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A group of parents at my son's elementary school want to revitalize the school library and hire a certified librarian. How important is this?

A. In a word: very. Study after study has shown that school libraries play an important role in making a full range of print and electronic resources available to students and in teaching students how to find and use those resources for both learning and leisure. Moreover, schools with libraries (also called library media centers) staffed with qualified professionals exhibit measurable differences in student achievement.

Your use of the word "certified" is an astute choice! Not everyone is aware that in some instances, the person staffing a school library media center does not have appropriate certification. Certification, also known as licensure or endorsement, is a term used by various states to recognize that a person has taken coursework in a subject area, passed a variety of tests, and/or met competency requirements. The certification or licensure then allows the person to teach or work in that subject area for specific grade levels.

In 2002, 96 percent of schools had a library media center, with most of these being centrally organized in one location for the school, yet just 76 percent of school library media centers had a state-certified librarian on staff. Studies have now been conducted in 16 states, all showing that students in the schools with libraries staffed by librarians simply do better on tests and in other measures of academic performance.

Today's school libraries are more than passive collections of books. They are centers where information is available in a wide variety of formats, both print and electronic; where school library media specialists and teachers collaborate to provide students with materials and activities to engage them in learning; and where students learn information skills that will prepare them to live and work in the 21st century. Today's school librarians know how to teach their students to find, analyze, evaluate, interpret and communicate information and skills they will need as adults to live and work in an information-based society. In addition to serving as independent learning centers, the programs of many centers are directly integrated into the curriculum.

A particular quote from "No Child Left Behind" really says it all: "School library media centers can contribute to improved student achievement by providing instructional materials aligned to the curriculum; by collaborating with teachers, administrators and parents; and by extending their hours of operation beyond the school day."*

So, what do you need to do? The American Association of School Librarians, a division of the American Library Association, has developed a five-step advocacy plan: 1.) Have a clear objective, 2.) Know what group you need to influence, 3.) Develop strategies, 4.) Develop communications, 5.) Evaluate your progress.

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