November 2011     At this time of the year many parents are scouting the schools to find one to best suit their children. A visit to the school library is probably on the cards. If not, it should be.

But ‘buyer beware!’ Many principals in schools around the state have been making decisions about the delivery of library services which, according to years of research, will compromise the learning opportunities and achievement of students.

According to replicated research since 1993, the most critical factor in the effectiveness of delivering curriculum in the school through the school library and its qualified teacher-librarian, is the principal’s attitude. Most of this research is summarised in a report called School Libraries Work!, which is available online [see below: 1]. A pertinent quote from this report (p.4) states:

An abundance of evidence strongly supports the connection between student achievement and the presence of school libraries with qualified school library media specialists [the US equivalent of Teacher-Librarians in Australia]. When library media specialists work with teachers to support learning opportunities with books, computer resources, and more, students learn more, get better grades, and score higher on standardised tests scores than their peers in schools without good libraries.

There is no equivalent Australian research as yet but Softlink International, an Australian library automation systems supplier, has analysed NAPLAN results from Australian schools in 2009 and 2010 and detected a similar relationship. Amongst other findings, they reported that, there is a significant positive relationship between a school’s NAPLAN reading literacy score, the school library’s budget and staff allocated to the library [from the Executive Summary]. Again the full report is available online [see below: 2]

Significantly, many of the 11 recommendations presented to the Federal government by the committee for the recently conducted Inquiry into school libraries and teacher librarians in Australian schools accord with the best practices identified by the research. This report was tabled on 23 May 2011. It is available online [see below: 3].

Still, contrary to all of this readily-available evidence, principals of many government schools are diminishing their library services by removing teacher librarians and replacing them with unqualified support staff; and at worse, abolishing library facilities and services altogether. There is no research to support these actions; and with the impending implementation of the National Curriculum, which will need extensive resourcing across the curriculum, these deficits will prove critical in those schools.

That is not the only disadvantage that schools and students without a trained teacher-librarian will experience. According to the research, when a school loses a qualified teacher-librarian it loses:

• a trained professional especially skilled to develop a targeted collection of print and digital resources to support teaching and learning across the curriculum
• a teacher who can coordinate a whole school approach to developing student information literacy skills
• a specialist in children’s literature who can excite and encourage a reading culture
• a specialist in children’s literature familiar with the latest releases and trends in children’s and youth reading
• An information specialist who can share knowledge with other  teachers  in literacy, information literacy, copyright and intellectual property, and effective use of information technology in learning
• A specialist staff member who research has shown can make a difference to student literacy and learning.
  [Adapted from the MySchool Library site; see below: 4]

Parents who don’t want their children to lose these educational advantages should therefore interview principals closely on their attitudes towards the place of the school library in the school. If it seems to be little more than lending books or googling information, then be wary. If there isn’t a trained teacher-librarian managing the library, be wary. Because a modern 21st Century school library must be an integral part of delivering curriculum across the school to advantage student learning.

Links:

1. http://listbuilder.scholastic.com/content/stores/LibraryStore/pages/images/SLW3.pdf (see also a related video presentation at http://vimeo.com/16509918)
 
 2. http://www2.softlinkint.com/assets/file/Softlink%20Australian%20School%20Library%20Survey%20Report%20062111%20FINAL.pdf

 3. http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/ee/schoollibraries/report.htm

 4. http://myschoollibrary.wordpress.com

From information provdied by 'The Hub: Campaign for Qaulity School Libraries in Australia', November 2011.

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