Educational technology priorities survey

More than 90% of school district leaders across the country say their top priority for education technology is to personalize learning for students, according to a survey from the Center for Digital Education. The survey also reveals that about three-quarters of districts offer blended-learning options and more educators are expressing concern about student data and privacy issues.
Center for Digital Education. (2018).  K-12 school district priorities. Washington, DC: Center for Digital Education.
http://www.govtech.com/education/papers/2018-K-12-School-District-Priorities-Is-Yours-on-the-List-103201.html?

Library Statistics

In ACRL’s publication of the 2010 Academic Library Trends and Statistics, data shows that the median unit cost of monographs increased slightly over 2009 for all types of academic libraries – associate degree granting institutions, baccalaureate institutions, comprehensive institutions, and doctoral/research institutions – while salary and wage expenditures as a percentage of total library expenditures remain unchanged for baccalaureate and comprehensive institutions, slightly decreased for doctoral institutions, and increased slightly for associate degree-granting institutions. Also, the percentage of student assistant staff as a percentage of total staff increased over 2009.

ACRL (2010). ACRL's 2010 academic library trends & statistics. Chicago, IL: ACRL. http://www.acrlmetrics.com/

Status of Education – 2009

This report summarizes important developments and trends in education using the latest available data. The report presents 46 indicators on the status and condition of education. The indicators represent a consensus of professional judgment on the most significant national measures of the condition and progress of education for which accurate data are available. The 2009 print edition includes 46 indicators in five main areas: (1) participation in education; (2) learner outcomes; (3) student effort and educational progress; (4) the contexts of elementary and secondary education; and (5) the contexts of postsecondary education.

Planty, M., Hussar, W., Snyder, T., Kena, G., KewalRamani, A., Kemp, J., Bianco, K., & Dinkes, R. (2009). The condition of education 2009. Washington, D.C.: National Center for Education Statistics, Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education. https://nces.ed.gov/pubs2009/2009081.pdf

Library Funding, Access, and Connectivity

This study presents national and state data gathered through three integrated approaches: a national survey that collected information about public library Internet connectivity, use, services, funding and sustainability issues; a questionnaire sent to the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies (COSLA); and focus groups and site visits held in two states: Indiana and Wisconsin. The study finds that America’s 16,592 public library buildings provide communities of all sizes free access to computers and the Internet; formal classes and informal staff assistance using these technology assets; a wide range of Internet services including homework resources, digital reference and e-books; and wireless access to the Internet.

Key findings include:

-   Libraries serve a unique and important role in providing free access to all types of information and telecommunications services. Just over 71 percent of libraries report that they are the only source of free access to computers and the Internet in their communities. Library staff report an increase in the use of library computers and Internet access for job-seeking and e-government purposes.

-   In a time of widespread economic turmoil, 14.3 percent of public libraries report decreased operating budgets in FY2009. Only 38 percent of libraries report budget increases at or above the rate of inflation. More than half (53 percent) of the state library agencies that provide state funding to public libraries report declining state funding in FY2009, according to questionnaires to the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies (COSLA).

-   Public libraries are investing in and improving Internet access speeds, but they still find patron demands are growing faster than their ability to increase bandwidth. Nearly 60 percent of libraries report Internet connection speeds are insufficient to meet needs at some point in the day. Achieving sufficiency of public access to computers and the Internet is an elusive goal

Davis, D. M., Bertot, J. C., McClure, C. R., & Clark, L. (2010). Libraries connect communities 3: Public library funding & technology access study. Chicago, IL: American Library Association. http://www.ala.org/tools/sites/ala.org.tools/files/content/initiatives/plftas/previousstudies/0809/librariesconnectcommunities3.pdf