Research for a Solution: Spring of 2005
· Library Media Specialist collaborates with Language Arts Department for ways to improve reading habits and scores among school population.
· Library Media Specialist and Language Arts Chair research most recent resources and best practices in creating life-long young adult readers.
· Sustained Silent Reading was presented to the Leadership Team as a viable means of accomplishing this goal in the coming school year.
· Leadership Team approved the concept and implemented a 30-minute DEAR (Drop Everything And Read) program at the end of the school day to begin the following school year.

Course of Action by Librarian and IRT: Fall of 2005 and Spring of 2006
· Classroom libraries were created by asking parents to donate gently used or new books. Over 1400 titles were collected, sorted and placed in plastic buckets, and delivered to the classrooms.
· More free books were added to the classroom collections from the public library’s annual book sale.
· The Library Media Specialist received a grant of $1500.00 to buy high interest books and created Lunch Bunch Book Clubs. · The principal provided an extra $800.00 to purchase high interest books from Townsend Press and the Scholastic Warehouse Sale. These books were added to the classroom collections.
· The Library Media Specialist received another grant to provide professional books and stipend pay for teachers to participate in a workshop entitled “Sustainable Life-Long Reading.”
· The Library Media Specialist focused on purchasing high interest paperbacks for circulation, and was able to add over 1200 books from various sources.
· Teachers were encouraged to bring students on a regular weekly basis to visit the library for circulation.
· Core teachers participated in DEAR every afternoon from 1:55 until 2:25.
· Teachers were encouraged to read aloud to reluctant readers, or use audio books. More strategies will be introduced in the workshop, “Sustainable Life-Long Reading.”