Factors Leading to Retention of School Librarian Positions: A School District Case Study

In the past five years, the number of school librarians has greatly diminished despite valiant advocacy efforts by librarians, parents, and state and national library associations. This descriptive case study investigated the factors that led governing board members in a mid-sized urban high school district to retain certified school librarian positions in the face of a major economic crisis. The study revealed that several themes influenced the governing board in their decision to retain school librarian positions: stakeholder involvement; transparency in communication; trust between district leadership and the governing board; a commitment to the district's core values, including the learning system; and the value placed on the school library program by the district's stakeholders. Future research should investigate other school districts' decision making processes in the retention of school librarian positions during times of economic crisis. (Contains 1 figure.)