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ADVOCACY

Massachusetts School Libary Study:

Equity and Access for Students in the Commonwealth

To read the entire Massachutts School Library Study (2018)
by Dr. Carol A. Gordon, EdD and Robin Cichetti, EdD go: 

Salem State University Library
Massachusetts School Library Research Project page. 

This libguide page also contains valuable resources for advocacy, background information of study, and many resources for everyday advocacy of your school library.

History and Background of the Massachusetts School Libary Study

Library Commission Purpose and Objectives

Purpose: The commission’s primary purpose is to study the public school library programs in the commonwealth and the best way to serve the needs of students.

Objectives: The commission will...
  • Conduct public hearings to gather information
  • Collaborate with researchers Dr. Robin Cicchetti and Dr. Carol Gordon to design a survey instrument and collect data on the eleven items outlined in the statute
  • Solicit participation in the survey by reaching out to public school districts throughout the Commonwealth
  • Develop a summary report of the commission’s findings with recommendations for school library facilities, budget, staffing, collection development and curriculum standards for school library programs
  • Share report and recommendations with the Joint Committee on Education and the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

About the Commission: 


The Joint Commission on School Library Services in the Commonwealth is comprised of representatives of library, educational, legislative and citizen groups. It is chaired by Senator Kenneth Donnelly of the 4th Middlesex District and Representative Sean Garballey of the 23rd Middlesex District and is comprised of representatives from the Legislature, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), the Massachusetts Teachers Association, the American Federation of Teachers, the Massachusetts School Library Association, the Massachusetts Library Association, the Massachusetts business community, the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, and the Massachusetts Library System.liz phipps-soeiro 


Back row, left to right: Carol Gordon, Laura Carrah, Robin Cicchetti, Judi Paradis, Dan Callahan, Kendall Boninti

Front row: Judy Marcella, John Rosenberry (aide to Rep. Garballey)

Library Commission Members
  • Library Commission Chair: Representative Sean Garballey, Arlington 
  • Senator Ken Donnelly of Arlington
  • Senator Don Humason, Westfield
  • Representative David Vieira, East Falmouth
  • Judi Paradis, Massachusetts School Library Association President, Library Teacher - Waltham Public Schools
  • Kendall Boninti, MSLA Legislation Committee Co-chair - Library Teacher Waltham Public Schools
  • Maureen Ambrosio, Massachusetts Library Association (MLA) President
  • Greg Pronevitz, Massachusetts Library System (MLS) Executive Director
  • Laura Carah, Library Teacher, Sturgis Charter School
  • Carole Shutzer, Teacher - Lynn Public Schools
  • Dr. Jonathan Landman, DESE Assistant Commissioner for Teaching and Learning
  • J.D. Cheslaw, Business Roundtable
Researchers
  • Dr. Robin Cicchetti
  • Dr. Carol Gordon


Posted by Judi Paradis on the MSLA Listserv (2018)
​
​The Special Commission on School Library Services in Massachusetts submitted its final report to the Legislature this month.   Kendall Boninti and Judi Paradis served on this Commission representing MSLA.  The report of the Commission includes key findings regarding equity and access issues in the Commonwealth’s school libraries.  The Commission provided legislators with a series of recommendations for improving equity in Massachusetts public schools, and provided a comprehensive plan and timeline for their implementation.  In a letter to the Massachusetts Legislature, the Commissioners urged legislators to accept their recommendations and work with DESE to ensure their implementation.

The Commission, which included legislators, members of the library and educational communities, and community members, contacted two respected researchers to conduct a comprehensive academic study to evaluate school library programs for equity using a series of data points specified in legislation passed by the Massachusetts Senate in 2013 (Bill S.1906).  The leading researcher, Dr. Carol A. Gordon, is a retired Associate Professor in the Department of Library and Information Science at Rutgers University where she served as the Co-Director of the Center for International Scholarship in School Libraries (CISSL). She was assisted by Dr. Robin Cicchetti, Head Librarian at Concord-Carlisle Regional High School.   The study was distributed by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), and data analysis assistance was provided by CISSL.

The Massachusetts School Library Study: Equity and Access for Students in the Commonwealth provides a report of the research conducted by Drs. Gordon and Cicchetti along with five broad recommendations that as goals for a long-term plan.  The complete report is available on the website of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners and you can find it here.   Analysis of the data and the resulting findings show there are statistically significant differences in measures of status and equity for students from urban and rural districts compared with students from suburban districts.  
Based on these findings, the Commission recommends:
Recommendation 1.0. Improve Access to School Libraries and School Librarians
  • Recommendation 1A. Every public school in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has a school library and a certified school librarian.
  • Recommendation 1B. Establish the position and responsibilities of the School Library Curriculum Specialist at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
  • Recommendation 1C. Support a culture of inquiry in schools that sustains inquiry and resource-based learning, collaborative teaching, and the integration of digital technology to improve access for all students.
Recommendation 2.0. Improve Access to Information Resources in School Libraries:  
Recommendation 2A.. Increase access to print resources in school libraries.
  • Recommendation 2B.. Increase access to electronic resources in school libraries.
Recommendation 3.0. Improve Access to Information Technology:  
  • Recommendation 3A. Improve access to internet and digital devices in school libraries.
  • Recommendation 3B. Increase access to Information Technology through staffing.
Recommendation 4.0. Improve Access to Library Instruction and Help
  • Recommendation 4A. Promote best instructional practices in the school library.
Recommendation 5.0. Improve Access to Funding:  
  • Guidelines for Budget Allocation and Expenditure should be developed to support Recommendations 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0.
The Commission thanks MSLA for providing support for this important work.  We look forward to seeing our recommendations adopted to improve school library programs for all Massachusetts public school students.


Advocacy Chairperson


Georgina Trebbe

gtrebbe@maschoolibraries.org

Minnechaug Regional High School


PO Box 336  |  Wayland, MA  | 01778  |  508-276-1697

Emily Kristofek, Office Manager/Event Planner ekristofek@maschoolibraries.org

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