Assessment+of+Need

Importance of School Libraries
Strong school libraries benefit students and teachers (Lance, Rodney, and Russell, 2007), and certified school librarians impact student achievement (Small, Snyder, and Parker, 2008). However, most of the states will face shortages of credentialed school librarians as baby-boomers begin to retire (Shannon, 2008). Many of the students entering school library programs to become certified librarians are often in pursuit of a second or third career in addition to having financial responsibilities and the possibility of raising a family (Bishop and Janczak, 2007). Nora Galvan, Library Coordinator for the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District in South Texas, noted that the inability to hire school librarians with state-mandated credentials is a major factor in the decision of many K-12 school districts to replace library positions with paraprofessional aides or assistants as a cost-savings measure (personal communication, October 17, 2008). The decision of school administrators to downgrade library staff positions runs counter to research studies indicating that professional school librarian involvement in the educational process significantly improves student performance (Smith, 2006, 2001; Miller, Want, and Whitacre, 2003; Rodney, Lance, Hamilton-Pennell, 2003, 2002, 2001; Lance, Rodney, and Hamilton-Pennell, 2000).

Need for School Librarians in South Texas
The need for school librarians is even more pronounced in the South Texas region due to the rapid increase in school-aged children and the number of schools being opened to serve their growing population. The United States population has increased at a rate of thirty percent over the past twenty-five years. In Texas, however, this growth rate has been sixty-five percent, due largely to the combined trends of immigration from the Latin American nations located south of the Rio Grande River and the general relocation to the Sunbelt states within the United States. Within Texas, this growth has been most pronounced in the southern region encompassed by Education Service Centers in Regions One, Two, and Twenty. By the year 2020, the Hispanic population of Texas is projected to grow from the present figure of 4.3 million to over ten million (Center of Immigration Studies). Texas school enrollment increased by 10.6 percent between 1993 and 1999; an additional increase of 6.6 percent is projected through 2011 (National Center for Educational Statistics). From 2010 to 2020 South Texas public elementary and secondary school enrollment is projected to increase 17.9 percent for Hispanics with a total increase for the area of 14.3 percent (Texas State Data Center). As the population of school-aged children increases, additional schools are being constructed in the South Texas area, thereby creating the need for additional school librarians, with a premium being placed on candidates possessing the language skills and cultural background needed to effectively serve a predominantly Hispanic population.

Graduate students based in South Texas make considerable financial sacrifices in order to pursue a Master of Library Science degree. Salaries in the region are less than those in more prosperous areas of the state. For example, the median salary in 2008 for an elementary school teacher in Harlingen is $43,508, whereas it is $50,328 in Dallas (Salary.com). In order to attract the most capable students, it is imperative to provide them with full scholarships that enable them to pursue their degrees without causing undue hardship to their families. This contention has been borne out by the performance of the student cohort group selected to participate in the South Texas Educational Project (STEP), supported by an IMLS Laura Bush 21st Century Library Program grant for the 2007-2009 academic years. For the STEP grant, the Department of Library Science had over 120 inquires with 90 applicants for 20 funded participant positions. Since the Department of Library Science offers the graduate-level courses in South Texas and through hybrid distance education courses, and in conjunction with the grant funding, provides the materials and resources necessary to the STEP grant participants, there has been less of a personal and financial hardship for these students.