Schools Need Libraries

Help us ensure every student has a library to escape to, learn from and read in.

What needs to happen?

RESEARCH - AWARENESS - ENGAGEMENT - RESPONSE - CHANGE

The Ministry of Education, Politicians, Policymakers, Principals, Parents and Pupils - need to be informed and educated about the importance of school libraries.
The provision of school libraries must be mandated. It can't be left to school boards and principals to decide whether or not they have a library.
Funding for collection, environment and most importantly librarians needs to be ring-fenced and secured.
A consistent level of provision of library services and resources is needed, with minimum standard guidelines, regular review and accountability.

If you could make one change to how school libraries are run across Aotearoa, what would it be?

"My change would be for the Ministry of Education to value school libraries and fund them centrally. The flow-down effect of this means that the library isn’t the first space to be co-opted when a school needs more classrooms, the librarian isn’t the first lot of hours cut when the operations budget gets tight and the book buying budget isn’t the first thing to be taken away when the lawnmower engine dies."

Trena Lile - President-Elect, SLANZA

From The magic of school librarians in Aotearoa

By Education Gazette editors, Issue: Volume 104, Number 3

https://gazette.education.govt.nz/articles/the-magic-of-school-librarians-in-aotearoa/

What can you do about it?

Ask at the school office if they have a library? If not, why not?
Ask if your school has a librarian. If not, why not?

It’s easy to assume that all schools have well-funded libraries, staffed by a certified school librarian. But in reality, this isn’t always true. The only way to find out what’s happening at your children’s school is to get involved. Ask your children about their school library experiences, visit the school library, and talk to the school librarian and other teachers.

If there isn't a library or a librarian:

Talk to your school's principal and ask why.
Talk to your community’s parent leaders, teachers, principals, school board about the importance of strong school libraries with certified school librarians - see above!
Attend school board meetings or contact them via email to show support for school libraries.
Speak up at PTA meetings and connect with other parents to talk about the importance of school libraries.
Write to Erica Stanford, Minister of Education about the importance of having a library in every school. Erica.Stanford@parliament.govt.nz
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What needs to happen?

What can you do about it?

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