Can We Count on School Librarians Changing Nonacademic Outcomes?

• In Event: Hilton Roundtable Session 4
  In Roundtable Session: Teachers, Principals, and Librarians: Examining Roles in School Buildings

Abstract

Prior educational research has shown a link between academic and nonacademic outcomes in schools
(Gershenson, 2016). School library research often focuses on academic outcomes with little attention given
to nonacademic outcomes related to school library variables. This study uses a multiverse analysis of a statelevel
data set to explore the relationship between school library variables and nonacademic outcomes for
students in grades 3-8 in a large northeastern state, a total of 1,700 schools. Results indicate that school
library variables, specifically the presence of a school librarian in the building, are associated with higher
numbers of unexcused absences, total discipline incidents, disruptive incidents, and suspensions after
adjusting for multiple covariates.

Authors

• Michael S Radlick, Learning Technology Visions, LLC

• Joette Stefl-Mabry, University at Albany - SUNY

• Shannon Mersand, University at Albany - SUNY