Haves, Halves, and Have-Nots: School Libraries and Student Achievement in California Page: 7

The California Education Code defines a school library as "a library that is established to
support the curriculum-related research and instructional reading needs of pupils and teachers
and provides the collections, related equipment, and instructional services of a staff for an
elementary or secondary school" (Section 18810(U), 2007). Further, a school library is "an
organized collection of printed and audiovisual materials" that is "administered as a unit...is
located in a designated place...(and)makes printed, audiovisual, and other materials as well as
necessary equipment and services of a staff accessible to elementary and secondary school
pupils and teachers" (California Education Code, Section 18710(M), 2007). A school library
program is defined as all the resources available through the school library, as well as all the
elements that are required to maintain and administer those resources in service to the school
community of which it is a part.
Description of this Dissertation
This dissertation is based upon a history of school library program elements whose
practice can be traced back to the early 20th century. Chapter 2 traces the evolution of the school
library and the LMS, including the expanding conceptions of the school library program's role in
student achievement. Research on the growing instructional role of the LMS is reviewed, as are
studies that specifically examine relationships between school library elements and student
achievement. Chapter 2 concludes with the theoretical framework for this study, which derives
from models of the school library program that account for both instructional and informational
roles of the LMS. Chapter 3 presents the methodology of this study, including descriptions of
the standardized tests to be used to measure student achievement, the school library survey
instrument, and the statistical operations used in analyzing the data. The fourth chapter presents
the results of the study, including statistical analysis of bivariate and partial correlations, as well