Help every student access a library to escape to, learn from and read in.
Your school needs a library!
School Libraries:
Boost Student Achievement and Literacy
- Improve Reading Skills: Qualified school library staff have a proven positive association with student literacy performance, leading to better reading scores and positive attitudes toward reading.
- Develop Lifelong Learners: Librarians teach students the skills to find, evaluate, and use information, empowering them to succeed in their studies and future careers in a knowledge-based society.
Cultivate Critical Information Literacy
- Navigate Information Overload :In the age of vast amounts of information, librarians act as "knowledge navigators" and "information experts".
- Fight Misinformation: They help students, especially in the fast-changing digital environment, by teaching them to navigate and filter online content and identify reliable information.
Foster a Love of Reading
- Spark Curiosity: Librarians are champions of literacy, sparking a love of stories and curiosity in students.
- Provide Personalized Support: They build relationships with students and offer recommendations to turn reluctant readers into eager bookworms.
Collaborate with Educators
- Integrate into Curriculum: School librarians work with teachers to enrich teaching and learning programs, planning with them and providing resources to support curriculum goals.
- Be a Leader in Literacy: Through collaboration and their broad knowledge of resources and inquiry models, they are seen as leaders in literacy and information technology use within the school community.
Create a Welcoming and Supportive Space
- Safe and Engaging Environment: School libraries provide a welcoming and safe space for students to learn and explore.
- Support for All: Librarians are there to respond to the needs of both students and staff, whether they need reading material or help with professional development.
*Illustration by Chris Riddell.
Literacy
Research shows that school libraries have a positive impact on student literacy and learning outcomes.
School libraries significantly boost literacy by providing access to a diverse range of books and resources, cultivating a love of reading, creating environments that encourage sustained reading for pleasure, leading to improved vocabulary, comprehension, and overall academic success. Furthermore, school libraries foster essential skills like research, inquiry, and critical thinking, which are fundamental for students' present and future lives.
*Illustration by Chris Riddell.
Wellbeing
For many children, the school library is more than just a place to find books - it’s a sanctuary, a space where they feel safe, supported, and free to explore stories that bring comfort, joy, and understanding.
Reading for pleasure has a profound impact on wellbeing. It can reduce stress by up to 60% in just six minutes, easing muscle tension and lowering heart rates. But beyond relaxation, books help young people make sense of the world, develop empathy, and see themselves reflected in stories, something that can be life-changing, especially for those struggling with their mental health.
School libraries offer more than just access to books; they provide a sense of belonging, a place of comfort, and a connection to ideas and experiences that help children feel less alone.
*Illustration by Chris Riddell.
How to get a library for your school:
RESEARCH - AWARENESS - ENGAGEMENT - RESPONSE - CHANGE
1. Talk to the school Board - allocate money to fund a place, a person, a collection.
2. Talk to the National Library - Services to Schools - they provide a person to help setup a library and provide books to lend out to your students - FOR FREE!
3. Talk to parents, the PTA, any other supporters of the school to see if they can help fundraise or support the library - the place, the person, the collection.
4. Set it up and keep it running! The library needs to be a warm, welcoming space that invites everyone one with a diverse, inclusive collection of books (audiobooks and ebooks too) that support the wants and needs of your students. Books to learn from and escape into. Books for pleasure and to treasure. Books to open their minds and spark imagination. Books of all kinds - books for all kids.
5. Watch literacy levels improve across the whole school!
