I seem to have spent the majority of my career caring about, and campaigning for, school libraries.  So I am delighted both to be involved with this campaign and to support it – a full 3 year campaign can only be a good thing!

The campaign is spearheaded by SLA, CILIP SLG and CILIP. The campaign has three aims: to secure school library funding; to produce a national framework for school libraries and recognition of school libraries within the Ofsted framework. 

The Campaign working group will be aiming to engage all potential stakeholders – whether that’s school library staff, parents, and school leadership or decision makers in government. All children deserve a great school library because adequately funded, staffed school libraries deliver enhanced and independent learning as well as reading and curriculum support. School libraries contribute to building lifelong readers and support whole school initiatives promoting reading for pleasure.

Evidence also suggests school libraries:

• Lead to higher qualifications/attainment
• Promote a better quality of life
• Generate improved results 
• Alleviate pressure on health and mental health services
• Alleviate teacher workload
• Increase efficiency for schools
• Contribute to the delivery of a well-rounded education
• Deliver and teach essential Information/critical literacy skills to combat fake news and engender independent learning 

Throughout the course of the campaign the School Library Data Group will be collecting evidence in order to show the huge variety of ways that UK based school libraries contribute to better outcomes for every child. 

We all have a role to play in supporting our Great School Libraries. To find out more go to: www.greatschoollibraries.edublogs.org

The campaign are delighted to release the first batch of resources:

• A set of two posters highlighting why school libraries are important designed by Carel Press.
• A Photoboard – either print it off and write in it why school libraries are important, or cut out the middle and take a picture of you supporting the campaign. Tweet with the reason why #greatschoollibraries deserve support. School staff could use it as the basis of a display in the library and get pupils and parents to contribute
• A case study template and example – show the impact a school library can have by contributing a case study. It could be you, or it could be someone you know. There’s an example to give you an idea of how it’ll work – and as you’ll see – it needn’t be perfect! 

The campaign would also like to invite school staff to take part in discussions that will contribute to building the national framework and defining what a ‘Great School Library’ actually is. Get involved by Tweeting (#greatschoollibraries; @cilipslg; @uksla), Facebooking (search for School Library Association (UK)) or commenting on the website. 

 Here are some of the questions the campaign is discussing at the moment:

1. What makes a great school library?
2. What elements of school librarianship do you think should be in a national framework?
3. What topic do you think would be of interest to you/your school library staff member?

Our colleagues in Scotland have created a framework for showing impact: https://scottishlibraries.org/advice-guidance/how-good-is-our-school-library/ – check it out!

Get involved!  Sign up for updates and generally make a commitment to a better future of all our children.