Public libraries support children
and students

There is an inextricable relationship between the formal education system in Canada and the informal lifelong-learning resources provided by public libraries. Public libraries in Canada offer students and children a wide array of resources including print, audiovisual and electronic materials; access to technology; and reading and preschool programs that serve to complement the resources made available to students in formal academic environments.

• a study of the largest urban public libraries across Canada found that in 1995 they spent over $8 million on children's materials. (CALUPL Annual Statistics, 1995, 1996, p.10)

• a province-wide survey of public libraries in British Columbia found that "70% of all libraries devote over 20% of the total budget to children's materials" and that "over 90% of all libraries offer... preschool story time and class visits" (Cobb, 1988, p. intro)

Canadians feel strongly that the public library's role in educating children and students should be a top priority.

• a 1990 Ontario Studies in Education survey asked respondents to rank a list of seven educational and/or cultural institutions (excluding schools) in order of importance for students. Public libraries ranked first with 75% of respondents rating it "Very important" for students to experience before they leave elementary school (Ontario Public Library Services North, 1993, p.9)

• research in Nova Scotia found that 29% of those surveyed felt the most important role for the public library was as a discovery and learning centre for children (Omnifacts, 1996, p.iii)

• Quebec research demonstrates that 70% of children surveyed used the public library to get materials for school assignments or to borrow books for recreational reading. (Elley, 1992, p. 81)

• national research from the United States echoes the Canadian public's belief that libraries should be an integral part of the educational process. "Participants in a 1992 Gallup poll indicated the following as 'very important' roles for public libraries: Formal education support centre (90%) and Preschooler's door to learning (82%)" (NRENAISSANCE, 1994, p.134)

Public support for the library's contribution to learning is reflected in usership. Canadians make excellent use of the educational services that public libraries provide.

• at Nepean Public Library, 25% of patrons reported that the most common reason they used the library was for help with school work. (Ekos Research Associates, 1990, p.20)

• 27% of patrons at the North York Public Library use the library for school work. (North York Public Library, 1995, p.26)

• in Alberta, 32% of patrons use the library for research or school work, or for child related-activities. (Calder Bateman, 1991, p.33)

Investment in public libraries yields a high return in the educational health of students. Studies from around the world show that public library use is a positive factor in the attainment of high reading and comprehension levels.

• in an international study of children's reading levels in 32 countries, one of the major findings was that "The availability of books is a key factor in reading literacy. The highest-scoring countries typically provide their students with greater access to books in the home, in nearby community [public] libraries and bookstores and in school" (Elley, 1992, p. xiii)

• Further statistical analysis of the Elley study reiterated the finding that more effective schools tend to be set in communities "which feature ready access to books through the availability of a public library..." (Postlethwaite and Ross, 1992, p.42)

• a study in Slovenia found "A positive correlation between reading literacy and nearness to a public library... those whose schools were right close to a public library scored higher... than those who were 30 - 120 minutes away" (Novljan, 1993, p.100)

• an analysis of fourth-grade reading comprehension tests in 41 American states and the public library's average per capita circulation revealed a positive correlation. The research concluded that this finding "is consistent with the many previous studies showing that free reading is a consistent predictor of reading ability and that libraries are a major source of reading for children" (Krashen, 1995, p.236)

In partnership with formal education systems, public libraries have a crucial role in ensuring that Canada has well-educated students ready to face the 21st century.

Well-educated students will ensure that Canada remains a successful and competitive country in the expanding global economy and into the next century.