School Libraries: Making a Difference shows head teachers and governors how a good school library can empower children’s learning
News 15/12/03
Above, left to right: Jonathan Douglas (Former Youth and Schools Adviser for CILIP, now at MLA), Alec Williams (Vice Chair of the School Libraries Association) and Tim Brighouse (Comissioner for London Schools).
School Libraries: Making a Difference shows head teachers and governors how a good school library can empower children’s learning
School libraries and those who run them make a great contribution to literacy, information literacy and academic achievement - it’s about time they were celebrated too. So say the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP), the School Library Association (SLA) and the Association of Senior Children’s and Educational Librarians (ASCEL) in a campaign, underway this winter, to show what effective, properly resourced and staffed school libraries can achieve in supporting teaching and learning, and improving standards and academic achievement (www.schoollibrariesadvocacy.org.uk).
Concerned to see budgets for school libraries severely cut as a result of the crisis in school funding over the last year, the three organisations are calling for schools to recognise the value of their library and both fund and use it more effectively.
To celebrate this campaign the education, libraries, literacy and children’s books worlds came together today at Mount Carmel School in Islington, north London, to enjoy breakfast with Professor Tim Brighouse, Commissioner for London Schools, who received a copy of the booklet School Libraries: Making a Difference (funded by the Department for Education and Skills) in which he is quoted as saying: “My vision of learning for children and young people in the future has the library, in all its forms, at its heart.”
Professor Brighouse has been a supporter of school libraries for many years and in his last role as Director of Education for Birmingham was involved in several projects with the local education authority School Library Service, to improve access to books through school libraries.
School libraries are not statutory in England (although they are in Scotland - see below). However a 2001 document from the then Department of Education and Employment stated: “At their best school libraries are an invaluable asset to teachers and a source of great enjoyment, and learning, for children. Frequently librarians working in a school are among the most competent staff in terms of ICT and the library is seen as a powerful resource centre for the whole school.”
Independent research from around the world shows that students’ learning outcomes, both academically and holistically, can be improved where the school library (sometimes called a learning resource centre or LRC)…
· Has a trained and qualified librarian who works collaboratively with teaching staff
· Has sufficient books and ICT resources which are current, appropriate and easily available as well as interesting and attractive to the students
Other countries have long acknowledged the importance of school libraries at all phases to student learning, and in many it is necessary to have qualifications in both teaching and librarianship before being permitted to work in one.
In the United States, First Lady Laura Bush held a summit on school libraries last summer, while recently she and Cherie Blair, as well as the first ladies of Bulgaria and Armenia, attended a three-day Festival of School Libraries in Moscow. This event, attended by hundreds of school librarians, was not just patronised by but fronted by the Russian President’s wife, Ludmila Putina. Each first lady took two children’s authors with them and introduced them to the audience, Cherie Blair taking Michael Morpurgo, multiple award winner and current Children’s Laureate and Kevin Crossley Holland, award winning author of the recent Arthur trilogy.
The full text of School Libraries: Making a Difference, plus a toolkit offering step by step guidance on constructing your advocacy campaign, helping school librarians decide on targets and equipping them with arguments, is available on the CILIP web site at www.schoollibrariesadvocacy.org.uk/toolkit/toolkit.asp. CILIP can also make pictures of the launch event available to the media if required.
Contacts:
Tim Buckley Owen, Head of External Relations, CILIP.
Tel: 020 7255 0652.
Email: tim.buckleyowen@cilip.org.uk
Kathy Lemaire, Chief Executive, School Library Association
Tel: 01793 791787. Mobile: 07771 875451.
Email: kathy.lemaire@sla.org.uk
Notes to Editors
CILIP: the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals is the leading professional body for librarians, information specialists and knowledge managers, with over 22,000 members. As a partner in this campaign, it supports and promotes the key rol, played by school libraries and School Library Services in supporting teaching and learning within schools, developing information and literacy skills and successfully engaging young people with books and reading. Further information: www.cilip.org.uk.
The School Library Association (SLA) believes that every child / learner is entitled to effective school library provision. The SLA is committed to supporting everyone involved with school libraries, promoting high quality learning opportunities for all. Further information: www.sla.org.uk.
The Association of Senior Children’s and Education Librarians (ASCEL) works actively with all governmental, professional and other relevant organisations and individuals in order to promote the value of library and information services to young people. Contact: jeremy.saunders@bracknell-forest.gov.uk.
Background note on Scotland
School libraries are a statutory provision in Scotland, although their staffing is not. Nevertheless, over 90% of Scottish school libraries have professional staff. CILIP in Scotland and the Scottish Library and Information Council have worked closely with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education to develop: school library standards; qualitative indicators, entitled ‘Taking a Closer Look at the School Library’, which are just about to be revised; and the inspection of school libraries in line with subject departments. In particular, the changes to the inspection of school libraries have led to increased support from school management and the identification of best practice.