Minnesota Multitype Library Systems issue school library census findings

Background

The 2024 Minnesota K-12 School Library Census was funded by a one-time appropriation passed by the Minnesota State Legislature in 2023 and conducted in spring 2024. The census was conducted by Minnesota's Multicounty Multitype Library Systems, with support from State Library Services, a division of the Minnesota Department of Education. Survey design and data collection were managed by Counting Opinions. Wilder Research prepared and analyzed the resulting data, and authored the final reports. Of Minnesota's 1,777 eligible K-12 public and charter schools, 1,528 completed the census.

Findings

According to the report, "school libraries are struggling and need support." Selected findings from the census are recorded below.

81% of schools in Minnesota reported that they have a library media center, but only 55% meet the standard set by Minnesota Statute, and only 6% meet the standard set by the American Association of School Librarians (AASL). Minnesota state statute requires that a library media center be staffed by a licensed media specialist or licensed school librarian, while AASL calls for a full-time licensed media specialist along with a full-time support staff person.

Fewer than half of library media centers are open most of the school day:

• 10 or fewer hours: 28%
• 11-20 hours: 8%
• 21-30 hours: 20%
• 31+ hours: 44%

48% of schools have a library media center budget below $5,000. The distribution of budget amounts for all respondents was reported as follows:

• $0: 1%
• $1 - 2,499: 20%
• $2,500 - $4,999: 27%
• $5,000 - 9,999: 30%
• $10,000 - 19,999: 16%
• $20,000+: 5%

Library media center staff were asked to report the top three challenges they face on the job. The top challenges were:

• Budget and funding sources: 67%
• Collection development and maintenance: 56%
• More staff persons or hours are needed: 48%
• Administration's value of library and/or licensed media specialist: 47%
• Duties assigned that are unrelated to library: 42%
• Condition of facilities and furnishings: 24%

Wilder Research identified the following critical insights from the census data:

1. There is more work to be done to ensure all schools have a library media center.
2. School districts should hire licensed media specialists and support staff, support teachers and other staff in seeking licensure, and increase overall staff hours.
3. More schools across Minnesota would benefit from district-level staff supporting the work of licensed media specialists.
4. Students and teachers will be better equipped for academic and instructional success with the support of a licensed media specialist.
5. Schools need resources to curate their collections to meet the needs of students and a licensed media specialist to ensure this is done in a way that carries the greatest educational value.
6. The Minnesota Department of Education should consider strategies to enforce state statute regarding the definition of a school library, the requirement that library media centers be served by a licensed media specialist, and the use of School Library Aid.

For greater detail, read the full report, "The State of School Libraries in Minnesota: A 2024 Census of K-12 School Libraries" or its executive summary.