Imagine

A media center that has not only current fiction and non-fiction books,
however a media center that allows students to create, be innovative
and showcase their talents. In order to do this, the budget will need to
encompass not only books but technology, robotics, STEM and
supplies.

Student achievement is higher in schools where the library media

center and its resources are used more often, both by individual
students and by whole classes (Lance, 2000).
Dare
Create a budget that will allow for students to create and use critical
thinking skills. Have a media center that allows for discussion and
hands on activities, as well as giving responsibility to students in
checking out their books.

All young people should be prepared to think deeply and to think well
so that they have the chance to become the innovators, educators,
researchers, and leaders who can solve the most pressing challenges
facing our nation and our world, both today and tomorrow (U. S.
Department of Education, 2016 ).
Execute
Provide research in order for administration to see how incorporating
these activities in the media center has helped other schools. Start
small! Select a grade level that can utilize these activities to show how
it improves their confidence and test scores. Basically create a case
study that provides the management of the media center functioning
how it should, classes being offered, technology being used and all
activities aligned to the curriculum/standards. Continue to work on
STEM, discussions, critical thinking skills and show case all items in the
media center. Once scores come in, pull all data for that grade level
that was used as trial. Not only state assessments, but progress
throughout the year, of when students started going to the media
center to use everything it has to offer. In order for it to be a consistent
and true case study, the same will need to be done for a few years to
see the true impact of a functioning library media program assists in
increasing student achievement.

A variety of credible studies tell us that schools with good library

media programs tend to have children who do well academically as
measured by standardized test scores. So does common sense. As
administrators, we should not be asking ourselves if we should be
devoting resources to improving test scores or to improving media
programs. Improved media programs do equal improved test scores
and more (Johnson, 2007).

Achieve
Media center management is extremely important, not only when it
comes to the programs, activities and materials (technology, research,
books) but how it runs in all aspects. Inventory, budget, teacher
friendly and kid friendly helps in creating the vision of preparing
students for life in a safe environment. If a budget is not created for
the vision properly and not student centered, the management of the
media center will not show its true purpose. It is the heart of the
school, so everyone going in the media center needs to feel that it is a
welcoming space for choice and judgement free.

As this most recent study clearly found, librarians are even more
significant for our most struggling students, yet these are often the
very kids forced to go without books, staff, or space (Yinzercation,
2012).

Sources:
Alabaster, Carol. (2010). Developing an Outstanding Core Collection: A
Guide for Libraries. American Library Association, 2nd Edition.

Albitz, Becky, Avery, C. & Zabel, D. (2014). Rethinking Collection

Development and Management. Libraries Unlimited.

Chan, C. (2008). The impact of school library services on student

achievement and the implications for advocacy: A review of the
literature. Access, 22(4), 15-20. Retrieved from HKBU Institutional
Repository.

Didler, Elaine. (1984). Research on the Impact of School Library

Programs on Student Achievement: Implications for School Library
Media Professionals. School Library Media Annual, Libraries Unlimited,
p. 352.

Dilevko, Juris and Lisa Gottlieb. (2003). Weed to Achieve: A

Fundamental Part of the Public Library Mission? (PDF) Library
Collections, Acquisitions, & Technical Services. 27, no. 1: 73-96.

Disher, Wayne. (2014). Crash Course in Collection Development.

Libraries Unlimited, 2nd edition.

Johnson, Doug. (2007). Can School Media Programs Help Raise

Standardized Test Scores? Minnesota: Real Questions, Good Answers,
Knowledge Quest, Vol #3 no. 3.

Lance, K. C., Rodney, M. J., & Hamilton-Pennell, C. (2000). Measuring

up to Standards: The Impact of School Library Programs & Information
Literacy in Pennsylvania Schools. Pennsylvania Citizens for Better
Libraries.

Nelson, J. (2010). Library staffing benefits Latino student achievement.

CSLA Journal, 34(1), 14-16. Retrieved from Library, Information Science
& Technology Abstracts database. (Accession No. 52595646)

Singer, Carol A. (2012). Fundamentals of Managing Reference

Collections. American Library Association.

Ullah, S. Z., & Farooq, M. S. (2008). Quality libraries produce quality

learners. Journal of Quality and Technology Management, 4(2), 1-9.
Retrieved from ERIC database: http://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED506774

U.S. Department of Education. Science, Technology, Engineering and

Math: Education for Global Leadership. https://www.ed.gov/Stem
Yinzercation. (2012, November 27). Libraries tell our story [Web log
post]. Retrieved from
http://yinzercation.wordpress.com/2012/11/27/libraries-tell-our-story/