Today school library media specialists operate in an environment of daily challenges and controversies. "No Child Left Behind" established mandates that all educators are scrambling to meet. No matter how people feel about the way the legislation is being carried out, it is difficult to argue against its purpose--that all educators must find ways to help all students to succeed regardless of race, ethnicity, dominant language, income status, or handicap. Education budgets are being slashed and media specialists across the country are losing their jobs and media budgets because they are not able to draw a direct connection between their programs and the school's achievement. Current research provides persuasive arguments for library investments and expanded responsibilities of the media specialist. This article presents an overview of factors that have been found to increase student achievement through multiple studies.