[LM_NET] HIT: Recommended amount per student

[Lisa Weinstein <lisa.t.weinstein@GMAIL.COM>]

Thank you very much to everyone who responded to my target!  Here is
the original post:
-------------------
Date: Thu, Feb 21, 2008 at 5:24 PM
Subject: TAR: Recommended amount per student

I am looking for the recommended dollar amount (per student) that
 school libraries (specifically for elementary & junior high) should
 receive for purchasing books.  I was hoping to find figures from a
 national organization such as ALA, AASL, or IRA, but my searches
 didn't come up with anything.

 Are there national recommended statistics for how many books per
 student you should have in a school library?

 Of course, we would be bringing this to our board, so source
 information would be greatly appreciated.
-------------------
Here are the responses:
I have some of this information on my computer at school (including
sources) - I'll send it to you tomorrow, but off the top of my head,
the recommended dollar amount is $20/per student/per year (the average
is a totally different number!), and the recommended library size is
18-20 books per student.

Some of the information I gathered on this question last year:

a.      Accreditation standards from a variety of state, regional and
national sources for a well regarded school library program appear to
suggest a minimum of approximately 20 books per student
b.      In a 2005 report from the U.S. DoE, the Digest of Education
Statistics and Figures, the national average is 18 books per student.
c.      That same report indicates the national average annual per
student expenditure on library materials is $24.88 (books + all other
media).

NOTE:   None of these numbers take into account important factors such
as age of individual schools or the age of books and other items in
those libraries. Nor does it consider/compare individual campus
budgeting for collection development.*


Sources:        US Department of Education - http://nces.ed.gov
                      LM_NET on the Web http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/
               (School Library/Media Specialists ListServ)

AK

Go to School Library Journal.  Their updated price will come out next
month.  Last year is was $20.52 as the average price for a book.

TX

In NYS, the state provides $6.25 per student for every school.  This is up
from $2 in 1992.  Our State Library Association NYLA is asking for $10 which
under current conditions will not happen.  Our schools also receive between
14 and 17 per student for technology - software only.  Seems a little skewed
don't you think?  Many of our elementary schools only get the state aid.  In
my district - Poughkeepsie - we get a little more but not much for each elem
and the middle and high schools get more.

NY

In District 196, we receives $4.00 per student from capital outlay
dollars to purchase materials to support the curriculum.  This money
is to be above our building library budgets.   I spend about $6.00 per
student out of my library budget to purchase books and some media
(DVD, sound recordings etc), and about $5.50 per student in
fundraising dollars from our Scholastic Book Fairs.
I hope the information helps,

MN

I don't know the dollar amount, however, in most schools, particularly in
Texas, we are supposed to aim for 18 books per student in our elementaries,
and a variation of that in the middle school and high school.  I guess there
is a dollar amount, but I haven't seen it lately.

TX

The recommendations that I have seen usually say one book per student
per year.  As the price keeps changing, you need to revise every year.
SLJ (I think it is in the Dec. issue) post these prices.

TX

There is a document in Kentucky called Beyond Proficiency that sets up
the criteria for a distinguished school library.  It has a number of
statistics that may help you. You can find it on the Kentucky Department
of Education website.

KY

The North Central Association and the Southern Association of Colleges
and Schools are apparently in the process of joining (I was not aware
of that).  I was unable to find specific numbers of books in the
materials for North Central but SACS requires specific numbers.  You
can find that information on page 9 of their accreditation standards:

http://www.sacscasi.org/region/standards/SACS_CASI_K-12_Standards_InternetVer.pdf

I assume that since the two associations are merging, the requirements
will be the same.

GA

Many states have a recommened amount set in a rating scale. here in
Texas libraries can be Exemplary, Recognized, Acceptable, and Below
Standard. Standard 3 gives the suggested total collection; ratio
books/student; etc...
Of course there is no mandate fo rthis it is just the "recommended" standards.

http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/ld/schoollibs/

TX

I know it is 20 books per student in Texas, but not the amount.

TX

I'm unaware of any national standards, but Oklahoma standards require
the following:

Fewer than 500 students: $9/pupil
500-999: $4500 for the first 500 pupils plus $5 per student above 500
1000-1999: $7000 for the first 1000 students plus $4 per student above 1000
2000 plus: $11000 for the first 2000 students plus $3 per student above 2000

OK

We have state library standards (although they are only suggestions
and not mandates) that tell how many books per student would create an
outstanding library, an average library, a below average library, or a
deficient library.  Perhaps your state's department of education or
library division within the state agencies has information regarding
how many books are considered adequate for your specific school based
upon enrollment, etc.

Check your State standards. Here in Missouri the rule is 1% of the state
average per eligible student expenditure.

there are different forms to review here:
http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/ld/schoollibs/
Since these are "suggestions" and not "mandates" it's often hard to
get anything firm when it comes to exactly what we should be doing,
but most of us try to follow these guidelines and treat them like they
were mandates (and hope that someday they will be!)

MO

-- 
Lisa Weinstein
Century Junior High
Orland Park, IL 60467
lweinstein@orland135.org

"Books are like blankets, the mere sight of them around the house
provides warmth and comfort.  They are like mirrors, too, reflecting
places I've been, phases I've been through, people I've loved or
thought I did."  ~Mary Schmich, "Virtual or Not, Libraries are Sweet
Labor"

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Please note: All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law.
  You can prevent most e-mail filters from deleting LM_NET postings
  by adding LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU to your e-mail address book.
To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu
In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET  2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL
 3) SET LM_NET MAIL  4) SET LM_NET DIGEST  * Allow for confirmation.
 * LM_NET Help & Information: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/
 * LM_NET Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/
 * EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://lm-net.info/
 * LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html
 * LM_NET Wiki: http://lmnet.wikispaces.com/
--------------------------------------------------------------------