Value your library!
Do you know how the provision in your school or college relates to that of other institutions? If the answer to both or either of these questions is no, then the current report from the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Technologies (cilip) should be part of your essential end of summer reading.
You can find the report, School Libraries in the UK. A worthwhile past, a difficult present- and a transformed future? at www.cilip.org.uk/schools-survey
At a time of brutal cuts to every aspect of educational provision and one in which local school library services in particular continue to be culled, it is important to arm yourself with positive arguments for a transformed future that includes access to skilled library support.
Here is some of what a skilled, wired-in librarian can offer: 'I organise a Reading Week every year in October: author visits: a readathon; games; Carnegie Shadowing. I run a Staff Reading Group and Sixth Form reading group. Reviews are sent to Booktime; I produce a Y10 booklet of reviews to encourage others and organise a Whole School Read project where everyone reads the same book. The work is cross-curricular and relates to all departments.' (cilip 2010) This is one librarian’s response to the survey question, ‘How do you promote reading for pleasure?
There is also information related to libraries’ developing role as a learning resource centre providing skilled support for e-learning and searching.
Make sure the Senior Manager in charge of these resources gets a copy.
