I have demonstrated proficiency in planning and assessing the school library media program by conducting a community analysis as a needs assessment.
Description
The Community Needs Assessment involved extensive research about the school where I completed my internship, Gilbert Middle School. The purpose of this assignment was to practice the process of analyzing a school community served by a school library program. In order to develop a complete understanding of the school and its community, demographic data was collected from the United States Census records, state and county records, the school district, and the school itself through its website and interviews. Analysis of this data provided insight into the specific characteristics and needs of this school community.
Analysis
Through the research process, I learned how to navigate and obtain demographic information from the United States Census data. This supported new understanding of the Gilbert community from the wealth of data provided about employment, income, and population. In designing a school library program that is interconnected with the school’s mission, having this deep understanding of the community is key to serving them. As the 2020 Census data was officially released during the weeks prior to this assignment, the most current information was available to analyze. This area is growing rapidly, so having that current information was beneficial. In gleaning data from the South Carolina school report cards, patterns emerged that appeared to show some impact of the Covid Pandemic on student achievement according to the state testing records. Speaking directly with the principal, librarian, teachers, and students yielded insight that complemented the data. Through this research process, I found that collecting data, processing it, and making the connections that lead to accurate analysis takes dedicated time and cannot be adequately accomplished quickly.
Reflection
Making the time to conduct a thorough assessment of a school community is vitally important in designing an effective school library program. Having this research prepared will be invaluable to me as the librarian and to the discussions and decisions made by the school library advisory committee. Updating this research regularly is also important so that decisions are not based on previous conclusions but continually informed by current information. I will also remember to gather input from stakeholders as their voices complement the research data and provide a more complete picture of how the library can most effectively serve the school community.