epilogue

Our Story Continues

Numerous national studies document the critical importance of childhood literacy for future academic and life success, as well as the importance of well-equipped, well-staffed libraries in helping children to overcome the impacts of poverty on literacy and learning. The Weinberg Foundation intends to add to this body of research through ongoing evaluation, which continues to demonstrate the Library Project’s impact on academic achievement. The Foundation initially partnered with the Baltimore Education Research Consortium (BERC) to evaluate the impact of renovated libraries within the school community. The first two evaluations examined six libraries completed during the Library Project’s first and second years. Then, building upon that research, the Foundation commissioned the first comprehensive evaluation of the Baltimore Library Project looking at impact within the nine schools completed during the Project’s first three years:
  • Book checkouts at the first nine schools increased by 400 percent over a four-year period.
  • Reading fluency scores among third-grade students in two of the first three Library Project schools rose from 33 percent of students at benchmark to 64 percent at benchmark—a 94 percent increase (*Reading fluency measured through DIBELS; the third school did not collect this data).
  • Library Project students in the third-grade were almost three times as likely to meet reading fluency proficiency standards as students in comparison schools.
  • The first three Library Project schools outperformed more than 120 Baltimore City Public Schools on PARCC tests in reading proficiency.
In addition, one of the Library Project’s most tangible, impactful connections with the community is SummerREADS. In 2014, the Weinberg Foundation assessed the impact of SummerREADS as part of the larger evaluation of The Library Project. The report, released in 2015, found that SummerREADS effectively reduced summer reading loss for students who regularly attended the program. The largest evaluation to date of the Baltimore Elementary and Middle School Library Project—spanning years one through seven—is underway and expected to be completed by late 2022. The Weinberg Foundation, as well as all of the Library Project’s partners, look forward to continued learning regarding increasing the academic achievement of Baltimore’s students.

Resources

YouTube

Please click here to visit the Weinberg Foundation's YouTube channel to see Library Project content!


Various coverage of Penny Challenge Event, April 2017:


Various coverage of Annual Book Drive, March 2017:


Various coverage of Annual Book Drive, April 2016:


Various coverage of Library Grand Openings, September 2015:


Various coverage of Annual Book Drive, March 2015:


Various coverage of Library Grand Openings, September 2013:

  • Baltimore Sun - Online article posted on the evening of September 23 and page 2 of September 24 edition.
  • WJZ-TV - Package (self-contained report introduced by anchor) by Jessica Kartalija at 6p.m.
  • WBFF-TV (Fox 45) - 5 p.m. and 10 p.m.

Various coverage of Annual Book Drive, March 2013:

  • WBAL-TV - Online article posted on the evening of March 1.

Various coverage of Library Grand Openings, September 2012:

  • Baltimore Sun - Online article posted on the evening of September 12 and page 2 of September 13 edition.
  • WBFF-TV (Fox 45)/WBAL-TV/WMAR (ABC2) - A total of 19 morning live reports by all three stations.
  • WBAL Radio - Rachel Garbow Monroe, Weinberg Foundation President, interviewed by Mary Beth Marsden for Maryland News Now (afternoon drive show).
  • WBFF-TV (Fox 45) - 5 & 10 pm
  • WBAL-TV - YouTube video posted by WBAL, evening show vo/sot
  • WMAR-TV (ABC2) - Online story posted after morning live shots.

Various coverage of Annual Book Drive, March 2012:


Various coverage of Library Project Launch, December 2011:


Miscellaneous Coverage:

Reports/data on childhood literacy

Reports on the relationship between academic achievement and poverty

Reports on importance of library quality