According to the study, kids from third grade to eleventh grade had significantly higher scores on both reading and writing portions of Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) tests. Among high school students with a full-time and certified librarian, the number of “Advanced” scores on the writing tests were almost twice as high. Overall, students with a full time and certified librarian were “three times as likely” to earn advanced scores on the test. Check it out:

Students who have access to a full-time, certified librarian scored higher on the PSSA Reading Test than those students who do not have such access. This finding is true for all students, regardless of their socio-economic, racial/ethnic, and/or disability status. For several student groups that tend to experience achievement gaps—economically disadvantaged, Hispanic, Black, and those with IEPs (Individualized Education Programs)—Reading and Writing results are markedly better when those students attend a school with a librarian and library support staff, according to the research. In fact, they benefit more proportionally than the general student population. (Link via)

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

In Godin’s view, libraries should not focus on acquiring large print book collections or implementing eBook lending solutions. He pictured the librarian of the future as a “producer, concierge, connector, teacher and impresario” who helps patrons navigate through that wealth of digital information. What do you think?

Here’s an excerpt from Godin’s blog post: “Wouldn’t you want to live and work and pay taxes in a town that had a library like [this]? The vibe of the best Brooklyn coffee shop combined with a passionate raconteur of information? There are one thousands things that could be done in a place like this, all built around one mission: take the world of data, combine it with the people in this community and create value.“

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.