scholarly journals Is The Library Important? Multivariate Studies at the National and International Level

Author(s):  
Stephen Krashen ◽  
Syying Lee ◽  
Jeff McQuillan

Three multivariate analyses, all controlling for the effects of poverty, confirm the importance of the library. Replicating McQuillan’s analysis of 1992 NAEP scores, access to books in school and public libraries was a significant predictor of 2007 fourth grade NAEP reading scores, as well as the difference between grade 4 and grade 8 2007 NAEP reading scores, suggesting that access is important for improvement after grade 4. Access (school/classroom libraries) was a significant predictor of scores on the PIRLS test, a reading test given to fourth graders in 40 countries.

1981 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 191-193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rita Hollensworth ◽  
Robert B. White

The relationship between the reading scores of children ages 7 to 9 yr. on the Wide Range Achievement Test and the Gilmore Oral Reading Test was investigated. The 50 children (37 males and 13 females) had a mean age of 8.6 yr., and a mean grade placement of 2.98. They obtained a mean grade level reading score of 3.27 on the achievement test and 2.26 on oral reading (accuracy). Although the correlation between the two scores was .87, 47 of the children scored higher on the achievement test. As the difference between the mean scores on the two tests was significant, it appears that the two measures produce neither identical nor interchangeable information.


Author(s):  
José Herbet de Lavor Rolim ◽  
Ronaldo Mangueira Lima Júnior

Reading Scrambled-Lettered Texts (SLT) is a complex activity, related to many factors, including language proficiency. This study investigates the possibility of using SLT as an integrative method to assess language and reading proficiency in English as a Foreign Language (EFL). A SLT reading test in English was applied to ten Brazilian EFL learners and the results were compared to their global and reading scores in the TOEFL ITP. Despite the limitation of the sample size, a negative correlation between the TOEFL scores and the number of errors in the SLT test was found. The results were significant in terms of p-value in four out of six cases and the presence of an outlier suggested an even higher correlation and relevance. A Portuguese SLT test was also applied to the sample, and the participants, who had a similar level of education, presented homogeneous results, contrasting with those found in the English test.


2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kim Becnel ◽  
Robin A. Moeller ◽  
Nita J. Matzen

The long-term goal of the researchers involved in this study is to discover methods that public libraries can use to improve their summer reading programs (SRP) and expand participation of students from traditionally underrepresented groups. This small pilot study was designed to answer some important preliminary questions: How do children decide whether or not to participate in SRPs? What motivates children to participate and what barriers might inhibit participation? Finally, what factors might motivate those who do not participate to take part?


2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandy Campbell

Christopher, Neil.  On the Shoulder of a Giant:  an Inuit Folktale. Iqualuit:  Inhabit Media, 2015. Print.This is another in a series of works designed by Neil Christopher, one of the founders of Inhabit Media, to preserve traditional Inuit stories.  In this book he retells a story, which is known in various forms all across the Arctic, of a giant who adopts a hunter as his son.  This giant, named Inukpak,  is one of the inukpasugjuit or “great giants” of Inuit stories.  Inukpak is so big that he can walk across the Arctic in “just a few days” and when he stands in the sea the water "never come[s] up past his knees". He is so big that he thinks that the hunter is a lost child, so he adopts him and carries him on his shoulder.This is a simple retelling, designed to teach about the mythical giants and to explain why the story is found in many cultures across the Canadian Arctic.  However, it also models a big person/small person relationship in which small people do not correct or talk back to big people.  Children will relate to the hunter, who is treated as a child and because the story is told from the hunter's perspective.  The giant sometimes doesn't recognize the impact of his own actions.  For example when he runs back to shore, he creates waves that swamp the hunter, but the giant thinks the hunter has been playing in the water.  "The hunter wanted to tell the giant that he had not been playing in the water.  He also wanted to explain to Inukpak that he had caught a bowhead whale, not a sculpin.  But, once again, the little hunter did not want to argue with a giant, so he just said, 'Okay.' "This is mainly a picture book. The illustrations run over two-page spreads with text over-printed on them.  Jim Nelson does a good job of presenting the difference in size between the giant and the human.  Inukpak is presented as a happy fellow, with black shaggy hair and a full beard.  Children will be amused by the giant picking up a polar bear by the scruff of its neck, like a kitten. The images are realistic and the backgrounds are lovely representations of Arctic landscapes. Overall, this is an enjoyable and high-quality work that should be included in elementary school libraries, public libraries and libraries specializing in Arctic children’s books.Highly Recommended:  4 out of 4 starsReviewer:  Sandy CampbellSandy is a Health Sciences Librarian at the University of Alberta, who has written hundreds of book reviews across many disciplines.  Sandy thinks that sharing books with children is one of the greatest gifts anyone can give. 


2013 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlo Casini ◽  
Marina Casini

Il contributo esamina la sentenza della Corte Suprema di Cassazione n. 14979 del 2013 che ha per tema l’obiezione di coscienza all’aborto. Nella fattispecie, un medico ginecologo viene pesantemente condannato per aver fatto valere il suo diritto di sollevare obiezione di coscienza (previsto dalla legge 194/1978) per attività che secondo i giudici non sono coperte dall’obiezione di coscienza. Nella prima parte dell’articolo, gli Autori muovono osservazioni critiche riguardo alla particolare severità della sentenza e riportano la ricostruzione dei fatti così come emerge dalle indagini giudiziarie. Di seguito concentrano l’attenzione sul significato e l’estensione del concetto di intervento medico- chirugico in generale e abortivo in particolare, osservando che nella misura in cui un’attività, sebbene non rientrante nel “nucleo” dell’intervento, è programmata dall’inizio come fase conclusiva (tanto che se non vi fosse la certezza di effettuarla, non potrebbe neanche iniziarsi l’intervento) tale attività è parte integrante dell’intervento stesso e dunque, trattandosi di aborto, coperta da obiezione di coscienza. Rilevante ai fini di questa valutazione è l’evidente nesso di causalità che tiene in un tutto unitario i vari momenti che si susseguono cronologicamente. La questione squisitamente giuridica della revoca immediata dell’obiezione viene risolta alla luce della differenza tra l’eventuale accettazione preventiva e l’esecuzione dell’ordine imprevisto. L’aspetto comunque più significativo è legato all’interrogativo che fa da cornice a tutto il contributo: perché tanta avversione contro l’obiezione di coscienza sanitaria con riferimento all’aborto? La risposta si trova nella negazione esplicita o implicita, ma anche nella semplice dimenticanza, che il figlio è figlio sin dal momento del concepimento. “Il diritto di aborto – si legge nella sentenza della Cassazione – è stato riconosciuto come ricompreso nella sfera di autodeterminazione della donna”. Questo pensiero, sottolineano gli Autori, è espressione di una deriva che, avviatasi con la sentenza costituzionale del 1975, avanzata con la legge 194/1978 e gravemente consolidatasi con la pretesa del “diritto” di aborto, nasce dal rifiuto di porre lo sguardo sul figlio concepito e, di conseguenza, avversa l’obiezione di coscienza. Per questo c’è ancor più bisogno di ripetere, concludono gi Autori, che il fondamento e la tutela dell’obiezione di coscienza dipendono dal riconoscimento che il concepito è uno di noi. Interessanti anche gli spunti giuridici di livello internazionale. ---------- The article examines the judgement of the Supreme Court of Cassation n. 14979 of 2013 about conscientious objection to abortion. In this case, a gynecologist was heavily condemned for having asserted his right to raise conscientious objection (provided by Law 194/1978) for activities that according to the judges are not covered by the conscientious objection. In the first part of the article, the Authors criticize the particular severity of the sentence and report the reconstruction of the events emerging from the judicial investigations. Afterward they focus attention on the meaning and the extension of the concept of surgical intervention to understand what the boundaries are of an abortion. Whether a final activity is planned from the outset (so that if it were not sure to perform it, the intervention should not be started) this activity is an integral part of the intervention itself and, therefore, in the case of abortion, covered by conscientious objection. For the purposes of this evaluation, the Authors write, it is very important the clear causal link that takes into a unified whole the various moments that follow one other chronologically. The purely legal question of immediate withdrawal of the objection is resolved in the light of the difference between the possible preventive acceptance of the execution and the execution of an unexpected order. The most significant aspect, however, is tied to the question that frames the entire contribution: why so much aversion against conscientious objection with regard to abortion? The answer lies in the express or implied negation – but also in the simple forgetfulness – that the child is a child from the moment of conception. “The right to abortion – it is written in the Supreme Court’s ruling – has been recognized as coming within the sphere of women’s self-determination” This thought, the Authors point out, is an expression of a drift originally triggered by the constitutional ruling of 1975, then advanced with the Law 194/1978 and finally severely consolidated with the claim of “right” to abortion. Since this drift arises from the refusal to look at the child conceived, consequently it adverse conscientious objection. For this there is even more need to repeat, the Authors conclude, that the foundation and the protection of conscientious objection depends on the recognition that the unborn is one of us. The legal references on the international level are also interesting.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simone A. C. Cavalheiro ◽  
Ana M. Pernas ◽  
Marilton S. De Aguiar ◽  
Luciana Foss ◽  
André Du Bois ◽  
...  

Technological innovations have changed the profile of professionals required by economy sectors demanding skills related to problem solving and logical reasoning. Concurrently with this reality, Computational Thinking emerges as a methodology for solving problems, which is able to develop many of these skills. This article reports the experience in applying the activities referred as Binary Numbers, Color by Numbers, Sorting Algorithms and Battleships, which aims at developing some of necessary skills for the practice of Computational Thinking by fourth-graders. The article resumes the activities, and evaluates the obtained results.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (21) ◽  
pp. 9205
Author(s):  
Changhee Kim ◽  
Hyunjung Kim ◽  
Kanghwa Choi

This study investigates the difference in service efficiency based on establishing entity and outsourcing in 847 public libraries in Korea. The public libraries were categorized into three types based on establishing entity and outsourcing, where Type 1 libraries are those established and directly managed by the Office of Education under the central government, Type 2 libraries are established and directly managed by local governments, and Type 3 libraries are established by local governments and their operations are outsourced. Each library type was analyzed and compared using data envelopment analysis (DEA), and results found that public libraries established by local governments are more efficient than those established by the central government, while outsourcing operations improved the efficiency of public libraries. Further analysis of the projection point and excess quantity of input showed that the main cause of inefficiency for Type 1 libraries is the library area, and for Types 2 and 3, the number of periodicals. This study provides guidelines for the sustainable performance of public library services based on the factors of foundation and operational patterns.


2012 ◽  
pp. 327-334
Author(s):  
Livia Cosenza

The article comments on the judgment delivered by the ICJ on 3rd February 2012 in the case Germany v. Italy. The focus is on the difference identified by the ICJ between procedural and substantive norms in order to deny the existence of a conflict between State immunity (procedural) and ius cogens norms (substantive). The article argues that the ICJ failed to capture the substantive nature of the State immunity regime at the international level. The argument is based on the recognition of a general international norm aimed at protecting the different aspects of State sovereignty and having procedural effects at national level, namely by defining specific limits to State jurisdiction. It is stressed that the weakness in the ICJ's argument is accentuated by the incoherencies in its reasoning - in particular the comparison made to the case concerning the Arrest Warrant of 11th April 2000. Furthermore, by avoiding an adequate analysis of the nature of State immunity, the ICJ failed to address a crucial issue at the international level: the undeniable and controversial impact of State immunity on grave violations of human rights.


Author(s):  
Laurie M. Johnson

This chapter examines the difference between Thucydides and Hobbes on the issue of justice. The difference between what should be and what is reverberates in Thucydides' moral dramas. All the characters recognize the tension between justice and the demands of power politics. Thucydides equates justice with the avoidance of needless and excessive bloodshed and with adherence to basic war conventions, such as not killing women and children. In his treatment of Plataea, Thucydides recognizes the value of traditional notions of virtue and justice. However, he laments that men are always willing to violate these principles because of envy and need for revenge. Indeed, Thucydides holds out little hope that mankind will at any time recognize the Melian claim that its interests lie in adherence to a common code of justice. Hobbes thinks that a common code of justice is in the common interest of mankind but that the only way it can be consistently upheld is if there is an absolute sovereign to maintain it. This means that at the international level, one cannot expect all laws of nature to be observed consistently. States need only obey these laws if their unilateral obedience will cause them no harm. In this way, Hobbes makes justice and expediency coincide.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document