The State of School Libraries in Minnesota: A 2024 Census of K-12 School Libraries

Abstract

In an era where information is both abundant and increasingly complex, school library media centers (LMCs) serve as hubs for learning, creativity, and critical thought. Yet, little to no data exist describing the state of school LMCs in Minnesota. During the 2023 Minnesota legislative session, Minnesota's Multicounty Multitype Library Systems (MCMT) received a one-time appropriation to conduct a census of licensed media specialists currently working in Minnesota schools (2023 Minn. Laws 223). The census collected vital data on school library staffing, operations, and use. The findings from the census provide a variety of invested parties, such as legislators, school administrators, school library staff, and families with information about the support schools and LMC staff need to preserve and strengthen school library programs. The census identifies key staffing, funding, and service gaps that are critical to address in order to ensure students receive the benefits of access to an effective LMC. [This report was sponsored by the Multicounty Multitype Library Systems (MCMT).]