Licensed media specialists are a must-have for school libraries
Written by Marie Hydukovich, former media specialist and current fifth grade teacher. Edited by Heaven Keane.
It is no secret that schools are light on money. Never has a school district said “Hey, you know what? We’re good, here’s your tax refund.” I don’t have sources, but I’m guessing that’s never happened. In the face of these pervasive budgetary shortfalls accompanied by ever-increasing pressure to raise test scores, one of the first positions too often targeted is that of the school library media specialist.
This is a mistake.
Decades of educational research show that eliminating or weakening school library programs has clear, measurable and negative effects on student achievement. Numerous statewide impact studies—often referred to collectively as the “Lance studies”—demonstrate that schools with well-staffed, professionally led library programs consistently outperform schools without them, even when controlling for socioeconomic status, school size and per-pupil spending. In one of the earliest and largest analyses, Lance, Welborn and Hamilton-Pennell (1993) found that students in schools with certified librarians scored significantly higher on standardized reading assessments than those in schools lacking such staffing.
A high-functioning library media center, staffed with a licensed library media specialist, is an absolute necessity when the goal is an increase in literacy rates and a narrowing of gaps amongst populations. The presence of a certified library media specialist is not an optional “extra”—it is an essential part of a high-functioning school. Decades of research consistently reinforce the truth that strong school library programs, led by credentialed professionals, directly support student achievement, equity of access and the development of lifelong learners.
While media specialists are considered a luxury, schools are consistently adding more non-student-facing administrative or coaching roles. Librarians, or media specialists, are far from being a quiet custodian of books. Hiring a library media specialist means bringing in instructional support, a technology integrator and a highly trained teacher, all in one. The school library media specialist is an instructional partner, a literacy leader and a guide for students navigating an increasingly complex information landscape.
Over the past two decades, numerous large-scale studies—from states such as Colorado, Pennsylvania and our own Minnesota—show a clear link between professionally staffed school libraries and higher student achievement. As one study observed, “students at schools with better-funded library media centers tend to achieve higher average reading scores, whether their schools and communities are rich or poor” (Lance, Welborn, & Hamilton-Pennell, 1993, as cited in ALA, n.d.).
When schools employ certified library media specialists, students score better on reading and writing assessments. If literacy is the goal, librarians are a necessity. Yet Minnesota is overwhelmingly underserving students in this way. According to Wilder Research (2022), “while 81% of schools report having a library media center, nearly half lack a licensed media specialist managing their library.”
Library media specialists collaborate with classroom teachers to design instruction that integrates reading strategies, research skills and critical thinking. Media specialists help students learn how to ask good questions, locate credible sources, synthesize information and match students to books, which often turns them into readers. The skills taught by a librarian transfer across every subject area.
Students who have access to quality library programs read more often and with greater variety. Students discover the joy of reading as well as access to the legitimate informational sources that deepen their understanding of the world. Library media specialists are the only licensed teaching professionals trained to curate collections. They are vital to guiding collection development. Without them, it is impossible to maintain current, diverse, responsive collections that both reflect students’ identities and provide “windows” into worlds beyond their own.
Information literacy is inseparable from digital literacy. Media specialists are experts in both. Librarians ensure that every student has access to credible databases, age-appropriate books and reliable internet connections. Librarians teach students how to identify misinformation, avoid plagiarism and understand intellectual property. Removing media specialists widens academic gaps. Without librarians, many students are left on their own in an increasingly complex information environment. Meanwhile, those in families with more access to resources benefit from educated adults, private tutors, community courses and programming designed for them.
Beyond curating collections, media specialists provide equitable access to materials. Librarians have long been defenders of the freedom to read and explore ideas. These tenets are central to both education and democracy. Book challenges and censorship are rising. A certified professional library media specialist is trained and ready to serve as a defender of students’ rights to learn and think critically. Librarians often defuse book challenges before they escalate, allowing schools to meet the needs of all students while still respecting a parent’s right to guide their own child’s reading.
Investing in quality library programs is an investment in long-term student success. The skills students gain—information literacy, media analysis, independent learning—are precisely those demanded by colleges and employers.
Schools do not question the need for math teachers or reading specialists because we recognize that they provide fundamental support for learning. Schools do not allow principals to write IEPs without a special education license, because they aren’t trained. The same must be true for school libraries. Only media specialists are licensed to curate collections and order materials. A librarian’s work touches every grade level and subject. A library media specialist advances literacy, critical thinking, equity and inclusion. The library media specialist serves every single student in a school. The school library is the only classroom open to everyone, every day.
When schools view library media specialists as optional, they signal that access to information, diverse perspectives and guidance in navigating the modern knowledge economy are optional. They are not.
School library media specialists are not a luxury. They are a necessity central to building equitable, informed and thriving school communities.
Sources:
- American Association of School Librarians. (2016). School libraries work! (2016 research compendium). Scholastic.
- Lance, K. C., Rodney, M. J., & Hamilton-Pennell, C. (2000). Measuring up to standards: The impact of school library programs and information literacy in Pennsylvania schools. Pennsylvania Department of Education.
- Lance, K. C., Welborn, L., & Hamilton-Pennell, C. (1993). The impact of school library media centers on academic achievement. Hi Willow Research and Publishing.
- Rodney, M. J., Lance, K. C., & Hamilton-Pennell, C. (2002). Make the connection: Quality school library media programs impact student achievement in Iowa. Iowa Area Education Agencies.
- Swan, D. W., & Manross, L. (2001). Check it out! Results from the school library media program census: Minnesota 2001. Minnesota Educational Media Organization.
- Todd, R. J., & Kuhlthau, C. C. (2005). Student learning through Ohio school libraries, part 1 & 2. School Libraries Worldwide, 11(1), 63–88.
