Research on Health and Education Foundation / American Board Student and Faculty Attitudes Toward School Libraries and Student Learning

The report "What is the evidence that school libraries help students in their learning?" answers this question with statistical and qualitative evidence from a Spring/Fall 2009 Library Attitude Survey answered by 1,593 grade 6-12 students and 340 faculty (Preschool to Grade 12) from six Turkish private schools - 3 elementary (6-8) schools and three high schools in Istanbul, Izmir and Tarsus, Turkey. The survey was done to collect statistical indicators of success for the foundation which owns and manages the schools. The survey collected data in both statistical and open-ended written format. For statistical data students and faculty were asked to rate 27 statements of help, most of them translated into Turkish from a 2002 Library Attitude Survey given by Ohio Educational Library Media Association (OELMA). These statements of help were grouped under seven broader concepts of help which were also ranked by mean score. For qualitative data students were asked to write about one time when the school library really helped them. They were asked to write about the help they got and what they were able to do because of it. They were also asked to complete the statement "The school library would be much better if... ."