History of the School Library

By saralaliberte

  • New York state legislature

    New York state legislature passed a law to allow tax money to be used to establish and maintain school libraries.

  • Birth of modern American library movement.

    ALA was created by librarians, led by Melvil Dewey.

  • Money on a matching-fund basis.

    School districts were allowed to receive money on a matching-fund basis for the purchase of library books in New York.

  • NEA gets in the game.

    NEA created a Library Section at the encouragement of John Cotton Dana and Melvil Dewey.

  • Standards Created

    A tentative standard for elementary school libraries was issued by New York state's School Libraries Division.

  • High School Libraries included.

    New York State created the High School Library Section within the New York State Teachers Association.

  • E.D. Greenman's Article

    E.D. Greenman's article is published in the Library Journal stating that while a foundation has been laid most school libraries, if the school even had one, were inadequate as it concerned size, staff and organization.

  • ALA joins in.

    The ALA founded its own School Library Section.

  • Regulations Adopted.

    The New York Board of Education adopted regulations making High School Librarian pay equal to teachers. They also recommended that prospective librarians be graduates of a one year course in an approved library school.

  • Library Should Be The Go-To Source

    New curriculum structures were developed which called for a variety of educational materials with the go-to source being a well-stocked and well-administered library.

  • Certain Report

    ALA publishes the "Standard Library Organization and Equipment for Secondary Schools" a.k.a the "Certain Report" so named after the author.

  • Qualitative Standards

    North Central Association developed a set of standards that focused on qualitative standards over quantities of materials.

  • "Elementary School Library Standards"

    "Elementary School Library Standards" is published and endorsed by the NEA and ALA.

  • "The Library in the School"

    Lucille F. Fargo wrote "The Library in the School" and it became the standard textbook on administering school library services.

  • "School Libraries for Today and Tomorrow"

    "School Libraries for Today and Tomorrow" presents progressive qualitative standards for the role of the school library.

  • "A Planning Guide for the High School Library Program"

    "A Planning Guide for the High School Library Program" was written was Henne creating a device for gathering data and measuring development of school libraries.

  • National Defense Education Act

    The National Defense Education Act was created. It sought to certain teaching areas through the purchases included equipment, library books and other educational materials.

  • "Standards for School Library Programs"

    "Standards for School Library Programs" is published establishing a new set of national standards.

  • Knapp School Libraries Project

    The Knapp School Libraries Project began to help determine manpower needs in the area of school library leadership.

  • Elementary and Secondary Education Act

    A portion of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act was dedicated to spending money to develop school libraries.

  • "Standards for School Media Programs"

    "Standards for School Media Programs" is produced encouraging a unified media program.

  • "Media Programs: District and School"

    "Media Programs: District and School" is published further emphasizing the media center's role in a school's instructional program.

  • "Information for the 80's"

    "Information for the 80's" is published as a result of the first White House Conference on Library and Information Science. Included 64 recommendations concern school media center programs.

  • Pico vs Island Trees

    This drawn out Supreme Court case helped lay groundwork on whether or not a book/material should be banned from a school library.

  • Information Power

    "Information Power: Guidelines for School Library Programs" is released by the AECT and AASL.

  • DeWitt Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund

    DeWitt Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund grant began as a way to improve elementary school libraries.

  • 1st Legislative Day

    Legislative Day begins as an effort to lobby for increased state funding. Following Legislative Days in the coming years would result in many beneficial acts.

  • "Information is Power"

    "Information is Power" is published expanding the role of the library media specialist.

  • The Children's Internet Protection Act

    The Child's Internet Protection Act was upheld by the Supreme Court. There was opposition to this act from the school library sector.

  • "Standards for the 21st Century Learner"

    "Standards for the 21st Century Learner" is published supporting new standards for the library media specialist.

  • "Learning4Life"

    "Learning4Life" is published supporting new standards for the library media specialist.

  • Standards In Action

    "Standards for the 21st Century Learner in Action" is published supporting new standards for the library media specialist.

  • Empowering Learners

    "Empowering Learners" Guidelines for School Library Media Programs" is published supporting new standards for the library media specialist.