More ammunition to position your library in the educational funding streams…

Check out this new study from Reading is Fundamental (RIF): http://www.rif.org/meta

What impact, if any, does access to print materials have on our children’s reading? In an unprecedented, near- exhaustive search uncovering 11,000 reports and analyzing 108 of the most relevant studies, children’s book lending and ownership programs were shown to have positive behavioral, educational and psychological outcomes.

The study, “Children’s Access to Print Materials and Education-Related Outcomes.” was commissioned by Reading Is Fundamental (RIF), and conducted by Learning Point Associates, a nonprofit education research and consulting organization an affiliate of American Institutes for Research.

The meta-analysis found that access to print materials:

* Improves children’s reading performance: Findings from the rigorous studies suggest that providing children with print materials helps children read better. Among the studies reviewed, Kindergarten students showed the biggest increase in reading performance.

* Are instrumental in helping children learn the basics of reading: Providing children with reading materials allowed them to develop basic reading skills such as letter and word identification, phonemic awareness and completion of sentences.

* Causes children to read more and for longer lengths of time: Giving children print materials leads to more shared reading between parents and children. Children receiving books also read more frequently and for longer periods of time.

* Produces improved attitudes toward reading and learning among children: Children with greater access to books and other print materials – through either borrowing books or receiving books to own – express more enjoyment of books, reading, and academics.

See on page study summary here.
See full study here.