Gwybodaeth Modiwlau

Over the past 150 years, school libraries in the UK have been very much the Cinderella of library services, often relegated to a lower status and receiving fewer resources and recognition compared to other library sectors. Even in the present day, there exists a notable divergence in resource allocation and service quality across different school libraries, surpassing variations seen in any other library category. Unlike public and prison libraries, there is no statutory duty to provide a library within schools. This lack of statutory provision makes them vulnerable to budget cuts, despite research evidence that demonstrates a well-equipped and well-resourced library managed by an experienced professional has a substantial impact on the academic achievements and wellbeing of students.
The role of the school librarian is, arguably, also unique. Many work alone, a department of one, with no hierarchical structure for career progression. They require a wide range of skills including time management; financial and budgeting capabilities; advocacy, marketing and promotion abilities; resource knowledge and technical expertise. Nevertheless, it can be a rewarding profession with a high level of autonomy and satisfaction.
This course aims to identify the factors that influence school library development and change, and to outline the role and impact of a school libraries, including: teaching of reading, facilitating higher level reading skills and reading for pleasure (RfP), supporting the school curriculum, developing digital and information literacy skills, and contributing to the mental health and wellbeing of students. This course establishes the range of services and resources that facilitate these roles and discusses some key issues in the management of a school library and the continuous professional development (CPD) required to maintain its efficiency. Each unit of the course has additional resources such as practical ideas to complement the topic, tasks, readings, or points for further consideration. The skills and knowledge gained through studying this course should help you to manage a school library effectively, develop its role and services within a school, and identify opportunities for further career development within the profession.
While the course primarily focuses on secondary school libraries, given that a majority of qualified librarians find employment within this sector, it is important to note that many fundamental concepts, policies, and procedures explored hold equal relevance across diverse school types.

The aims of this module are to:

• describe the role that school libraries can play in support of teaching and learning;
• identify the range of services and resources needed to enable a school library to perform this role effectively;
• discuss the major issues of managing a school library resource centre.

There are nine units of study in this module:

The school library and the educational environment
The role and impact of school libraries
Staffing and library management
The library environment
The management of learning resources
Developing a whole school reading culture
School libraries and technology
Mental health and wellbeing
Advocacy, marketing, and CPD