Statistics About California School Libraries

Introduction
Number of Libraries and Library Statistics
Staffing Statistics
Library Collection Statistics
Budget Statistics
Curriculum and Instruction Statistics
National Statistics

Introduction

The California Department of Education (CDE) annually collects information about school libraries using an online evaluation process. Based on the recommendations from the 2016 California State Audit of school library services, data collected in the library evaluation now align with the Model School Library Standards (MSLS). The following is a summary of the data collected and includes explanations of changes in funding and certificated library staffing over time. Its organization mirrors the main sections of the school evaluation: access, staffing, resources (collection), budget, and curriculum and instruction.

The most recent evaluation data is from the 2023–24 and 2024–25 school years. Historically we have collected data that looks at the prior school year, and, with the frequent staff turnover, we have heard from the field that this was difficult to efficiently produce accurate data. We have listened and are making the move to collect data for the current academic year moving forward. In this multi year data collection, 5,220 California schools completed the evaluation, representing 52 percent of all California schools. Twelve percent more schools in California completed the evaluation than the previous year. This narrative, plus the interactive map, detail key components of school library programming across California.

The California School Libraries Viewer GeoHub is an interactive map displaying the following data: average weekly hours open; average copyright date of complete collection; number of books in the collection; and staffing. It Is possible to look at the data from the state level, the county level, and the district level––and you can even explore the library programming at the site level. Note the GeoHub data is from 2022–23 and the 2023–24 and 2024–25 data should be posted in early 2026.

The following web page is the accompanying narrative statistical snapshot. It utilizes the 2023–24 and 2024–25 evaluation data and data collected by the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (CALPADS).

Number of Libraries and Library Statistics

Among California public schools responding to the 2023–24 portion of the library evaluation, 87 percent, or 4,538 of the 5,220 schools, have a place designated as the library although differences in staffing, collections, and programs are large. Thirteen percent of the schools responding do not have a library.

This is a full breakdown of response to question 1, “Did you have a dedicated common area in your school designated as the library for the 2023–24 academic year?”

Among California public schools responding to the 2024–25 portion of the library evaluation, 87 percent, or 4,561 of the 5,220 schools, have a place designated as the library although differences in staffing, collections, and programs are large. Thirteen percent of the schools responding do not have a library.

This is a full breakdown of response to question 1, “Did you have a dedicated common area in your school designated as the library for the 2024–25 academic year?”

Library Hours

The average number of hours reported for both 2023–24 and 2024–25 that a California school library is open to students is 30 hours per week. The Model School Library Standards for California Public Schools state in Section B. Access, p. 32, that the library should be “open to students 36 hours or more per week.”

Schools report being open and available to students at the following times (question asked only in the 2024–25 portion):

Directly impacting access to the library was having the facility closed for uses other than library programming. Thirty-two percent of respondents report the library facility was closed for other uses 1 to 5 days annually, 15 percent report being closed 6 to 10 days annually, 12 percent report being closed 11 to 20 days annually, and 8 percent report being closed 21 or more days annually. Thirty-three percent report never shutting the library for non-library activities.

Physical Library Space

The MSLS in Section B. Access, p. 33 states the following: “Facilities have enough space to accommodate one class for instruction plus additional individuals and small groups working independently. There is also space to accommodate the library collection, furnishings, and equipment.”

Historically we asked four yes/no questions focusing on each of these aspects in the MSLS. We made the decision to condense the four questions into the one following question for the 2024–25 portion: “What is the maximum seating capacity of the library?”

The average seating capacity reported in 2024–25 is 61 seats, and that is in line with prior year reporting that indicated there was enough room to accommodate one class with space for additional individuals and small groups working independently. Last year that was reported as 58.99 percent. An average of sixty one seats is approximately enough room for two classes.

Staffing Statistics

Prior to the 2015–16 academic year, teacher librarians were categorized with CALPADS Code 0204 “non-classroom based or support assignment” under Pupil Services Staff, which included counselors, psychologists, social workers, nurses, and speech/language/hearing specialists. Because teacher librarians must hold both a teaching and a library science credential , beginning in the 2015–16 academic year, code 0204 was retired. The table below is a timeline of the different CALPADS Code Assignments related to Teacher Librarians. For each of these code definitions, please review the full CALPADS System Documentation. For the most current information, please review the full webpage. Specifically, to view these code assignments and definitions, review the most recent Excel Spreadsheet file named CALPADS Code Sets and the Word document file named CALPADS File Specifications.

Outside of CALPADS coding, library staffing has also been reported through School Accountability Report Cards (SARCs). Both Library Media Teacher (Librarian) and Library Media Services Staff (Paraprofessional) data can be found in Table 38: Student Support Services Staff. For statewide aggregated SARC data for the 2023–24 school year, including the Student Support Services Staff table (the 2024–25 data is not yet available), please utilize the links below:

• Downloadable SARC Data Files 2023–24 - School Accountability Report Card (CA Dept of Education)
  • Student Support Services Staff Data (XLSX)

Using the data from the library evaluation, the following staffing data was reported.

• In 2023-24, of the 4,538 schools that reported having a library 1,112 report having some credentialed school librarians (credentialed school librarian, emergency school library credential, credentialed teacher) at least partially employed. Based on weekly hours reported, this is equal to 858 full time equivalent.
  
  
  • (23-24 data): Of those 1,112 schools, 630 schools or 56.6 percent report having a team of a teacher librarian and classified staff working at some level at the site
    
    
• In 2024–25, of the 4,561 schools that reported having a library 1,132 report some credentialed school librarians (credentialed school librarian, emergency school library credential, credentialed teacher) at least partially employed. Based on weekly hours reported, this is equal to 848 full time equivalent.
  
  
  • (24–25 data): Of those 1,132 schools, 631 schools or 55.7 percent report having a team of a teacher librarian and classified staff working at some level at the site
    

As Doug Achterman found in his 2008 research, a strong library program is one that is staffed by a team consisting of a credentialed teacher librarian and paraprofessional support staff.

• In 2023–24, of the 4,538 schools reporting a school library it shows that 4,002 schools at least partially employed 1 classified employee . Based on hourly hours reported, this equates to 3,211 full time equivalent.
  
  
• In 2024–25, of the 4,561 schools reporting a school library it shows that 3,997 schools at least partially employed 1 classified. Based on hourly hours reports, this equates to 3,176 full time equivalent.

One thousand twenty five schools report having some level of volunteers working in the library. Those sites reported a total of 6,757 volunteers, totaling 5,619 hours a week were reported. Across the 1025 schools that is an average of 5.5 hours per week of volunteer hours.

The following staffing table is shared for historical purposes focusing on credentialed staff (teacher librarians) reported annually in the California Basic Educational Data System prior to the coding change in 2015–16. Classified staffing data is not displayed as it was not individually reported. For more information on the difference between different types of library staffing, visit the staffing tab on the school library home page.

Library Collection Statistics

Based on the data from the 2023–24 portion of the library evaluation, the average number of books in the collection (print and digital) was 13,626. The average number of books in the collection for the 2024–25 portion of the evaluation was 13,707 books. Of the schools reporting a school library in the 2024–25 portion of the evaluation 1,976, or 43 percent of schools that completed the evaluation indicate that they purchase any electronic books.

Age of Collection

The age of the library books is as important as the number of books available to students. In 1995 the average copyright date of a California school library nonfiction book was 1972 or 23 years old. By 2004–05, with approximately seven years of Library Act state funding (see the Budget section for a history of school library funding), the average copyright date rose to 1993.

Historically, the average age of the collection was measured by looking at a particular nonfiction section (including print and digital books) that aligns with the curriculum. We then moved to a model where the average age of the collection was calculated in two areas, a nonfiction section and the complete collection. We now measure the age of the collection as a whole.

Based on the most recent evaluation data, the average copyright date for the whole collection is 2005. It is important to note the average copyright date is 20 years old while the MSLS recommends that “at least two-thirds of the collection is less than 15 years old” (Section D. Resources, p. 34).

Book Costs

The average cost of a children’s title hardcover book in 2023 was $24.27. The average cost of a young adult title hardcover book was $27.02. Trade paperbacks for children’s and young adult titles were $10.33 and $16.48 respectively. Graphic novels for all ages cost an average of $17.75 per title. These figures are based on School Library Journal’s 2023 Average Book Prices in partnership with Follett and Baker & Taylor.

Electronic access and database usage

Starting in 2018, the California State Library began providing resources for students and teachers, including providing access to COMPASS: The California Online Media Program for Access and Student Success . They provide free access to the following kindergarten through grade twelve (K–12) digital resources: Britannica, ProQuest, TeachingBooks, Gale, and PebbleGo for use by every public K–12 school and student in the state. Approximately 60 percent of schools (2,719 of 4,561) responding to the 2024–25 evaluation report they actively promote and provide access to the COMPASS content.

Budget Statistics

The average budget for books in the 2024–25 academic year was $6,337, with an additional average budget of $2,421 for other materials (not books). The largest percentage of funding source comes from the General/ Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) (district or site) at 59 percent. Fundraising (parent groups, book fairs, etc.) is reported as the second largest source of funding at 47 percent. For a detailed breakdown of the funding sources and percentage of responses, see the School Libraries main page Funding tab.

A Brief History of California School Library Funding

Pre-1994, no state funding was allocated for school libraries. Any funding was determined at the school and district levels. The chart below shows how funding progressed from 1994 through the current funding model, which was adopted in 2013 under the LCFF.

Curriculum and Instruction Statistics

The following reflects some of the data collected related to teaching and implementing the MSLS.

When asked about how the CA MSLS are implemented at their school for both 2023–24 and 2024–25 the data reported were nearly identical, the following reflects the 2024–25 that was reported:

Lastly, the MSLS acts as California’s media literacy standards. Therefore, the library evaluation asks how often library staff engage in teaching information/media literacy, and/or digital citizenship and the following responses were submitted for the 2024–25 portion of the evaluation.

For more information on Media Literacy in the state of California, see the CDE-owned Media Literacy Resources web page.

Directly impacting library staff time to interact with students and teachers was the responsibility for distribution, tracking, and management of assets. The following data was reported in the 2024–25 portion of the evaluation, 54 percent of respondents report being responsible for laptops, Chromebooks, and tablets; 61 percent report being responsible for textbooks; 5 and 8 percent report being responsible for musical instruments.

National Statistics

The following sites contain statistical information about school libraries across the country:

National Center for Education Statistics
The Digest of Education statistics provides a compilation of statistical information covering the broad field of American education from prekindergarten through graduate school. The Digest includes a selection of data from many sources, both government and private, and draws especially on the results of surveys and activities carried out by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
In 1989 the NCES began collecting nation-wide library statistics that include a School Library Media Center Survey. Among the topics covered in this survey are staffing, services, expenditures, and collections. This is shared for historical purposes as the last Academic Library Survey was conducted in 2014.

Research and Statistics About Libraries
Library Research Servrice (LRS) is part of the Colorado State Library, a unit of the Colorado Department of Education, which designs and conducts library research for library and education professionals, public officials, and the media to inform practices and assessment needs.

Research and Statistics, American Association of School Librarians
An online clearinghouse for school library research and statistics collected by the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) including research conducted by AASL as well as links to outside research and statistics.

The School Librarian Investigation Decline or Evolution (SLIDE)
An exploratory project submitted by Antioch University Seattle and funded by the Institute for Museum and Library Services. The research looks at the patterns in the continuing, national decline in school librarian positions and how school districts decide to staff library, learning resources, and instructional technology programs for K–12 students.

Sora Report: Digital Reading Increases with Double-Digit Growth in Comics and Graphic Novels
This is School Library Journal’s summary of the OverDrive 2023 Annual Report of The State of K-12 Digital Reading . The full report is downloadable for free.