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Census finds many Minnesota school libraries understaffed; lawmakers urged to tie aid to statutory definition
Summary
A statewide school library census presented Feb. 20 to the Minnesota Senate Education Finance Committee found nearly half of responding schools lack a licensed library media specialist, and many library media centers operate on small budgets. Presenters urged the Legislature to link state school library aid to the statutory definition of a media center and to support hiring and licensure.
A statewide school library census released to the Minnesota Senate Education Finance Committee on Feb. 20 found wide variation in staffing, budgets and use of state school library aid.
The census, conducted in 2024 and presented by Ashley Dress, school library consultant at the Southeast Library System, and Anna Granias of Wilder Research, drew responses from 1,528 of 1,777 eligible K–12 public and charter schools. Dress said the survey aimed to inform “decision makers like yourselves” about what schools need to preserve and strengthen library media centers (LMCs).
The report found that 81% of responding schools reported having a library media center. But nearly 46% of schools do not have a licensed library media specialist (LMS) serving the LMC, the presenters said. Among schools that reported an LMS, more than half said the person worked less than full time. The American Association of School Librarians’ recommended staffing — a full‑time licensed media specialist plus full‑time support staff — was met by about 6% of schools in the survey, the presenters said.
Survey respondents identified…
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