Literacy news
School libraries are too often a wasted resource
22 Sep 2010
Many school libraries are underutilised resources that do not fulfil their potential to improve literacy levels and support pupil learning and attainment.
This is a key finding of the School Library Commission, chaired by Baroness Estelle Morris, and jointly established by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council and independent charity the National Literacy Trust. The Commission’s report, School Libraries: A plan for improvement finds that while school libraries have a unique role in raising pupils’ literacy levels, promoting reading for pleasure and improving their access to knowledge, in many schools the library is a wasted resource because it is poorly embedded in the infrastructure of the school and absent from school development plans.
Baroness Estelle Morris says:
“For too long school libraries have been an underutilised part of the education landscape. This report aims to show everyone involved in education, from school librarians to central government that a well-managed school library is an essential part of any school’s success. As the school landscape is set to change drastically it is essential that benefits of this vital resource are fully understood.”New National Literacy Trust research of 17,000 young people undertaken for the Commission demonstrates the importance of a high performing school libraries service for pupil attainment. Eight out of ten good readers use the school library. This shows that school libraries that do not perform to the highest level will have significant implications for pupil achievement.
The report reveals that 31% of members of staff responsible for school libraries in primary schools have no specialist knowledge of children’s literature. In response, the Commission recommends that training and continuous professional development of teachers and library staff in children’s literature and child development is essential to enable them to work in partnership to effectively support the curriculum and deliver a tailored and cohesive library service for children.
National Literacy Trust Director, Jonathan Douglas, says:
“In the current economic climate, all areas of the school need to work at their optimum levels. School libraries have a central role to play but many are currently not being given the opportunity to fulfil their true potential.
“The goal of the National Literacy Trust is to transform lives through literacy and we believe that school libraries are key in helping us to ensure every single child gains the literacy skills they need to live a successful, fulfilling and happy life. We hope our report will have a lasting effect on school library practice in the UK.”
