We Can't Fix What We Don't See: Why Better School Library Data Matters

A recent School Library Journal roundtable highlights the crucial gaps in school library data, the impact on student success, and how research combined with community advocacy can shape more effective education policy.

How many school librarians are working in America's public schools? Which students benefit from the expertise of a certified school librarian, and which are in schools left without a functioning library program? These seem like straightforward questions, yet the answers remain surprisingly elusive.

In a School Library Journal roundtable on November 9, 2026, moderated by editor Hallie Rich and featuring Keith Curry Lance (SLIDE Project), Kathy Lester (Wayne State University), and John Chrastka (EveryLibrary Institute), these persistent data gaps and their real-world implications for students, educators, and policymakers are explored. Although national school librarian employment has stabilized around 40,000 full-time equivalent positions, these figures mask sharp inequities across states, districts, and individual schools. Without accurate data, we cannot clearly define the problems that need to be solved, target interventions where they are needed most, or track progress as we work to rebuild school library programs.

Read the full roundtable discussion, “School Librarian Data: Missing Information and Its Impact,” on School Library Journal

Keith Curry Lance points out that the federal government's Common Core of Data provides valuable annual figures on school librarian employment, but only at the district level and without indicating whether librarians are state-certified. Other federal surveys do offer some building-level data, but they are infrequent and have notable methodological gaps. These data blind spots have major consequences, especially when librarian positions are cut. Lance notes that when the last full-time equivalent (FTE) librarian is eliminated, only one in ten schools restores that position within three to five years. SLIDE Project research further shows that state staffing mandates and robust librarian preparation programs correlate with better staffing levels. These findings reinforce the need for purposeful policy decisions to sustain library programs and highlight the even greater effort required to restore positions once lost. The challenge, according to Lance, isn’t just documenting decline; it’s understanding and enacting the policies that prevent losses and enable recovery.

Kathy Lester highlighted Michigan’s ongoing statewide School Library Census, led by Wayne State University. While Michigan can report building-level staffing, it still lacks a complete picture of which schools have fully functional libraries, sufficient collections, or quality instructional services. This data uncertainty has already hampered legislative efforts to improve access. As Lester notes, when lawmakers considered mandating school libraries and staffing standards, fiscal analysts cautioned: “We have no idea how much this is going to cost because we don’t know the state of the school libraries in Michigan.” This visibility gap motivated the legislature to fund the current census. Michigan’s experience underscores why statewide inventories and building-level surveys are vital to identifying inequities, developing realistic funding estimates, and crafting measurable, actionable policy. It’s not enough to know whether a district employs a librarian; we must know what resources and services students in each school actually receive, and what it will take to ensure all students have access to robust school library programs.

Here at EveryLibrary, we believe research and advocacy must work hand in hand. School districts make staffing and budget decisions annually, often well before national data can reveal the impact. We need more timely information on proposed cuts, lost positions, and schools at risk of losing library access. Equally important is data that helps policymakers recognize what effective programs look like, what it takes to sustain them, and how to replicate success in underserved communities. As John Chrastka said at the SLJ Panel, “You can’t make a case to correct or avert crisis without being able to define what’s missing.” The EveryLibrary Institute’s new partnership in the SLIDE Project reflects our commitment to connecting research with action. This work includes collaborating with legislators on staffing and funding standards, supporting comprehensive data collection, and equipping local advocates to engage administrators and elected officials before cuts occur. It also means making the case for restoration when losses have already happened. Ultimately, research gives us evidence—but real change requires persistent advocacy with those who shape education policy and allocate resources.

Restoring School Librarians: From Data to Action

Keith Curry Lance’s finding that only one in ten schools restores a librarian position within three to five years of elimination serves as a stark reminder of the challenges in rebuilding dismantled school library programs. However, challenging does not mean impossible. At EveryLibrary, we are proud to partner with local school librarians, unions, parents, and advocates to both defend and restore these essential positions through our SaveSchoolLibrarians.org initiative. In Washington, D.C., for example, a sustained advocacy campaign led the City Council to reverse proposed cuts and budget for a librarian in every public school in 2021. This victory was possible because local leaders, including school librarians KC Boyd and Christopher Stewar, worked alongside the Washington Teachers Union and mobilized community voices for lasting change.

Our experience underscores the need to combine solid research, persuasive policy briefs, direct engagement with school administrators and elected officials, and the advocacy of local citizens who know their students deserve strong library programs. As we wrote in Publishers Weekly, “School Librarians Must Treat the Fight for Their Future Like the Political Campaign It Is.” Demonstrating value is essential, but winning restoration requires organizing around concrete policy and funding decisions.