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• Acknowledgments
• Table of Contents
  
  
  
  
• Chapter 1
• Part 1
• Part 2
  
  
  
  
• Chapter 2
• Part 1
• Part 2
  
  
  
  
• Chapter 3
• Part 1
• Part 2
• Part 3
• Part 4
• Part 5
• Part 6
  
  
  
  
• Chapter 4
• Part 1
• Part 2
• Part 3
• Part 4
• Part 5
• Part 6
• Part 7
• Part 8
• Part 9
  
  
  
  
• Chapter 5
• Part 1
• Part 2
  
  
  
  
• App. A

6. Library Facilities and Usage

The School Library Programs: Standards and Guidelines expect libraries to provide access during and beyond the instructional day. Seventy-one percent of the elementary school libraries reported that they provide access before and after the school day. On average, elementary school libraries are open for two hours a week before the school day and 2.7 hours at the end of the school day. Between 81 and 85 percent of the middle/junior high school libraries indicated that they are open before and after the school day. On average these libraries are open for 2.7 hours per week before and after the school day. Eighty-three percent of the high school libraries also have extended service hours. On average, they are open for 2.8 hours a week before the school day and 3.9 hours at the end of the school day.

The elementary school libraries' operating hours per week are most strongly associated with the library's operating budget per student and subscriptions. Elementary school libraries with higher operating expenditures per student are more likely to be open more hours per week. Libraries with larger collections of newspapers and magazines are also more likely to be open more hours per week.

At the middle/junior high school level, libraries that operate more hours per week per 100 students are associated with greater library use as reflected by the number of library visits per student and the volume of materials checked out per 100 students. These libraries are also characterized by larger print collection per student and video collection per 100 students. Libraries that operated more hours per week also tend to have larger operating budgets per student.

High school libraries with longer service hours per 100 students are likely to have larger collections of print volumes per student and newspapers and magazines per 100 students. Libraries that operated more hours a week per 100 students are also associated with greater library use as measured by the number of materials checked out per 100 students and number of library visits per student.

Data reported by libraries point to a heavy use of the library by individuals and classes. Librarians reported over 100 contacts per week with individuals and classes for the purpose of information skills instruction. The average number of visits by classes ranged from 34 to 38. Visits by individuals ranged from 347 to 437, on average.

Inter-library loans constitute one means by which the School Library Programs: Standards and Guidelines encourage libraries to access information resources beyond the campus. Between 50 and 60 percent of the libraries loan materials to other libraries in the district. Only about five percent of the libraries reported loaning to and borrowing materials from libraries outside the district.

At all educational levels, library use is significantly correlated with library staff hours. Libraries with more staff hours per 100 students exhibit greater use as reflected by the number of visits to the library and the volume of materials checked out.

The School Library Program Standards and Guidelines for Texas encourage a flexibly-scheduled environment. According to elementary school librarians, on average, about 33 percent of class visits to the library are flexibly scheduled. At the middle/junior high school level and high school, the percent of flexibly scheduled visits to the library are 72 and 82 percent, respectively.

Continue on to Chapter 4