that must be addressed. A unified vision is clearly conveyed. Literacy reaches out its roots to gather thematic collections from regional libraries, special tools for young investigators exploring the world around them, and every conceivable manifestation of language for growing minds. Learners at every grade level solve problems, draw conclusions, analyze texts, and THINK. The graduates of New York's schools must now demonstrate competencies in: information problem solving critical thinking understanding of overarching ideas use of data to draw conclusions successful access of quality information sources analysis and evaluation of that information synthesis of information and communication of that information to meaningful audiences. A vision evolves of active learners succeeding in information environments, using technological research options, exploring all sides of arguments, supporting a thesis, and mastering information literacy. IN SCHOOL LIBRARIES and CLASSROOMS TODAY: Teachers move beyond the text. Teachers move beyond the classroom. Teachers incorporate literacy experiences that are built on BIG IDEAS, thematic concepts, resources that create understanding. Teachers create new assessments and new learning experiences. Teachers expect quality information use and analysis. Teachers raise the standards, develop thinking. Teachers find collaborative partners like school library media specialists to assist in planning and implementation of resource based units. Teachers engage learners with technology in research and in presentations, increasing meaning for the learner. Teachers frame activities that demand database access, thorough and in depth analysis, multiple sources from more than one library, and real world connections. *Did you know that the NYS ELA and Early Literacy Learning Standards call for elementary students to master the synthesis of at least three information resources. By middle school synthesis of five or more information resources from multiple libraries is a benchmark. Commencement level competency in accessing and using information tools includes synthesis of up to ten information resources from up to three libraries. S.E.D. knows that regional sharing is the KEY! Did you know that Math, Science, Technology Standard 2-Information Systems, Standard 7 Interdisciplinary Problem Solving, Social Studies core skills, ELA Standards 1 and 3, and other areas of the Learning Standards establish benchmarks for information problem solving and using technology to access, use, evaluate, synthesize, and communicate information. Commencement level outcomes could not be achieved without the resource sharing opportunities and database access supported by School Library Systems.

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