The school library is a central hub supporting every student and staff member, as well as parents. The library combines several elements — library staff, resources, and space. Each of these plays an important part in supporting teaching and learning. School libraries are most effective when these elements combine to form an integrated whole.
School libraries matter because they can help every member of your school community — students, staff, families to gain new knowledge, skills, and dispositions for learning and personal development that they will use throughout their lives.
An effective school library enhances student learning outcomes by providing a range of programs, services and resources which support teaching and learning. It also supports and encourages students’ reading experiences.
Effective school libraries
- Offer quality programs that support the curriculum.
- Help teachers integrate information literacy skills into learning activities.
- Promote information literacy by helping students develop skills to find, evaluate, use, create and share information and knowledge.
- Enrich student reading experiences and develop independent reading skills.
- Support teaching and learning strategies.
- Provide teachers with professional support.
- Source and deliver suitable and current resources in multiple formats.
- Maintain collections that meet the needs of the school community.
- Use current technologies to provide easy access to information.
- Adopt flexible design principles.
- Offer stimulating teaching and learning environments.
- Reflect and support the social and cultural profile of the school community.
- Operate efficient library systems.
2002 Guidelines
In 2002, the National Library and the Ministry of Education developed guidelines to help principals, teachers, boards of trustees and library teams support student learning by developing their school libraries. There have been significant developments in school libraries since then, but many schools still find these guidelines useful.
School libraries make a difference
The research shows clear links from school libraries and library staff to improvements in student’s reading and academic success. School libraries are fundamental to developing engaged readers who have the capability and inclination to read and learn beyond their years at school. School libraries help students learn to find and use the information they need, to succeed now and in their future life and work.
